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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 Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
Has anyone taking Cymbalta experienced fatigue or a feeling of extreme apathy? I have been taking 60 mg per day for about 2 months (30 mg in am & 30 in pm), and when I wake up in the mornings I can hardly get myself out of bed. And I have to push myself through the day.
Does that sound familiar?
Posted by fuji on May 10, 2005, at 6:55:45
In reply to Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy, posted by Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
I stopped it after 3 weeks and have returned to Effexor. I found the apathy, tiredness and increased appetite. Hopefully a 3 week vacation from effexor will kick start the effexor again.
fuji.
Posted by up'n'down on May 11, 2005, at 2:07:04
In reply to Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy, posted by Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
> Has anyone taking Cymbalta experienced fatigue or a feeling of extreme apathy? I have been taking 60 mg per day for about 2 months (30 mg in am & 30 in pm), and when I wake up in the mornings I can hardly get myself out of bed. And I have to push myself through the day.
>
> Does that sound familiar?Yes! It is Familiar
I am not a morning person by birth, but it really takes an effort to get out of bed each day. Once I'm up, and wide awake, I am doing better at not being so sedated. I am on 20mgs total--10mg in AM and PM. Since it is getting better, I think I will become accustomed to it even more, but I am staying on this dosage for a long time.
Hang in there. U'D
Posted by KayeBaby on May 11, 2005, at 13:22:49
In reply to Cymbalta, posted by up'n'down on May 11, 2005, at 2:07:04
I have been on it since Jan '05 very slowly going from 20mg to 30 and up to 60 for a short while.
Above the 40 to 50mg mark it was iffey-I think causing some lethergy and negative ruminating thoughts. I dropped down to 20mg for a short time and am now trying 20mg twice a day.
My mood is level on cymbalta and I am generally happier, smile more and am patient and calm.
For a time I was more energetic but now I feel terribly lazy. I guess I will have to choose between the better mood Cymbalta provides and the motivation that my anxiety (sometimes)provides.
I am quitting my job. I have tried everything I know and it seems that I am unable to maintain a reasonable energy level which causes anxiety when I work. So screw it, I suppose. I'm tired of feeling like I suck all the time. I own my own salon and have done hair for 18 years.
I give up fighting. If I feel tired I'll rest and if I feel energetic I will move. At least I don't have to feel guilty all the time.
I don't want to do anything.
Kaye
Posted by Colleen D. on May 11, 2005, at 19:51:57
In reply to Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy, posted by Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
and have been doing better. I added Wellbutrin shortly before quitting the Cymbalta. I also take Klonopin.
Colleen
Posted by 4WD on May 12, 2005, at 17:37:16
In reply to Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy, posted by Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
> Has anyone taking Cymbalta experienced fatigue or a feeling of extreme apathy? I have been taking 60 mg per day for about 2 months (30 mg in am & 30 in pm), and when I wake up in the mornings I can hardly get myself out of bed. And I have to push myself through the day.
>
> Does that sound familiar?
It was the opposite for me. I was on Cymbalta from September-January. I switched from Effexor. I started a 30 mg and went to 60 after two weeks. Initially I had more physical energy but absolutely no motivation to do anything with it. After going to 60mg I started having severe anxiety. I did sleep great though. When I switched back to Effexor to combat the anxiety, the Effexor no longer worked for anxiety (But I have been off and on Effexor half a dozen times because it had already quit working for depression).Marsha
Posted by Interested on May 13, 2005, at 10:29:05
In reply to Re: Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy » Interested, posted by 4WD on May 12, 2005, at 17:37:16
Thanks to all for responses. It seems that AD's affect everyone differently, in some ways. I'm trying Cymbalta for depression but without weight gain.
I'm considering going back to Prozac, which I took for a long time with no problems, except my sexual response was nil. Same on Cymbalta, though.
Can anyone compare Cymbalta and Prozac? I know they're by the same manufacturer, and Cymbalta is similar to Prozac except with norephenephrin untake inhibitor, which should be an energy boost.
Posted by paul_d_234 on May 14, 2005, at 7:27:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta v. Prozac?, posted by Interested on May 13, 2005, at 10:29:05
I switched from Zoloft to Cymbalta cause Zoloft caused weight gain and sexual side affects. Zoloft did work great for anxiety and depression.
Cymbalta also works but when I got to 90 mg I got lots of less energy, apathy and unmotivated.
Dropped to 60MG and added 100MG Welbutrin. Seems to be working well (its been 3 weeks).
By the way no weight gain nor any weight loss on Cymbalta (I need to lose so at least no weight gain is a plus).
There are some sexual side affects on Cymbalta for me also.
Posted by Interested on May 14, 2005, at 15:40:42
In reply to Re: Cymbalta v. Prozac?, posted by paul_d_234 on May 14, 2005, at 7:27:20
Thanks, Paul. Side effects sound similar. I tried Wellbutrin, but I didn't really see any effects one way or the other. The feeling I have with Cymbalta is that I think it's helping depression because I'm not depressed, but I'm not particularly upbeat or happy. So I guess that will have to come naturally.
Posted by Dave001 on June 11, 2005, at 14:05:10
In reply to Cymbalta - side effects of fatigue and apathy, posted by Interested on May 9, 2005, at 22:05:34
> Has anyone taking Cymbalta experienced fatigue or a feeling of extreme apathy? I have been taking 60 mg per day for about 2 months (30 mg in am & 30 in pm), and when I wake up in the mornings I can hardly get myself out of bed. And I have to push myself through the day.
>
> Does that sound familiar?Interesting post. Because of all the variables involved, not to mention the "non-specific" nature of depressive symptoms, I am always very careful with the relationship between cause and effect. That said, it certainly *does* appear that duloxetine will reliably induce a state of fatigue in me that is not unlike depression itself.
I've tried stopping and restarting gradually several times over the last several months because it actually did *seem* to help somewhat at first (though admittedly that was confounded by the coinitiation of modafinil, which for obvious reasons could have masked the duloxetine-related fatigue), but without fail, it makes me feel much worse.
I am really beginning to wonder if it is not impossible to enhance one of either the dopaminergic or serotonergic subsystem without making the other worse, at least with our relatively non-specific drugs and general lack of understanding of the brain's influence on behavior.
Of course, others may respond differently.
This is the end of the thread.
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