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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
horrific anxiety and accompanying tiredness, apathy go away. I can't see how I can up the dose like the pdoc wants me too. It's been over a week at 30mg. Was supposed to go up by 30mg a week til 120mg is reached. Thanks guys I know I have no tolerance to side effects they scare me they really do. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Racer on January 3, 2006, at 18:37:56
In reply to How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
Phillipa, you know as well as any of us that your fear can cause any little blip to be magnified out of proportion. Are you currently having trouble with the Cymbalta at 30mg? If not, you probably won't have major trouble by raising it. If you do, then you can take the capsules apart again and go up more slowly. You know that nothing will work unless you take it long enough for it to kick in.
Here's something I read that helped me: none of these drugs have "side" effects -- they have effects. Some of these effects are beneficial, they're the reason we take them in the first place; they also have other effects, some adverse. Rather than saying, "I know I have no tolerance to side effects they scare me they really do," maybe you can reframe that as something more like, "I can tolerate any adverse effects until we find out if the drug works for me, and if it does, we can work on mitigating any adverse effects that have not faded by that time?" Or even simpler: "Most adverse effects of these drugs are transient, and I can tolerate them until they go away."
Remember: short term evil for long term good. You've been telling us here that you feel pretty dang bad for a while, yes? Wouldn't you put up with some discomfort for a while, in order to feel better than you have been?
Good luck.
Posted by Sonny Liston on January 3, 2006, at 18:49:43
In reply to How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
Hang in there Phillipa. Please try and give Cymbalta a "fair" trial run. If you don't you always be second guesiing yourself regarding Cymbalta's effectiveness.
How have you reacted to drugs which impact norepinephrine previously?
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 22:16:55
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Sonny Liston on January 3, 2006, at 18:49:43
I took it a year ago when it first came out. I hadn't found this board yet. I took 60mg of cymbalta. 30mg for 30days as prescribed then. Then 60mg for another month. Never felt a thing no side effects. then I stumbled along this site. Read about how strong the med was supposed to be. So now I am prescribed it again and of course now that I know it has side effects it has them go figure I answered my own question. But shouldn't I have felt something the last time? Oh my aches and pains did go away. I didn't know this until after stopping it with no withdrawal effects. Aren't I supposed to feel something. Boy I sure would be wierd if I didn't. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by 4WD on January 3, 2006, at 22:21:29
In reply to How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
> horrific anxiety and accompanying tiredness, apathy go away. I can't see how I can up the dose like the pdoc wants me too. It's been over a week at 30mg. Was supposed to go up by 30mg a week til 120mg is reached. Thanks guys I know I have no tolerance to side effects they scare me they really do. Fondly, Phillipa
Phillipa,
Have things (your anxiety) gotten worse since starting the Cymbalta?
Marsha
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 22:36:27
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the » Phillipa, posted by 4WD on January 3, 2006, at 22:21:29
Yup but so have a lot of personal family stuff. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by tepiaca on January 3, 2006, at 23:15:49
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the » 4WD, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 22:36:27
Posted by Racer on January 3, 2006, at 23:25:15
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the » 4WD, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 22:36:27
Phillipa, how much of your increased anxiety, etc, do you think has to do with your worrying about getting side effects from Cymbalta?
To put things in perspective, ALL of these drugs are heavy hitters. They're ALL very strong. Cymbalta is supposed to be a good one because it hasn't shown as many side effects as many of the others. If they weren't strong, would any of us take them?
And remember to read this board with a grain of salt: people who post here regularly range from the seriously treatment resistant to those who are experiencing things that medications alone will not help. We're not exactly the statistical norm.
What side effects are you experiencing that are bothering you NOW?
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 23:34:27
In reply to Im following your posts phillipa... fondly Tepi (nm), posted by tepiaca on January 3, 2006, at 23:15:49
Hi Tepi, Love Ya Fondly, Phillipa. Hope you're doing better.
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 23:36:10
In reply to Uh, hate to bring this up, but... » Phillipa, posted by Racer on January 3, 2006, at 23:25:15
Racer it's a long story. If you like Babblemail me and I'll fill you in. Anxiety, tiredness the worst but extenuating circumstances too. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on January 4, 2006, at 9:08:52
In reply to How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
Phillipa,
I think there are times we have to look at why we sabotage ourselves before we even start. I know I had to do that for myself. Truthfully, something within me wanted me to embrace the idea of these meds being evil, awful and was going to be the ruination of me. Why? – The reasons are many, but I believe the main one was I did not want to think of the impact to life. While I did not want to continue the way I was going, there was a “blockage” to the thought I could be helped. It was almost a question of inertia – the changes to my entire thought processes were frightening after living a particular way for quite a while. Embracing the negative was a way for me to justify. This is a gut wrenching admission for me, but it was completely true.
Self-sabotage is a reality; I have been guilty of it. I found immersing myself in the negative was a good predictor of my failure before I started on several occasions. I believe the posts here and other boards like this are truthful and well meaning, but I also believe we have to come to the realization of their impact on us may be due to not trusting our own responses and an irrational need that is part of our disorders.
I urge you to give Cymbalta a chance and try, with your doc’s guidance, to work on making it work for you. Think how wonderful it would be to gain a success.
Best,
Glydin
Posted by antigua on January 4, 2006, at 12:27:19
In reply to How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 18:11:38
Hi Phillipa, I don't know if I've ever posted to you before...
