Posted by PartlyCloudy on October 28, 2010, at 13:58:32
In reply to Re: pristiq to cymbalta? » PartlyCloudy, posted by floatingbridge on October 28, 2010, at 11:04:44
We are aiming for a pretty low therapeutic dose - 60mg of Cymbalta. I'm already on Seroquel at night for sleep (blissfully) and it helps, so I'm told, for depression; but the taper and wash out from Pristiq was characterized primarily by tears and overwhelming feelings of sadness. I've also been on a daily total dosage of 1.5mg of Xanax for years now to help manage my anxiety.
My back pain has been responding well to acupuncture treatment and some chiropractic therapy from the same practioner. I wish that massage was an option for me, but even the lightest of tissue touch leaves me quivering in pain for days afterwards - I believe it's one of the traumatic triggers that my back responds to :-( My favorite place to be when I'm in the worst pain is soaking in my (obscenely large and deep) bathtub, with hands full of Epsom salts, essential oils and softly lit candles around the tub to soothe my mind as my body is cradled in the tepid water.
The irony of it all is that my PTSD that brought on this latest necessity to adjust my medications was triggered in a large part by my starting the process of applying for disability. If I didn't feel so very awful I might be able to dig up some gallows laughter. As it is I found a resource to help with the enormous red tape involved.
I will admit to my pdoc recommending another medication to help with the transition of the taper that I just didn't handle well, and that was the addition of Remeron (Mirtazapine). It made me into a slumbering, lumbering zombie that was only able to eat, eat, and eat, and that created its own anxiety. I'm actually on vacation (!) and did not want to spend it sleeping and gorging myself without any kind of pleasure. I do not doubt that the Remeron would have abated my discomfort during the transition, but I wasn't prepared for its own set of side effects and problems.
Already, I am feeling no brain zaps today (yet?). Still pretty emotional and weepy but hanging in there.
How are you doing?
pc
poster:PartlyCloudy
thread:966842
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20101020/msgs/967236.html