I went through this when I first started ad's.  After about 3wks. of feeling like I was coming apart at the seams, I let the doc put me on Ativan.  Maybe a call to your doc would be in order.  No one wants to feel that uncomfortable while adjusting to new meds.  It's difficult enough wait for the mood lifting effects to kick in...  Take care!  

((((((((((((((((((((((((((Grayyce))))))))))))))))))))))))))    :hearts:

Well last Saturday I started taking 150mg of Effexor coming down from 225mg to get ready to start Cymbalta in one week. So far it's been hard to work, I'm very foggy/cloudy, can't seem to put 2 and 2 together. I'm also just not myself, feel like I'm shutting down. I know it will get better, it's just sooo hard to work this week, especially with Christmas coming up and work being doubled certain days. Anyway, I'm taking it a day at a time.  :sadwalk:

((((Grayyce )))))

It is difficult to say the least...Hang in there sweetheart..hopefully it WILL get better!

Grayyce:
It was and always is hard for me to switch a/d's, hang in there and keep working the day at a time.
Keep talking/writing  :D

Karen,  I think the Cymbalta pooped out for the pain and cramping.  It was so bad Sunday night, I was up all night and couldn't go to work--I could hardly walk.  I'm not depressed and it's working on the anxiety very well.  I need to get back to the doc about this physical pain, though.      :cry:

Grayyce,  Sorry you're having such a difficult time switching meds.  It's no picnic......  Are you taking it in the am or pm?  I know Christmas is a big stressor for most of us.  No time to do anything, and so much to do....  All for one day!  It's diffficult when you work to get things together.  I don't get the 'spirit' till it's all over, then I can relax.  

Daddo,  How are you doing with this med?  What's your dosage now?    :santagrin:

I've been taking my meds in the pm. I've always done that because I can't seem to remember them in the rush of morning. What would be the best time to take the Cymbalta when I switch?


Thanks for everyone's support! :)

I found Cymbalta to be too stimulating to take at night.  I tried it once, and was awake till 3am.  I take mine before I go to work, or at work if I forget.  (I know it's easy to forget, too.)  I've taken it at lunch with no problem.

Thanks Jkm, I have been thinking about switching to mornings anyway because of the trouble I have sleeping. I used to have trouble falling asleep, now it's just staying asleep without waking up, tossing and turning.
This past week I've had a few dreams which were very wierd to say the least. The meds have kept me from having night terrors and sleepwalking for around 8 years. I've only had a few night terrors in that time and no sleepwalking which has been a blessing due to the fact that it started when I was 3 and made it outside of our home. When I was in high school I made it halfway out my window onto the roof before my mom caught me. In college I just tied my leg to the bed after running out of my dorm in my pj's.  :sleep_1:

Anyway, I'm hoping this will help. I wanted to go to a psychiatrist to be re-evalutated just to make sure I was being medicated for the same thing I was diagnosed with so long ago but when I scheduled the appointment I found out that even with insurance the appointment was going to be $130! My regular doctor prescribed the Cymbalta. She is actually the Nurse Practitioner, but I trust her and relate to her better than my non-listening doctor. To make matters worse, I was also going to the psychiatrist to get tested for ADHD. I think I may have that on top of everything else. Now I'm not sure if I'll ever find out what all is wrong with me.  :p

Sorry for spilling my guts, but thanks for listening.  :blah:

Well, depression can make sleep difficult, and med changes sure get the vivid dreams started.  

I'm wondering if you've ever been treated for a sleep disorder?  Read up on this, if you have time.

As far as the high fees for a pdoc, could you be seen at a community mental health center?  They usually go by income.  I can't imagine paying that much cash if I had insurance!  It sounds like your insurance doesn't pay much for psych problems.  I know that most don't.  Another failing in this business......  

In 1991 when I spent a week in the psych ward they kept me up all night and tested my brain waves or something but said there was nothing wrong...whatever that means.
I'm pretty sure something set them off around the age of 3 or earlier and if I find out what that is, then maybe it would go away. Who knows. :)

Well, I am switching to Celexa after getting off the Effexor. I move to 75mg starting today then in a week switch over. Not sure how many mg's but I think it's 60. Gonna do some research. Anyone know anything here? Thanks :)

I was on Lexapro, and they're related.  I had headaches and a stomach ache, but nothing that otc meds couldn't remedy.  I know it took it's good time relieving the anxiety, but once that came into effect, I could say bye-bye to the benzos.  Lexparo was great for depression and panic disorder.  It just took months to work.  Since you've already been on a ssri, the good effects should come on  faster....they work in similar ways....  

Thanks! Things are pretty tough right now. Unfortunately 75mg isn't very much coming down from 225mg so I'm pretty depressed. Not to mention $$ problems to make everything worse. At least there's a generic form of Celexa.

$$ problems seems to be a common thread amongst some of us depressed people.  I wonder why?  LOL!    :hearts:

The only annoying side effect I'm having with Cymbalta is increased hunger, especially for carbohydrates.  I envy those of you who are losing weight.  The doctor added Wellbutrin XL, but it's making me nuts.  Any suggestions?