It took Cymbalta a full 6 or 7 weeks for the good part to kick in--having some energy to concentrate, get out of bed and get things done. That said, by 3:00 pm, I need a nap. My Pdoc prescribed .25 Klonopin during the day to combat the anxiety the cymbalta causes for me too. So it's a double-edged sword. I'm sure he will up my Cymbalta on the next visit (I'm on 60 mg) or he will add something else. Right now, I take the nap, and I'm a better person for it.
all that said, I feel better w/the Cymbalta. I like it much better than Effexor. I can "feel" my feelings again, and I really missed that. I just wish I wasn't so tired! But he says I need the klonopin, and so for now I'll do what he says.
best,
antigua
Posted by Declan on January 4, 2006, at 13:14:27
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the, posted by antigua on January 4, 2006, at 12:27:19
Hi PJ
Last time Cymbalta took away some of your aches and pains, and that sounds good. Perhaps it may aggravate your anxiety, but you have some Valium for that if neccessary.
Declan
Posted by yxibow on January 4, 2006, at 15:32:37
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before the » Sonny Liston, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2006, at 22:16:55
> I took it a year ago when it first came out. I hadn't found this board yet. I took 60mg of cymbalta. 30mg for 30days as prescribed then. Then 60mg for another month. Never felt a thing no side effects. then I stumbled along this site. Read about how strong the med was supposed to be. So now I am prescribed it again and of course now that I know it has side effects it has them go figure I answered my own question.
I would agree again with the above posters -- it is posssible that you may be reading into the drug this time way too much, and reading all sorts of negative effects of the medication.
But shouldn't I have felt something the last time?
Not necessarily. If you have a biochemical imbalance from birth which if you believe in it, and I do, most people on here have one or another -- your body chemistry changes over time. Last time for me was moderate to hospitalizing OCD from 12 to 17. Then it was mild dysthymia (the fancy word for low to moderate depression) and anxiety at college over homesickness and half a dozen other issues. Finally I am stuck in this blasted disorder that nobody on this planet has but myself, and I'd just like to get back to how I felt in college. But I can't. I have to pick up the pieces somehow and invent a new me. My body chemistry has again changed. So this is a perfect example that if you took a drug once, you may not have exactly the same things going on your synapses and neurons inside your brain, a constantly changing affair.
Oh my aches and pains did go away.
It has been investigated for the pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (neurological pain) so this does not surprise me in the least.
I didn't know this until after stopping it with no withdrawal effects. Aren't I supposed to feel something.
You have to evaluate how long you've been on. I dont know how long you've been on (total) a dose -- although it sounds like your doctor is escalating on a dose schedule rather aggressively. Your last experience with it sounded like a more tempered approach to dose increase. And you were on it for 2 months from what I can see. If you've only been on it for a week or two, that isn't enough of an evaluation even if you felt something different the last time. This class of drug just simply doesn't work that fast to notice huge strides for most people.
Tidings
Posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2006, at 18:49:33
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before, posted by yxibow on January 4, 2006, at 15:32:37
Boy I have to say that all you guys know me well and know how I think. I think you're all on target I have to try something and stick with it. But I am going to take the more conservative approach and increase more gradually. The valium I only take at night. Do you think I should take it during the day too? Or would this just aggravate it even more. You are the most loving supportive people I know. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on January 4, 2006, at 19:52:56
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2006, at 18:49:33
> The valium I only take at night. Do you think I should take it during the day too? Or would this just aggravate it even more.
When I stated Lex, I was dosing my Klonopin about double the normal dosing I was taking prior and I used 24 hour coverage. I think it made A LOT of difference in my being able to tolerate the beginning stages. This was my doc recommendation and it worked well. After a few weeks, I was able to decrease the K and now it's PRN.
Of course, discuss it with your doc but I think it's a good strategy for folks when anxiety is going to be considered a "given" due to the med's action and the reaction produced by our own thought processes - in other words, what we do to our own selves. Klonopin helped me with the anxiety and moreover, helped me with the hyperviligience (paying extreme, pathological and undue attention to body and mind's preceptions and reactions) that was a "given" for me in the beginning stages of a new med.
Posted by yxibow on January 4, 2006, at 21:14:09
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2006, at 18:49:33
> Boy I have to say that all you guys know me well and know how I think. I think you're all on target I have to try something and stick with it. But I am going to take the more conservative approach and increase more gradually. The valium I only take at night. Do you think I should take it during the day too? Or would this just aggravate it even more. You are the most loving supportive people I know. Fondly, Phillipa
You're quite welcome. The Valium probably should be taken at night but it has a 24 hour half life in most people so it will be in your system completely in about 5 days (5 half lives is a typical system flush) and it won't matter when you take it actually. But the initial somnolence might be better to take it at night just so the peak of the drug is in the middle of the night and not the daytime as far as any drowsiness.
tidings
Posted by Sonny Liston on January 4, 2006, at 21:37:07
In reply to Re: How Long Is This Cymbalta Going To Take Before, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2006, at 18:49:33
> Boy I have to say that all you guys know me well and know how I think. I think you're all on target I have to try something and stick with it. But I am going to take the more conservative approach and increase more gradually. The valium I only take at night. Do you think I should take it during the day too? Or would this just aggravate it even more. You are the most loving supportive people I know. Fondly, Phillipa
Phillipa just remember you are in control. If you feel more comfortable by using a more conservative titration schedule let your pdoc know. They should be willing to work with you.
And TRY not to be too hard on yourself :)
This is the end of the thread.
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