Posted by cache-monkey on October 9, 2004, at 2:16:10
Hey all,
After a two week trial on Cymbalta I had to discontinue due to severe agitation. (This was on a max dose of 30 mg/day.) My legs were bouncing up and down, my heart rate was up. At first I was sweating like crazy and then I just felt cold all the time. Racing thoughts, couldn't sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. Basically, I felt like I wanted to crawl out of my skin.
I'm feeling a little better now that I've tapered down and gone off. Although there's been a return of a different kind of anxiety that maybe was lifted by the Cymbalta. I'd rather take this than that crazy agitation right now, but I'm wondering why I had this reaction.
I guess I'm trying to figure out if there's anything that can be learned about my specific chemistry and what needs to be balanced. Is it because of the norepinephrine in Cymbalta? An excess of serotonin?
I think I also read somewhere that flooding the serotonin system can cause a downregulation of dopamine, which can be implicated in agitation and restlessness. Does anyone know something more definitive about this?
Or is it just simply that some people get agitated on some drugs (and not necessarily others in the same class) just based on idiosyncratic factors?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
cache-monkey
poster:cache-monkey
thread:400648
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041007/msgs/400648.html