Is the welbutrin making you nuts or the carb cravings?

I hear that Wellbrutin can be a difficult med to go on as the first 3-4 days, it's very stimulating, and people have a difficult time sleeping.  Is this what you mean?  As far as the carbs, that goes with most ad's and spaghetti is a big dish at my house.....  LOL!

The carb cravings have tapered off a bit.  I've gained 6 pounds in the last three months and I think it's going to be hard to lose.  I'm also bloated.  The Wellbutrin is making me nervous, but it seems to be keeping the appetite down.

I've got some questions about Cymbalta.  I saw my pdoc and she suggested it, after I told her the increase in Prozac from 20 to 40 mg. hasn't had any effect on me.  I still feel flat.

There are two reasons that come to mind right off the bat that make me hesitant about this drug.  First of all, my pdoc said it is not prescribed for anxiety, which I have plenty of with my depressions, and secondly, since it's a newer med, it will cost me a lot more.

That being said, can anyone who's been on it awhile fill me in on side effects?  If it's not good for keeping panic attacks at bay, I am reluctant to switch.  The pdoc told me to think about it, and if I want to switch, I can call her.

Thanks.

I'm expieriencing the hand tembling too!!!!!!!!! It's really scary cause it affects my driving also.... you think this is cymbalta?? it didn't happen on wellbutrin SR, and the only 2 thinging I take is depakote er and desyrel (trazdone)

ACF...I assume you have been on Cym longer than I have as I have only been on it for 11 days.  I would guess from my experience with other meds that most se's go away with time...probably decreasing over 3-4 weeks.  So I haven't gotten excited about any of them.  Now if I were throwing up every morning or shaking so badly I couldn't drive, I might be on the phone to the doc.

Swede

I use ativan for the start ups.  I didn't have the hand shakes.  Maybe this is from the interaction of your other meds, Corey?  I felt like I had the flu.  I don't have any side effects, now.  I just started neurontin in a low dose for a pain disorder that effects my legs.  It seems I have lots of problems diabetics get in their legs and feet.  I'm not diabetic, though.   :Oo:  I don't even know if the doc could answer these questions as they don't take the meds.    The thing I heard my doc say was, "Well, I never heard that!"  My advice is to keep asking around.  Cymbalta is a new medicine and people are still just starting it.  We're still the new people......

I went on this because it is supposed to help with pain.   It doesn't do that good of a job, so now I'm on Neurontin, too.  I would never go back to Lexapro, though.  I thought I was going to break my jaw on that stuff.  I had headaches from clenching my jaws in my sleep.  I was better than suffering with anxiety attacks and depression, but the side effects on cymbalta--what side-effects?  Start-ups?  Yes...  I hope you begin to feel better, soon.    I forgot about the sexual side-effects..

 What's an org...sm?
Lots of work.  

I found that the side effects (which I didn't have many of), some stomach upset, a little agitation at the beginning seemed to go away in 4 to 6 weeks after starting.  I am quite happy with Cymbalta. Hang in corey and swede and lizard

JKM...oddly enough my mom and dad are both on Cymbalta as well as I am.  Mom is on it primarily because it offers some degree of relief from diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain) in her legs and dad is on it because he had shingles (herpes zoster) on his face and it has affected the cranial nerve above his eye and they were hoping for some relief from the nerve pain.  Unfortunately in my dad's case it has not worked.  I, however, just take it for plain old depression!  After 4 years on Paxil we decided to try something less sedating.

Swede

My Mother takes Neurontin for shingles and tells me it helps her greatly.  Has your Father tried this?

I have neuropathy in both legs, plus some artery disease, and the Cymbalta wans't working well enough to cover the pain and cramping.  Neurontin has done a very good job with this.

jkm...my dad is on 1600mg of neurontin daily to try to reduce the shingles pain.  He had the shingles last fall but still has the pain.  They have even given him a topical anesthetic patch to apply to the area but it doesn't help much. :(

??? HELLO, please help! I have been on fluoxetine for 2 wks at 20mg and I'm wanting to know if anybody has taken these before? I have came out in a red itchy rash on my face and I'm wondering if it's got anything to do with the tablets as my skin usually clear????? :(

Nic...fluoxetine is the generic form of Prozac.  You might do better in that forum.  That said, it sounds a bit like a start-up side effect and it might be an indication that you are having an allergic reaction to the med.  Give your doc's office a call.

Swede

Nic...I found this info on the internet regarding fluoxetine.  These side effects are listed among the UNCOMMON:

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

skin rash
hives
fever
joint pain
swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
difficulty breathing or swallowing
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
seizure


As you can see a call to the doc is in order.

Swede

Swede, My Mother takes 400mg. three times a day.  She said she  has to make sure she has the sofa close by.....    At 75, she can do whatever whe wants.. LOL!

