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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cairo on October 8, 2004, at 11:27:08
I'm on day 4 of Cymbalta 30mg and have been experiencing muscle tremors all over my body, most noticeably in the jaw and hands, but I also feel as if my legs are going to give way and I'm going to double over because my abdominal muscles feel trembly. I've also always been easy to startle, but I jump out of my skin now at the slightest provocation. My systolic blood pressure has been elevated, anywhere from 132 to 146 during the day. Diastolic is ok. In the morning before I take my next dose, BP seems to go back to normal. There's also hot flushes and sweating.
I'd be willing to stick this out to see if the side effects decrease, but I recently injured my neck and have been receiving injections for an annular tear. The physical therapist I see 3x a week said that my muscles have particularly tight and hard to release this week (since starting Cymbalta). I don't need more muscle tightness to mess up my neck.
Any suggestions? I'm already on Skelaxin for muscle relaxation. Should I stick with the Cymbalta, or is this not the drug for me? I had similar experience with Effexor XR at really low doses and gave that up because I don't do well with SSRIs (tried Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro - all disrupted my sleep terribly and gave me flu like symptoms).
I also take Desyrel 100mg for sleep and have Fibromyalgia. My psychiatrist wanted to try Cymbalta rather than nortriptyline.
Thanks!
Cairo
Posted by Racer on October 8, 2004, at 11:44:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out?, posted by Cairo on October 8, 2004, at 11:27:08
Yep. Stick it out. The first couple of weeks, I was ready to stop it every single day, because I hated it! After a while, though, the adjustment phase effects faded, and it's been a smooth ride ever since.
Good luck.
Posted by boomarang on October 8, 2004, at 13:52:16
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out?, posted by Racer on October 8, 2004, at 11:44:05
did you get headaches from the cymbalta?
Posted by yznhymer on October 8, 2004, at 22:43:14
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out?, posted by Cairo on October 8, 2004, at 11:27:08
> I'm on day 4 of Cymbalta 30mg and have been experiencing muscle tremors all over my body, most noticeably in the jaw and hands, but I also feel as if my legs are going to give way and I'm going to double over because my abdominal muscles feel trembly. I've also always been easy to startle, but I jump out of my skin now at the slightest provocation. My systolic blood pressure has been elevated, anywhere from 132 to 146 during the day. Diastolic is ok. In the morning before I take my next dose, BP seems to go back to normal. There's also hot flushes and sweating.
>
> I'd be willing to stick this out to see if the side effects decrease, but I recently injured my neck and have been receiving injections for an annular tear. The physical therapist I see 3x a week said that my muscles have particularly tight and hard to release this week (since starting Cymbalta). I don't need more muscle tightness to mess up my neck.
>
> Any suggestions? I'm already on Skelaxin for muscle relaxation. Should I stick with the Cymbalta, or is this not the drug for me? I had similar experience with Effexor XR at really low doses and gave that up because I don't do well with SSRIs (tried Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro - all disrupted my sleep terribly and gave me flu like symptoms).
>
> I also take Desyrel 100mg for sleep and have Fibromyalgia. My psychiatrist wanted to try Cymbalta rather than nortriptyline.
>
> Thanks!
>
> CairoHi there...
I don't have any advice for you but I am at about the same point in Cymbalta therapy... day 5 on 30mg daily.
Day 3 I felt pretty bad. Two days later I can say I feel much better. I initally had some tremors but these have disappeared. The increased anxiety I was feeling 2 days ago has eased off considerably, though not completely... I find I'm clenching my teeth a bit. The daytime sleepiness has as eased off a lot as well. I still notice a marked decrease in appetite (and compulsive eating).
On the down side, I'm practically dead below the waist. If that doesn't resolve itself somehow, this is not gonna be a viable long-term therapy. I was also surprised with constipation this morning. Not fun at all but something I think I can ameliorate with some dietary adjustments. Besides, this too may resolve itself.
I can't really speak to the antidepressant benefits yet. Yesterday I felt as though something was shifting. I had the sense of being less fragile, more solid. I'm looking for improvements in energy, motivation, the ability to enjoy things, patience... less anxiety and irritiablity. Relief from the aches and pains associated with this depression would be nice too.
Whether I stick this out is still up in the air. I want to give it a 2 month trial. But I guess I'll be making a decision week by week. Right now the sexual dysfunction has me the most discouraged...mostly because I have never had this side effect lessen with time on other ssri's and it seems the most difficult to ameliorate.
Good luck to you,
Mark
Posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 0:37:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out?, posted by Cairo on October 8, 2004, at 11:27:08
After 21 days at varying doses of cymbalta, I've been trying just 20mgs per day to ease the sexual dysfunction. But at the lower dose for a couple days, I experienced intense hunger and overate this evening for the first time in weeks.
