Posted by Cindy Lou on March 27, 2005, at 18:05:47
In reply to Re: CYMBALTA ratings 1-10, and effects on anx and dep » Cindy Lou, posted by barbaracat on March 27, 2005, at 17:36:17
Dear Barbara, Phillipa too ...
Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have helped me tremendously. I appreciate the time you spent answering my questions and how quickly you replied. I am hopeful and ready to try the 3 pellets! I know this medication could really help me -- it was amazing the difference it made in just a few days (aside from the physical side effects, of course.)
I did not take any yesterday, and still I was so sick I could barely make it though the day. I had to go to bed at 8, then wake up at midnight to be the "bunny." Today I still felt sick -- nauseous, exhausted, spacy, heavy headed. Also depressed, because I felt another hope was lost. I am glad that all may not be lost.
Thanks again. I will read the link you sent me --I wasn't able to access it, but I'm sure I can find it through a search.
I will let you know how things go, and keep an eye out to see how you other Cymbalta-users are doing.
Take care,
cindy> Hi Cindy,
>
> First of all, here's a link to a currently running thread that goes into more detail and instructios on low dose Cymbalta, but I'm glad to answer your other concerns.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050322/msgs/475145.html>;
>
> > I just started Cymbalta 4 days ago. They told me the lowest dose is 20 mg., however the side effects have been so bad for me I have to stop -- which is frustrating because I KNOW it was working for me emotionally (no anxiety attacks at all). I have also been diagnosed with BPII, depression and anxiety.
>
> **Doses come in 20, 30 and 60mg capsules - too high for most bipolars although some unipolar depressives start with 60mg (can't imagine it).
> >
> > You mentioned you were taking 13 pellets out of a 30 mg. capsule -- did your pdoc suggest this?
>
> **Hell, no. She's just as amazed as I am.
>
> >>I asked the pharmacist if I could open the capsule and dump some out, and he said no, it would cause stomach upset without the enteric coating.
>
> **I'm afraid your pharmacist if wrong. It's not the capsule that's enterically coated, it's each pellet, pretty amazing when you consider their size. I was vomiting for the first week on 30mg, which doesn't say much for their enteric coating.
>
> >>Do you think I should just go ahead and try it? Most docs I know wouldn't be so open-minded.
>
> **This is something you'll have to run through your own knowing and then decide for yourself but don't expect the blessing or guidance of your doc. He/she ought to be interested, but at this point it's a rare protocol and they have nothing to go on. The only encouraging thing you might hear is that at least you're not increasing the dose.
>
> Unfortunately, the bulk of their education, research, grant and hospital money is heavily funded by pharmaceutical companies. Doctors have very little else to go on besides info from their drug reps or clinical stuties performed by drug funded research. They also worry about malpractice suits, etc.
>
> My doctor said that Lilly is heavily promoting Cymbalta right now. She said that the drug rep never once mentioned potential bipolar switching being 'any worse than with the normal SSRI meds' and 20 is a 'substandard dose'. What we're seeing here is the evoluation of how a potentially good drug goes from promosing to dumped because not everyone is the same.
>
> Even my doctor is tentatively happy that I'm responding so well, she's reluctant to suggest this 'not-standard' protocol with any of her other patients, even though EVERY ONE of them is having a terrible time with Cymbalta. She has no 'reputable source' other than my experience and if someone gets worse then it's her fault. A shame all ways around.
>
> As far as I know I'm the only one tracking this, although others are giving me very positive reports. I have some scientific background so I'm not running blind, but this came about through necessity and not any random science project.
>
> What I'm saying is that you'll have to think for yourself on this one and expect you'll be the one forging the way for your doc. So, Cindy, if it were me, I would stop taking that 20mg pill today, instead empty out the capsule and start with 3 pellets for about a week and then take another pellet each 3 days, seeing how you're feeling each time.
>
> > You are giving me great hope here. I am very med sensitive and have had my heart broken many times on meds that seem to help but I can't tolerate the side effects.
> >
> ** I wish you the hope-filled experience I continue to enjoy. But if it isn't the answer, don't give up hope. There's so much going on, so many variables. Hopefully you're in the same group I am in this regard. Hopefully our docs can get with the proram alot better, but their problems are not ours and in the meantime, at the very least we have to do something if we're getting worse. - Barbara
poster:Cindy Lou
thread:462834
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476363.html