Posted by Brutus1 on February 28, 2007, at 18:17:45
In reply to Re: Has anyone had Cymbaltaź help GAD? ( yxibow) » Brutus1, posted by yxibow on February 28, 2007, at 1:50:27
Sorry Jay, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. Going back thru previous posts you have the most experience and knowledge on Cymbalta.
I must say that was a very informative post.
B1
> I didn't know I was crowned with the title :) Though Lilly probably enjoys my copays. I take it for MDD at 120mg and my unnamed insurance likes to double the copay because Lilly can't say officially that it has more effectiveness beyond 60mg. However, I experienced something different when I hit 80mg.
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> It's a very subtle agent and takes quite a long time to take effect which is probably why a number of people discontinue it (we're talking several months at least for a good effect). I don't know its effect on GAD though I do suffer from a fairly rare visual Somatiform disorder which you could say is in the OCD/anxiety spectrum though it does not resemble any form of OCD nor does it entail psychosis.
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> It is an agent that if you wish to push the windows of it and go up to 60 or beyond, it should be done conservatively. I know some doctors start it at 60, which can be harsh on some individuals. It should be started more conservatively, with 20s, if people have difficulties.
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> Some people become very sleepy on Cymbalta, opposite to what you think, but it is a label usually stamped on your jar of it. Some find it like I found Effexor -- impossible to take, very nerve wracking. I can't completely say whether or not it effects me in that regard because I also take a fair amount of Valium for my disorder which could cover up any side effects. Of course, even if it is an SSNRI, its effects are still more at serotonin than noradrenergic. A little dose of Klonopin or Valium while adjusting to it might help people who have troubles with it.
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> Absolutely do not chew, mangle, or otherwise destroy a capsule -- I know people who have difficulties open them, but it is printed directly on the website "Delayed Release Capsules." You run the risk of chewing, having the individual pulsules instantly give a noradrenergic and serotonergic rush which would be like Effexor Plus.
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> If you have no side effects at 30mg, you probably (but I'm not a psychic) won't have issues at 60mg. Still, give it time to percolate, so to speak. Generally dose adjustments may give slight nausea (ginger is usually good for that). Some people take it all at one dose, if you do, I would suggest in the morning if it is stimulating. But at 60 mg or above, I would take it in split doses. Still, some people get by with 60mg, and sometimes at night because ironically it can make some people sleepy (some people are sedated by stimulants though Cymbalta is not officially a real stimulant.)
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> I take a polypharmacy of medications that is like an iron chain dragging behind me -- wouldn't wish the disorder or the medication on anyone, so I can't conclusively point anything about anxiolytic effects. However, I started taking it when my doctor switched over from Luvox because he felt it could be better for my comorbid MDD. And it is, less feelings of suicide and such unpleasantries. There's always breakthrough depression, no agent is going to stop everything, that's where therapy and hard work comes in.
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> So that's my take on Cymbalta, I'm sure others have different views because it will affect people differently, depending on what sort of biological illness they have.
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> I wish you well
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> --- tidings
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> Jay
poster:Brutus1
thread:736558
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070224/msgs/737122.html