My Mother has pain from one shingle that starts on her shoulder and goes to her spine.  She took the med that is supposed to lower the amt. of shingles and it didn't work as soon as her doc figured out what she had.  Poor thing!  She had them on her left quadrant up her back, shoulder, face and ear.  A year later and it still bothers her.  Thank goodness there is something for her to take.  She also has vicodin, but it knocks her out for hours, and she has little quality of life like that.  She had a knee replacement, replaced about 6mo. ago, too.  She's finally walking around without a cane or a walker, bless her heart.  Talk about a survivor....    I think she's in better health than me!  LOL!

jkm...my dad is on the 1600mg of neurontin and they said he could go as high as 3200mg but it would put him to sleep.  He has a big bottle of vicodin that he had to discontinue cause of sleepyness.  I could sell that bottle on the street for big bucks! LOL  He has been seeing a dr at a pain clinic to find something that would work.  They have tried him on several anticonvulsants (oddly enough) and will work him up thru oxycontin and methadone if necessary.

Swede

I don't thikn my Mom would go for all that.  I tried to talk her into going to a pain clinic when this first started..forget that!  She also takes phenobarbital and a lg. dose of Motrin.  I think she sedated enough.  Maybe we can fix them up.  They can talk pills and pain.  Operations, whatever..LOL!

I forgot to mention dad is 82 and naturally a Swede.

Swede

I had to lower my dose of Cymbalta to 20 mg. I was having a lot of stomach discomfort and diarrhea, some dizziness and flushing, and just generally feel blah. Hopefully, I'll tolerate the lower dose better and it will still do some good; I'll try to be patient.

I didn't even know Cymbalta came in 20mg size...I do now (green opaque capsule)!  Previously I thought it only came in 30mg and 60mg (my dose).

So sorry to hear you are having so much trouble with side effects.  Here is a list of treatment emergent side effects and the percentage of those who developed them compared with placebo:

Side effect  (percentage vs/ placebo)
Nausea 20 /7
Dry mouth 15 /6
Constipation 11 /4
Diarrhea 8 /6
Vomiting 5 /3

Appetite decreased2 /8

Weight decreased 2 /1

General Disorders and Administration
Site Conditions
Fatigue 8 /4

Nervous System Disorders
Dizziness 9 5
Somnolence 7 /3
Tremor 3 /1

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
Disorders
Sweating increased 6 /2

Vascular Disorders
Hot flushes 2 /1
Eye Disorders
Vision blurred 4 /1

Psychiatric Disorders
Insomnia3 /11 6
Anxiety 3 /2
Libido decreased 3 /1
Orgasm abnormal 4 /3

Reproductive System and Breast
Disorders
Erectile dysfunction5 /4
Ejaculation delayed5 /3
Ejaculatory dysfunction5, /6


I know this is little consolation if you have these side effects!

Swede

my pdoc started me out on 30 mg of cymbalta while tapering me off from effexor- i had been taking 375 mg of it. once  he got me off the effexor he upped my dose of cymbalta to 60 mg. and now he has me on 90mg. the only real side effect i have is dry mouth but he still can't explain to me why he has me on 90 mg. when everything i have read about it says it has not been shown to be effective at doses over 60mg.

My guess is that he knows it takes a larger dose to keep your depression at bay, but the best thing to do is ask him.

How are you doing through the transition.  Dry mouth usually goes away.  Some have a mild case of the flu that takes about a week or two to get through,  then it's smooth sailing!    :biglaugh:

I had a liver panel done after much discussion on the board about lever effects.   After being on Cymbalta for 6mos., no change.  As for drinking on Cymbalta or any antidepressant, not a good idea. My bottle has all kinds of warnings on it about drowsiness, alcohol intensifying this effect, using care when driving a car or operating a dangerous machine. Be careful.  It might make you feel more depressed, and who needs that?  It takes a couple of days for alcohol to leave your system, too.    :help:

JKM, depression and drinking have always been heavily linked for me.  I've probably ruined the beneficial effects of my AD's by drinking more than I care to admit.  I suspect that if the liver is heavily involved with ridding itself of the Cymbalta (or any AD for that matter)  that pouring alcohol on top of it only slows the process and taxes the liver even more.  That being said, I know how difficult it can be to resist that drink, especially if you've got social anxiety issues and a tendency toward self-medicating.   Depression is a tough battle all the way around.  Sucks when you feel bad and it takes a certain amount of awareness and self-dicipline to stay feeling good.  

Hey, I'm glad your liver panels were good!

Sweating is what I do best lately....
I have been on 30mg of Cymbalta for 6 entire days now.  
All I do is sweat.  I have sweat coming out of every single pore on my face.  Places I never knew could sweat.  Im living a sweat nightmare....thats a little over exagerated! ha ha
And water...water tastes HORRIBLE now.  I cant even drink it without gagging.  I drank religously 100oz a day.  Have been for years.  Now I cant stomach the stuff.  And when I try and down a bottle it I gag and gag and gag.  Then it leaves this horrible after taste....
ok kids..
thanx for listening.   :D