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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 15:10:03
Anyone have any problems with this on Cymbalta? I would especially like to know if anyone out there had this problem on Effexor but not on Cymbalta.
I have been thinking that I will probably tolerate Cymbalta well because I tolerated Effexor so well. But I just remembered that I didn't tolerate Effexor well at all. I had to switch to Effexor XR before I tolerated it well. Prior to the switch I had terrible problems with tachycardia and perhaps an irregular heart rate (and this was on a small dosage). Now I'm thinking that I'll probably have this problem with Cymbalta too but there's no XR out there yet. SH*T!
-K
Posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 18:01:36
In reply to Cymbalta and tachycardia?, posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 15:10:03
You may not need the XR formulation on Cymbalta, though. They both hit the same neurotransmitters, but they're otherwise unrelated drugs. The molecules themselves apparently are quite different. I have been told that the half life of Cymbalta is a good deal longer, and I know that my pdoc has me taking the full dose once per day, rather than twice.
Give it a try. It's likely that it won't cause the same effects that Effexor does, and if you've been having trouble finding a drug that works, it's worth giving it a try before giving up.
Good luck.
Posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 18:32:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and tachycardia?, posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 18:01:36
> You may not need the XR formulation on Cymbalta, though. They both hit the same neurotransmitters, but they're otherwise unrelated drugs. The molecules themselves apparently are quite different. I have been told that the half life of Cymbalta is a good deal longer, and I know that my pdoc has me taking the full dose once per day, rather than twice.
>
> Give it a try. It's likely that it won't cause the same effects that Effexor does, and if you've been having trouble finding a drug that works, it's worth giving it a try before giving up.
>
> Good luck.
Racer,I definitely won't give up before trying it. I'm just worrying. Hopefully I won't have any problem and all of the worry will have been for nothing. Even if it does become an issue, I could probably take a small amount 3 or 4 times a day if I had to - until the XR version came out.
Thanks for the pep talk!
Kara
Posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 20:58:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and tachycardia? » Racer, posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 18:32:37
LoL! No problem.
When I started Cymbalta, I was a basket case -- my experience with Effexor was so wonderful that I refused to consider it under any circumstances -- no way, no how, what's Plan B? The idea of taking what my new pdoc called "Effexor Junior" was right up there with the idea of having a prefrontal lobotomy.
Chemist was an absolute rock for me, and helped get me through the worst of it, and I'm still giving it a chance to do something for me. (NB: Effexor didn't do it for me, either, until Prozac was added. Even then, it was partial remission, and didn't last long.) Sometimes the worry is pretty overwhelming, and it does help to get support. At least, it helped me.
As for Cymbalta, it doesn't seem to have the same short half life that makes Effexor such a problem. My guess is that you'll do fine with once or twice a day dosing, and won't have to try to break up the capsules. Try it before you worry too much, 'K?
Hope that helps.
Posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 21:11:24
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and tachycardia? » karaS, posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 20:58:54
> LoL! No problem.
>
> When I started Cymbalta, I was a basket case -- my experience with Effexor was so wonderful that I refused to consider it under any circumstances -- no way, no how, what's Plan B? The idea of taking what my new pdoc called "Effexor Junior" was right up there with the idea of having a prefrontal lobotomy.
You're too funny!!> Chemist was an absolute rock for me, and helped get me through the worst of it, and I'm still giving it a chance to do something for me. (NB: Effexor didn't do it for me, either, until Prozac was added. Even then, it was partial remission, and didn't last long.) Sometimes the worry is pretty overwhelming, and it does help to get support. At least, it helped me.
Effexor didn't do much for me either. I know what you mean about needing support to go through these things. It gets harder and harder to believe that something is really going to work for you. But we keep trying...
> As for Cymbalta, it doesn't seem to have the same short half life that makes Effexor such a problem. My guess is that you'll do fine with once or twice a day dosing, and won't have to try to break up the capsules. Try it before you worry too much, 'K?
>
> Hope that helps.Yeah, that does help. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Cymbalta kicks in for you soon (and that it works for me too of course)!
Posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 21:21:16
In reply to Re: Cymbalta and tachycardia? » Racer, posted by karaS on October 3, 2004, at 21:11:24
Cymbalta has a mean half life of 12 hours, but the steady state is reached after three days with no mention of split dosing. That means that you hit steady state whether you split the dose or not.
Good luck with it. Now I'm getting off line, but I'll check on you tomorrow...
Posted by karaS on October 4, 2004, at 0:31:27
In reply to I've looked it up now... » karaS, posted by Racer on October 3, 2004, at 21:21:16
> Cymbalta has a mean half life of 12 hours, but the steady state is reached after three days with no mention of split dosing. That means that you hit steady state whether you split the dose or not.
