Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 411277

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts?

Posted by Rayray on November 3, 2004, at 18:33:58

I've been on Cymbalta for a good 5 weeks now (first wk at 30mg, the rest at 60mg) and am having some second thoughts about it. This, after about 10 yrs of Zoloft (mostly 150mg) + Wellbutrin 300mg.

Side effects have been few (mostly first week) and I tolerate it well. I seem to dream more and have a lighter sleep. I don't think of this as a problem. While the libido is a shade better, I seem to be quick to get irritable. In an office situation this is not generally good. I defintely feel less "laid back" than with Zoloft.

So the question I'm struggling with is this: am I more irritable because I am experiencing more genuine feelings (and they just don't happen to be good ones) or because Cymbalta is making me edgy?

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Ray

 

Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts?

Posted by SLS on November 4, 2004, at 6:29:16

In reply to Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts?, posted by Rayray on November 3, 2004, at 18:33:58

> I've been on Cymbalta for a good 5 weeks now (first wk at 30mg, the rest at 60mg) and am having some second thoughts about it. This, after about 10 yrs of Zoloft (mostly 150mg) + Wellbutrin 300mg.
>
> Side effects have been few (mostly first week) and I tolerate it well. I seem to dream more and have a lighter sleep. I don't think of this as a problem. While the libido is a shade better, I seem to be quick to get irritable. In an office situation this is not generally good. I defintely feel less "laid back" than with Zoloft.
>
> So the question I'm struggling with is this: am I more irritable because I am experiencing more genuine feelings (and they just don't happen to be good ones) or because Cymbalta is making me edgy?
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray
>
>


One possibility is that Cymbalta is starting to work for you. The increased sex-drive is a good sign that migh coraborate this. Sometimes, the appearance of irritability or anger or more assertiveness signals an onset of antidepressant effect, especially if the type of depression you had included passivity, inhibition, and lack of energy. Again, this is only a possibility. No guarrantees, of course, but it might be worth a couple of more weeks.

I hope this is the case for you.


- Scott

 

Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » SLS

Posted by Rayray on November 4, 2004, at 18:41:14

In reply to Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts?, posted by SLS on November 4, 2004, at 6:29:16

As ever, thanks a lot, Scott! I appreciate your words of encouragement and plan to stick with the Cymbalta for a while. One of my friends at work thinks I may have been over-reacting to the election (entirely possible) although there were other incidents before.

And how are you doing? Your ride has not been a smooth one and I pray that you find a medication combo that works.

Take care,

Ray

 

Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » SLS

Posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 7:45:23

In reply to Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts?, posted by SLS on November 4, 2004, at 6:29:16

Scott,

I've seen some of your replies but not a current update. Are you back at 60mg? What is your opinion on Cymbalta FOR YOU at this point.

Also, since starting Lamictal, have you ever completely stopped it? I'm beginning to wonder if it's doing anything at all anymore. I can't go above 125mg or I start to gain weight and feel stupid. The only other thing I'm taking for anxiety is 250mg 3 times daily of Keppra.

My doc prescribed the Lamictal as an antidepressant because of my past side effects with SSRI's, mainly sexual dysfuntion.

Although SSRI's and SSNRI's can cause some emtional blunting in certain ways, so can anticonvulsants. With SSRI's, I'm more passive but feel a little euphoric, but the best way to describe my experience on anticonvulsants is I feel like I have a "condom on my brain", not really depressed but little expression or creativity, little output.

Any thoughts on all this?

 

SLS - Any thoughts on this post (above also)?

Posted by theo on November 8, 2004, at 7:12:06

In reply to Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » SLS, posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 7:45:23

> Scott,
>
> I've seen some of your replies but not a current update. Are you back at 60mg? What is your opinion on Cymbalta FOR YOU at this point.
>
> Also, since starting Lamictal, have you ever completely stopped it? I'm beginning to wonder if it's doing anything at all anymore. I can't go above 125mg or I start to gain weight and feel stupid. The only other thing I'm taking for anxiety is 250mg 3 times daily of Keppra.
>
> My doc prescribed the Lamictal as an antidepressant because of my past side effects with SSRI's, mainly sexual dysfuntion.
>
> Although SSRI's and SSNRI's can cause some emtional blunting in certain ways, so can anticonvulsants. With SSRI's, I'm more passive but feel a little euphoric, but the best way to describe my experience on anticonvulsants is I feel like I have a "condom on my brain", not really depressed but little expression or creativity, little output.
>
> Any thoughts on all this?

Any thoughts on this post?

 

Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » theo

Posted by SLS on November 8, 2004, at 7:47:23

In reply to Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » SLS, posted by theo on November 7, 2004, at 7:45:23

> I've seen some of your replies but not a current update. Are you back at 60mg? What is your opinion on Cymbalta FOR YOU at this point.

I don't think Cymbalta is helping me. I will continue with it in the hopes that I can find something to augment it. I am currently using riluzole.

> Also, since starting Lamictal, have you ever completely stopped it?

A few times. It helps me about 15% when I am taking an antidepressant at the same time, but does nothing by itself.

> I'm beginning to wonder if it's doing anything at all anymore. I can't go above 125mg or I start to gain weight and feel stupid.

How many days have you ever stayed at 150mg? I know this sounds weird, but perhaps the "stupids" would disappear at a higher dosage or with the passage of time. I wouldn't be too concerned with weight gain. It seems to plateau at 10 lbs.

Can you describe in a little more detail what you experience as the "stupids"?

How bad is you depression right now? How would you describe it?
I think you should remain on the Lamictal and add an antidepressant. What were your reactions to Wellbutrin or Remeron?


- Scott

 

Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » SLS

Posted by theo on November 8, 2004, at 10:11:54

In reply to Re: Cymbalta ---- seconds thoughts? » theo, posted by SLS on November 8, 2004, at 7:47:23

I've never tried Remeron. I've tried Wellburin in the past with Prozac and that caused to much anxiety, but have never tried it with a mood stabilizer. I have samples of 150mg Wellbutrin XL and my try it before my next pdoc appointment, 11/23. If not she mentioned me trying Concerta or Adderall XR just to see what happens before we go back to a low dose Paxil CR (12.5) or Paxil (10 mg), or maybe Cymbalta. Paxil has been the only SSRI to work on anxiety issues but sexual sides were killer, but I've never tried below 27.5 CR or 20mg Paxil.

This may be coincidence, but Lamictal seems to give me upper respriratory/flu like symptoms above 125mg. I've been at 150mg Lamictal twice and both times felt sickly, had to take antibiotics. Since I have this response at 150mg, I've been hesitant to try doses above that (200mg). Didn't you mention you had memory issues above 150mg? I have wondered what you mentioned about at higher doses the sides might go away, but I don't have any sides between 0-125mg and am having a hard time justifying that oing above 150mg would improve anything or just get worse. Who knows!


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