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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deepdarkhole on March 26, 2005, at 11:00:52
I quit taking lexapro about 6 weeks ago. I gained 40 pounds and I now look horrible despite a lot of exercise and a prescribed diet! My pdoc wants me to take cymbalta now.
I don't feel bad taking nothing. However I have noticed the old panic/anxiety signs are starting to creep into my life. The trouble breathing, blurred vison, irritable, legs pain, not sleeping...
My questions is should I take cymbalta? What are the side effects? Will I gain more weight?
HELP!!!!!! Or can I just do this on my own?
Posted by Spriggy on March 26, 2005, at 12:13:13
In reply to Should I take cymbalta, posted by deepdarkhole on March 26, 2005, at 11:00:52
Have you tried other SSRI's in the past and had the same reaction as Lexapro?
Lexapro was the drug from Hades for me. LOL
My mom was on Cymbalta for a while, she loved it. She lost weight, had more energy, and her depression seemed to clear (and anxiety).
I don't think anyone can tell you how it will work for you however. It may work wonders, it may make you more fat and more miserable.
It's one of those "try it and rule it out" things.
If you think you can do this without any meds, that's the road I'd go down. BUT if your life is being altered daily from your anxiety, then you need something.
Posted by Interested on March 26, 2005, at 17:38:43
In reply to Re: Should I take cymbalta, posted by Spriggy on March 26, 2005, at 12:13:13
I just started on Cymbalta week ago, and I like it. I've been struggling with depression for a long time, and, like you, I don't like weight gain. I also have migraine headaches, and so I have to watch the drugs. But I've already noticed a positive difference with Cymbalta and no negative side effects. I've noticed a hyperactive feeling in the afternoon, but it's not negative. I believe that it's probably part of the adjusting. I recall on Prozac I had a little while getting adjusted.
I would recommend trying Cymbalta. It's the best I've found so far.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2005, at 19:01:20
In reply to Re: Should I take cymbalta » Spriggy, posted by Interested on March 26, 2005, at 17:38:43
It will definitely help with muscle and other pains. When I stopped it all mine came back. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by CrazyCO on March 26, 2005, at 22:43:19
In reply to Re: Should I take cymbalta, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2005, at 19:01:20
I switched from lexapro to cymbalta, for exactly the same reason as you are describing, I gained about 50 pounds in a year, and I couldn't stand it any longer, it also caused me short term memroy problems. Now I'm on 60mgs on Cymbalta and have been since september, I have not had additional weight gain while on it, and have lost about 5 of those pounds but haven't changed my diet at all, so I'm sure if I cut back on my eating I could lose what I gained on lexapro, anyway I'm rambling. Give the Cymbalta a try, I don't think you will have weight gain on it as you did on lexapro. Good Luck
Posted by barbaracat on March 27, 2005, at 22:20:18
In reply to Should I take cymbalta, posted by deepdarkhole on March 26, 2005, at 11:00:52
Yes, but alot depends. I've been running a few threads on this board and another board hoping to get the word out because of my own very unusual experience with Cymbalta. In short, I now love it, but I'm Bipolar and my first week on it starting at 30mg was truly bizarre and very destabilizing. I'm now taking only 12 pellets out of the capsule and doing great.
Although the starting dose is usually 30mg, you may find that is too much. It depends on your chemistry, of course, but I'd really push for the lowest dose of 20mg just to see. You can always adjust, but it's better to go too slowly than too fast on this med. If you're like me and others I'm coming across, taking the capsule apart and taking 3 pellets is not too much to start with.
I think this drug is too good to be ditched because some people can't tolerate it at standard doses, but don't expect your pdoc to know anything about or believe that this kind of microdosing is possible. After 7 weeks, I hope I'm proving it is possible. Here's a link to a current thread:
Posted by Bill LL on March 29, 2005, at 10:23:16
In reply to Should I take cymbalta, posted by deepdarkhole on March 26, 2005, at 11:00:52
I like Cymbalta, but I have anxiety, depression, and ADD. You only have anxiety.
I would give it a try. If it doesn't work, have you tried a beta blocker or neurontin?
> I quit taking lexapro about 6 weeks ago. I gained 40 pounds and I now look horrible despite a lot of exercise and a prescribed diet! My pdoc wants me to take cymbalta now.
>
> I don't feel bad taking nothing. However I have noticed the old panic/anxiety signs are starting to creep into my life. The trouble breathing, blurred vison, irritable, legs pain, not sleeping...
>
> My questions is should I take cymbalta? What are the side effects? Will I gain more weight?
>
> HELP!!!!!! Or can I just do this on my own?
This is the end of the thread.
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