>
> Good luck with it. Now I'm getting off line, but I'll check on you tomorrow...
Thanks. I wonder how that same analysis would work for Effexor. I am not starting on the Cymbalta until Wednesday as I have to work on Monday and now Tuesday. (Until I know how it's going to effect me, I don't want to take it when I have to function.) I'll keep you posted.K
Posted by Racer on October 4, 2004, at 11:56:08
In reply to Re: I've looked it up now... » Racer, posted by karaS on October 4, 2004, at 0:31:27
Sorry, I looked up Effexor at the same time, but didn't think to include the information: the regular Effexor also reaches steady state after three days, but only with split doses. I think the half life of Effexor is not a lot shorter than Cymbalta, but I guess the metabolites are shorter lived, too, which would require the multiple doses throughout the day. That's something for someone who actually knows something to tell you.
Did the Effexor work for you? If so, get excited about Cymbalta. For me, it's been very similar, but with all the rough edges smoothed out in a very big way. That 'brain zap' feeling? With Cymbalta, it only lasted a few days, and it wasn't the same zappy feeling, just a sort of -- sensation -- in the same areas; much more a sense of wooliness than actual static like zaps. The sweats from Effexor? A few days of them with Cymbalta, now back to normal for me. That's been the case with most of the adjustment phase effects of Cymbalta for me: a few days of discomfort, then they've gone away.
I'm sorry to say that it's not doing much of anything for my depression, though. Neither did Effexor. It is improving my physical discomfort, though -- I have arthritis (common in people who've ridden for years), and sometimes the pain can keep me awake at night. Not with Cymbalta, though -- I'm sleeping just fine, and my joints feel better than they have for years. Still some pain, but well within tolerable limits. It's a nice drug, and I wish it was showing some signs of working for me.
I waited to take my first dose, too. When I did take it, about three hours later I started to feel so calm, and so relaxed, just floating. That lasted the first few days, then I went back to normal. Enjoy that initial cloud float, and good luck with it.
Posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 21:07:47
In reply to Re: I've looked it up now... » karaS, posted by Racer on October 4, 2004, at 11:56:08
> Sorry, I looked up Effexor at the same time, but didn't think to include the information: the regular Effexor also reaches steady state after three days, but only with split doses. I think the half life of Effexor is not a lot shorter than Cymbalta, but I guess the metabolites are shorter lived, too, which would require the multiple doses throughout the day. That's something for someone who actually knows something to tell you.
That information above makes it easier to understand the steady state issue. Maybe I will tolerate the Cymbalta better then. If not, I'll wait for the XR version. (I still haven't started it yet. Been working all week and didn't want to risk it. I'll start it this weekend. Can you tell I hate starting new meds?)
> Did the Effexor work for you? If so, get excited about Cymbalta. For me, it's been very similar, but with all the rough edges smoothed out in a very big way. That 'brain zap' feeling? With Cymbalta, it only lasted a few days, and it wasn't the same zappy feeling, just a sort of -- sensation -- in the same areas; much more a sense of wooliness than actual static like zaps. The sweats from Effexor? A few days of them with Cymbalta, now back to normal for me. That's been the case with most of the adjustment phase effects of Cymbalta for me: a few days of discomfort, then they've gone away.
I didn't have a great response to Effexor but I didn't have terrible side effects either (once I took the XR version). I couldn't even tell I was taking it. No brain zaps ever. Sweating wasn't a problem though it is now for hormonal reasons. I can't imagine that Cymbalta could make it any worse. It only gave me a minimal amount of help though. It prevented panic attacks and maybe helped about 20% with depression but that was it. So I'm hoping that Cymbalta is as easy on me and provides more relief.
> I'm sorry to say that it's not doing much of anything for my depression, though. Neither did Effexor. It is improving my physical discomfort, though -- I have arthritis (common in people who've ridden for years), and sometimes the pain can keep me awake at night. Not with Cymbalta, though -- I'm sleeping just fine, and my joints feel better than they have for years. Still some pain, but well within tolerable limits. It's a nice drug, and I wish it was showing some signs of working for me.
Is it still not hitting the depression for you? If it doesn't eventually work in that way, will you go off of it or add to it? It's so hard to know what to do when you have partial relief or relief of some symptoms and not others.
> I waited to take my first dose, too. When I did take it, about three hours later I started to feel so calm, and so relaxed, just floating. That lasted the first few days, then I went back to normal. Enjoy that initial cloud float, and good luck with it.
You're the only one I've read about who describes their first dosage in that way. Hope I get that too! (If I ever have the nerve to try it, I'll let you know.)
Take care and thanks for the info,
Kara
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