I've lost over 4 pounds in two weeks - exercise and diet unchanged - while taking cymbalta at 30-60mgs per day. At 20mgs per day the sexual problems improve but I will probably gain weight - or at least not lose any. Quite the dilemna.
I think I'll choose the weight loss and go back up to at least 40mgs per day, saying goodbye to the gnawing hunger pains and constant snack attacks.
verne
Posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 19:47:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out?, posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 0:37:12
> After 21 days at varying doses of cymbalta, I've been trying just 20mgs per day to ease the sexual dysfunction. But at the lower dose for a couple days, I experienced intense hunger and overate this evening for the first time in weeks.
>
> I've lost over 4 pounds in two weeks - exercise and diet unchanged - while taking cymbalta at 30-60mgs per day. At 20mgs per day the sexual problems improve but I will probably gain weight - or at least not lose any. Quite the dilemna.
>
> I think I'll choose the weight loss and go back up to at least 40mgs per day, saying goodbye to the gnawing hunger pains and constant snack attacks.
>
> verneVerne,
I think I remember you saying that your reason for decreasing was the sexual side effects of Cymbalta. Have you tried adding anything in to deal with that like Ginkgo, Viagra, or that other medication I can't think of that so many people have found success with?Since you said that this was the only antidepressant that has worked for you, I would hate for you to either give up on it or live with the side effect problems.
Kara
Posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 21:10:17
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out? » verne, posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 19:47:15
Kara,
I hadn't thought about ginkgo. I bought some yohimbe today although I seem to remember some cautions associated with it. The doc said he would prescribe viagra if it were still a problem next time I see him. Ginkgo may be the answer now that I've given up coffee. (I know I can't take gingko and coffee at the same time - way too stimulating)
Meanwhile, this has been my best day yet with cymbalta. I do better if I take my entire daily dose of cymbalta (40mgs) and inderal LA (60mgs) in the morning. I had been taking inderal in the evening and sometimes 20mgs of cymbalta then too.
When I take them together, the inderal seems to alleviate some of cymbalta's side effects and the resulting feeling is very clean. My mind was lucid and I could focus. I was motivated to work on some projects for the first time in weeks, and even did some housework.
I was nearly in despair yesterday and I'm almost euphoric today - without getting manic about it. (well maybe a little manic)
verne
Posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 21:24:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out? » karaS, posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 21:10:17
> Kara,
>
> I hadn't thought about ginkgo. I bought some yohimbe today although I seem to remember some cautions associated with it. The doc said he would prescribe viagra if it were still a problem next time I see him. Ginkgo may be the answer now that I've given up coffee. (I know I can't take gingko and coffee at the same time - way too stimulating)
>
> Meanwhile, this has been my best day yet with cymbalta. I do better if I take my entire daily dose of cymbalta (40mgs) and inderal LA (60mgs) in the morning. I had been taking inderal in the evening and sometimes 20mgs of cymbalta then too.
>
> When I take them together, the inderal seems to alleviate some of cymbalta's side effects and the resulting feeling is very clean. My mind was lucid and I could focus. I was motivated to work on some projects for the first time in weeks, and even did some housework.
>
> I was nearly in despair yesterday and I'm almost euphoric today - without getting manic about it. (well maybe a little manic)
>
> verne
Sounds great! You're my inspiration although I don't want to get my hopes up too high.Maybe you could check or someone else could add some info as to whether they would mix well. It's good to try to find out if they require the same enzyme to be metabolized so you know if it's going to increase concentration of either or both of them.
There's some other stuff that people here have been using with great success. I can't remember the name of it though. I think it starts with a
"C" and ends with "ine". I believe it's a medication. Do you know which one I'm talking about?Take care,
Kara
Posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 21:58:45
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out? » verne, posted by karaS on October 9, 2004, at 21:24:20
Kara,
I'm not sure about the drug that starts with "C" - I can't remember it either.
I just found a site that lists herbal alternatives and gingko is highly recommended as a supplement to AD's. Arginine sounds promising too.
the link is: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/news/viewarticle/1,1513,812,00.html
verne
Posted by karaS on October 10, 2004, at 3:04:18
In reply to Re: Cymbalta side effects - stick it out? » karaS, posted by verne on October 9, 2004, at 21:58:45
> Kara,
>
> I'm not sure about the drug that starts with "C" - I can't remember it either.
>
> I just found a site that lists herbal alternatives and gingko is highly recommended as a supplement to AD's. Arginine sounds promising too.
>
> the link is: http://www.wholehealthmd.com/news/viewarticle/1,1513,812,00.html
>
> verne
Great! Keep us posted on what works for you.Kara
This is the end of the thread.
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