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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by reese7194 on January 9, 2006, at 9:04:49
strange. i've been taking cymbalta...sh*t i don't even know for how long. i think since july. don't notice a thing. so i would imagine it's not helping.
curious what other people have experienced with this drug. i've been out of the loop in terms of talking with people on meds so i'm curious if i am missing something important.
i remember when zyprexa was first getting handed out like jellybeans back in 2000. lily tried hard to beat out depakote and lithium and neurontin for the manic depresssives. and doctors just handed it out left and right for anything. while all it did was make you get fatter than sh*t and sweat and not stop eating.
so i'm curious what the cymbalta stories are like?
thanks
reese
oh sorry for posting so much in one day. typical. used to hang out here a hell of a lot. back in 2000 / 2001 and it was really helpful. .helped me through a lot of serious sh*t and with questions.
Posted by Racer on January 9, 2006, at 12:14:41
In reply to cymbalta question, posted by reese7194 on January 9, 2006, at 9:04:49
I took Cymbalta from August 2004 until December 2005, and finally concluded that it really wasn't doing anything at all -- except maybe making me gain weight. So, I stopped it.
Frankly, I think Cymbalta has been a disappointment to a lot of people. It doesn't seem as effective as Effexor, which is the drug it was going to challenge. The side effects, for me at least, were much milder, but then ALL the effects were much milder. It did help me with pain, but that was about it.
Hope that helps.
Posted by HKristina on January 9, 2006, at 13:07:10
In reply to Re: cymbalta question, posted by Racer on January 9, 2006, at 12:14:41
I've been on Cymbalta for 2-3 weeks (30mgs first week, then upped to 60 mg). I do find improvement, but I am still a nonfunctioning mess. I would say that some of the negativity in my rampid inner monologue has lifted in terms of frequency and severity. I have taken it with Ritalin, until Lamitcal was added 3 days ago.
I would also note that anxiety associated aggitation decreased quite a bit with it. I never tried Effexor. In fact, I've only tried Zoloft and Celexa in the past. Cymbalta has not been a magic bullet for me unfortunately, thus far.
Posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2006, at 19:36:42
In reply to Re: cymbalta question, posted by HKristina on January 9, 2006, at 13:07:10
When it first came out last year I got up to 60mg with no side effects or any improvement in depression so I quit it. Now I tried it again with the exact opposite effect. My anxiety hit the ceiling I was sweating, pulse racing, head felt like it would explode. So I had to stop it after only aroung l0days. Why would it work so differently a year later. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by reese7194 on January 9, 2006, at 19:43:59
In reply to Re: cymbalta question » HKristina, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2006, at 19:36:42
well that's not the reaction one would be looking for. sorry about that. that really sucks. if you wanted to...you could really screw all the drug trials by publishing an op-ed in the new york times about your expierence. actually. i'm sure lilly, forrest, and all the companies would offer you a nice amount of money to keep quiet.
now that i think about it...that isn't such a bad idea. you should write up a rough draft and send it to them.
Posted by Racer on January 10, 2006, at 1:24:15
In reply to Re: cymbalta question » HKristina, posted by Phillipa on January 9, 2006, at 19:36:42
> When it first came out last year I got up to 60mg with no side effects or any improvement in depression so I quit it. Now I tried it again with the exact opposite effect. My anxiety hit the ceiling I was sweating, pulse racing, head felt like it would explode. So I had to stop it after only aroung l0days. Why would it work so differently a year later. Fondly, Phillipa
My guess, Phillipa, and one that I think is probably very close to the mark, is that this time around you were expecting problems. You had talked yourself into having a bad reaction, and then you did. If you go back and reread some of your posts before starting it again, you were pretty positive that it would be a mistake, because "now you know how strong it is." Well, it was equally strong last year -- which doesn't mean much, since they're ALL strong drugs, when you get right down to it. "Med sensitive" isn't a bad thing, because if you weren't sensitive to the effects of drugs, then none of the drugs could do anything for you.
I hope you have better luck with Luvox, Phillipa. Good luck.
Posted by yxibow on January 10, 2006, at 1:43:54
In reply to cymbalta question, posted by reese7194 on January 9, 2006, at 9:04:49
> strange. i've been taking cymbalta...sh*t i don't even know for how long. i think since july. don't notice a thing. so i would imagine it's not helping.
>
> curious what other people have experienced with this drug. i've been out of the loop in terms of talking with people on meds so i'm curious if i am missing something important.I've been taking it nearly since it came out, I switched from Luvox. It doesn't help as much for my racing OCD thoughts but after a long time, and a dose increase somewhat recently to 90mg some mood brightening may be peaking on the horizon. I don't think its a drug that can happen over night or even in a month, from my experience. On the other hand, it may just not be the right mixture for other people. All I can say is that it is far more tolerable than the previous attempt at this sort of drug, Effexor. I notice little anxiety and I believe in me its weight neutral more or less.
Posted by ShellyM on January 11, 2006, at 9:11:42
In reply to cymbalta question, posted by reese7194 on January 9, 2006, at 9:04:49
I've been taking Cymbalta for about 6 weeks (60mg) for pretty severe anxiety / panic. I have noticed a marked improvement but that said, the first couple of weeks there were start-up side effects (a bit more anxious, insomnia, etc.). I have found with this drug that the improvements build over time (versus a quick fix like the benzos).
After trying Paxil (worked great for about 3 years but I gained a ton!) and Lexapro (didn't have any effect one way or another), I have found the most benefit from Cymbalta. And so far, I have lost 5 pounds :-)
Hope this helps.
Shelly
> strange. i've been taking cymbalta...sh*t i don't even know for how long. i think since july. don't notice a thing. so i would imagine it's not helping.
>
> curious what other people have experienced with this drug. i've been out of the loop in terms of talking with people on meds so i'm curious if i am missing something important.
>
> i remember when zyprexa was first getting handed out like jellybeans back in 2000. lily tried hard to beat out depakote and lithium and neurontin for the manic depresssives. and doctors just handed it out left and right for anything. while all it did was make you get fatter than sh*t and sweat and not stop eating.
>
> so i'm curious what the cymbalta stories are like?
>
> thanks
>
> reese
>
> oh sorry for posting so much in one day. typical. used to hang out here a hell of a lot. back in 2000 / 2001 and it was really helpful. .helped me through a lot of serious sh*t and with questions.
This is the end of the thread.
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