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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by blueberry on May 1, 2006, at 17:40:58
Just wondering if anyone has experience with, or knowledge of, zyprexa plus cymbalta combination.
To make a long story short, I think I have to go back to zyprexa. Since I've tried all the ssri's except cymbalta, my only choices really are prozac or cymbalta. I'm wondering about the synergy of zyprexa with cymbalta...maybe good, but maybe too much. Don't know.
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2006, at 19:33:52
In reply to Any experience or knowledge of zyprexa+cymbalta?, posted by blueberry on May 1, 2006, at 17:40:58
why do you feel you need to go back on zyprexa?
Posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2006, at 20:42:58
In reply to back on zyprexa..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2006, at 19:33:52
Low dose prozac? Love Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on May 1, 2006, at 21:07:27
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa..., posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2006, at 20:42:58
I was on effexor and zyprexa. It was pretty weird.
Linkadge
Posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2006, at 22:53:02
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa..., posted by linkadge on May 1, 2006, at 21:07:27
are you sure you want to go back on zyprexa long-term? maybe a mood stabilizer+plus benzo would be a better way to go.
Posted by Denise1904 on May 2, 2006, at 3:38:49
In reply to Any experience or knowledge of zyprexa+cymbalta?, posted by blueberry on May 1, 2006, at 17:40:58
Hi,
Well I started taking Cymbalta on Saturday and initially felt really drowsy and then as usual the drowsiness then turned to anxiety and apathy. Yesterday was horrendous and the suicidal thoughts came fast and furious.
Took a zyprexa yesterday and am feeling a bit better today. In my experience Zyprexa 10mg works when taken with just about anything but I hate having to take it I really do.
Denise
Posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 7:48:11
In reply to back on zyprexa..., posted by med_empowered on May 1, 2006, at 19:33:52
Thanks for your interest. I do not want to go back on zyprexa. I have been resisting it valiantly for 10 weeks. I feel I need to go back on it for these reasons...
Fear, terror, paranoia...these things never existed before but began showing up when I reduced from 2.5mg to 1.25mg and have been absolutely devastating since not taking any at all. No sign of improvement at all in 10 weeks.
Weight and appetite. I'm 6' tall, usually weigh 140 lbs, but am now at 129. No appetite. When I do eat, I can't eat much.
Tinnitus...ringing in the ears was fairly quiet on zyprexa. Off of it the tinnitus has been devastating and relentless.
The only other options I could think of that might fit the bill for the above things are either depakote or remeron. Depakote would definitely increase my weight, but no real effect on tinnitus and unknown effect on the terror. Remeron dramatically increases the terror. Klonopin works decent on the terror, but worsens appetite and worsens the tinnitus a lot.
I took 1.25mg last night and tinnitus has already tamed down a bit and I ate a slightly larger breakfast than usual. I really do not want this medicine. I am feel trapped. Had I known this 5 years ago when I added it to prozac, I would not have done it. I feel like I am in triage, that is, I have to do something to save my life.
Temporarily I am committed to 1.25mg to 2.5mg. Not sure where to go from here though. Zyprexa by itself doesn't help much overall, except for the things I've mentioned, though it does tend to make ssri's, especially prozac, come to life a little better. I figure if I can keep the dose real low, with 5mg a top ceiling, risks of longterm use should be low. At some point in the future when I am more stable with another med and less frail, maybe I can try getting off it again.
> why do you feel you need to go back on zyprexa?
>
Posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 7:53:38
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa..., posted by Phillipa on May 1, 2006, at 20:42:58
> Low dose prozac? Love Phillipa
Good suggestion Phillipa. Actually I started taking 2.5mg prozac for 4 days a week ago, until my tinnitus got louder, I got more depressed, my nearly extinct appetite became extinct, and lousy sleep got worse.Tinnitus, appetite, sleep, counteracting side effects of ssris...these are the reasons I think I am stuck with zyprexa. I hate it. I can see maybe giving someone an antipsychotic for a couple weeks for whatever reason. But I don't think they should ever be used longterm, especially just to enhance antidepressants. The longterm consequences are huge.
Posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 7:58:11
In reply to Re: Any experience or knowledge of zyprexa+cymbalta?, posted by Denise1904 on May 2, 2006, at 3:38:49
I hate taking zyprexa too. After so many years it's like I am now trapped. Had I known 5 years ago it would so dramatically change my body and mind, I would never have taken it. Honestly though, I think all psych meds are like that, it's just that the anitpsychotics are more powerful and profound.
I'm going to try to stay real low with it. I've actually never been higher than 5mg.
> Hi,
>
> Well I started taking Cymbalta on Saturday and initially felt really drowsy and then as usual the drowsiness then turned to anxiety and apathy. Yesterday was horrendous and the suicidal thoughts came fast and furious.
>
> Took a zyprexa yesterday and am feeling a bit better today. In my experience Zyprexa 10mg works when taken with just about anything but I hate having to take it I really do.
>
>
> Denise
Posted by med_empowered on May 2, 2006, at 8:07:12
In reply to Re: Any experience or knowledge of zyprexa+cymbalta? » Denise1904, posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 7:58:11
maybe you could try the zyprexa, capping it at 5mgs, and then set up a tapering schedule for later? It sounds like you could benefit from a mood stabilizer+benzo--maybe the best thing to do would be to go back on zyprexa for a bit, taper off VERY SLOWLY (over several months, really) and then at most use it as-needed, if at all.
I agree with you about all this indiscriminate use of antipsychotics--its just plain wrong.
Posted by Caedmon on May 2, 2006, at 11:20:58
In reply to back on zyprexa..., posted by med_empowered on May 2, 2006, at 8:07:12
Hi blueberry,
Could the symptoms coming off Zyprexa be withdrawals, which you might deal with by doing a slower taper? I think Depakote can help with anxiety. Good luck.
- C
Posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 13:18:54
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa..., posted by Caedmon on May 2, 2006, at 11:20:58
Good question. I've been wondering these 4 things:
Is it zyprexa withdrawals, still at 10 weeks with no change?
Is it an underlying condition that was progressing over time but being covered up by zyprexa?
Did zyprexa longterm change brain configuration enough that it might take years or forever to readjust?
Is it the lack of an ssri? (been on those for over 10 years)
I saw on other chat boards that some people went back on zyprexa after 3 months or even 9 months just to end the misery. Scary.
I have taken depakote. Several times. Each time it was wonderful for both depression and anxiety beginning the very first day. But then it would poop out in less than a week, and then nothing.
> Hi blueberry,
>
> Could the symptoms coming off Zyprexa be withdrawals, which you might deal with by doing a slower taper? I think Depakote can help with anxiety. Good luck.
>
> - C
Posted by ed_uk on May 2, 2006, at 15:20:25
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa... » Caedmon, posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 13:18:54
Hi Blueberry
I'm sorry for what you are going through. I hope you feel supported on p-babble.
Did you have any side effects when you were taking Zyprexa? If so, do you think that you might be able to substitute a different AP for the Zyprexa?
Regards
Ed
Posted by Caedmon on May 2, 2006, at 16:26:14
In reply to Re: back on zyprexa... » Caedmon, posted by blueberry on May 2, 2006, at 13:18:54
> Good question. I've been wondering these 4 things:
>
> Is it zyprexa withdrawals, still at 10 weeks with no change?
>
> Is it an underlying condition that was progressing over time but being covered up by zyprexa?
>
> Did zyprexa longterm change brain configuration enough that it might take years or forever to readjust?
>
> Is it the lack of an ssri? (been on those for over 10 years)>Ah! It's tough, isn't it? It's a wonder we ever figure out what works for us. Well I hope that you certainly do.
- C
This is the end of the thread.
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