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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 llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 18:26:46
Hi All,
I don't hang out much on this board, because I'm not sure I have a lot to offer. A little over a month ago, I started medication to treat major depression. I have never been medicated before, although this is probably my 2nd or 3rd episode of MDD. I'm 27, female.I promised myself several weeks ago that I would post an update on how my new meds are working once I got to the therapeutic dose for a couple of weeks. I would have liked to see a post like this when I was freaking out about being on an anti-depressant, and thinking I was the only one in the world who felt like a zombified wierdo.
Here's a link to one of my first posts on psycho-babble, where I mention my early impressions of llrrrpp on cymbalta
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060504/msgs/640817.html
Since then, I sent my pdoc a panicked email about my insomnia, and he prescribed a small dose of seroquel (25 mg).
I now take the seroquel, and 60mg cymbalta, for the last 4 weeks (both meds at bedtime)
The side effects have mostly worn off. They were pretty wicked for the first 5 days or so.
Muscle tension, jaw clenching, spasms and shivers
dysphagia- feeling of a lump in the throat, making it unpleasant or painful to swallow
hot and cold flashes
nausea
anxiety
3 suicidal crises, plenty of suicidal ideation (I'm not sure if this is directly attributable to the meds, but it's a possibility, I just wanted to mention it) Mostly in the first 3 weeks of my treatment.
Drugged, intoxicated feelings, disorientation, particularly in the morning.
Once, I took my medicine about 4 hours later than usual, I started getting strange spasms and also hot and cold flashes. I guess cymbalta has a very short halflife and so dose timing is probably quite important.
Positive effects
better mood
MUCH better concentration- attention and memory, being able to follow a conversation, noticing the big picture, instead of focusing on a tiny little part of the visual field (really helps when crossing the street!)
anhedonia (the inability to feel or anticipate feeling pleasure) mostly gone. This particular symptom was making it hard to enjoy eating, sex, love, life. Now I can eat chocolate again.
more energy
better sleep (probably due to seroquel)
less anxious rumination (obsessive thoughts and worries), probably because I do this in the middle of the night, and I sleep through the night now
responding better to therapy. my therapist (psychologist) says that I look brighter, and that I'm more coherent, that now I'm stronger, so we can start to really work on some stuff.
******
My closing thoughts are that having to take medication is not a sign of weakness. It's a sign that something is not quite right. I was incredibly anxious about being drugged. Actually, since I've been taking the medicine, I feel more like the real llrrrpp than I did when I was in the midst of the serious depression (friends and family say the same).
I've been seeing a therapist for about 11 weeks now. He's the one that first recommended that I see a pdoc. He basically said that at some point, depression becomes a biochemical 'event' in the brain and the body, and at that point, effective treatment needs to address these signs.
I hope this helps. Again, I don't have a lot to offer concerning whether cymbalta is better than _____, because I've never taken any other medicine on a regular basis (besides antihistamines, that is)
-ll
Posted by fca on June 9, 2006, at 18:36:05
In reply to Cymbalta working for me, posted by llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 18:26:46
for sticking it out--I wish you continued success fca
Posted by Glydin on June 9, 2006, at 20:18:43
In reply to Cymbalta working for me, posted by llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 18:26:46
> I hope this helps. Again, I don't have a lot to offer concerning whether cymbalta is better than _____, because I've never taken any other medicine on a regular basis (besides antihistamines, that is)
>llrrrpp dear, despite what is sometimes believed, NO ONE can really say that about any med compared to another other than their personal experiences and personal offerings. Thanks for posting of your positive findings and posting the fact startup stuff went away for you over time - those things very much need to be heard on a med board.
I'm very glad for you and I hope your treatment continues to work well for you for a long long while.
Posted by Jost on June 9, 2006, at 21:44:02
In reply to Re: Cymbalta working for me » llrrrpp, posted by Glydin on June 9, 2006, at 20:18:43
That's great about the cymbalta.
I took it for a few months, and noticed the same good effects you are--especially that my thinking was clearer. I could see disappointments and frustrations as what they were, figure that I could handle them in fairly straightforward ways, and and not get involved in working them up into the gotterdammerung.
That was nice.
I was a little strung out and sleep-deprived on it--but I often am--and it was such a relief not to be doing all that heavy lifting about stuff.
So, I think it could well lead to your being able to make important changes.
Jost
Posted by Phillipa on June 9, 2006, at 22:14:47
In reply to Re: Cymbalta working for me, posted by Jost on June 9, 2006, at 21:44:02
Taking in the morning will help insomnia. Love Phillipa
Posted by ClearSkies on June 9, 2006, at 22:24:39
In reply to Cymbalta working for me, posted by llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 18:26:46
I've been on it since last August and feel better than I have in years. (Also due to other medication changes, lifestyle changes, and also a change in therapists. Hmm... hard to attribute what has helped so much, but I believe it's the combination of changes that has done it.)
Posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 8:29:28
In reply to Cymbalta working for me, posted by llrrrpp on June 9, 2006, at 18:26:46
How did you get through the suicidal ideation stuff? It sounds like you didn't really have that until you were started on cymbalta. When I start an antidepressant, any of them including cymbalta, I get severely depressed and suicidal. I tell myself if I can just get through it and give the medication time I will come out fine on the other side. But it is always so bad I can't ride it out.
How did you get through it? Any advice?
Posted by llrrrpp on June 10, 2006, at 8:52:24
In reply to Re: Cymbalta working for me » llrrrpp, posted by blueberry on June 10, 2006, at 8:29:28
Hi Blueberry,
I'm glad you asked me about the suicidal ideation stuff.I had a lot of suicidal ideation before I started on the medicine. I had my first 'crisis' about 2 weeks after I started on the meds. my first week was 30 mg, and the second week was 60 mg of cymbalta
Babble (the psychology board, in particular) really helped me through these difficult times. There was one weekend (maybe 3 weeks ago?) where I was feeling very very low. I was pretty sure that I was going to kill myself. The feelings became completely overwhelming. I could think of nothing else. I called my husband (he was away on business) and we talked for over an hour. About life, and ending life, and the particular stressor that was contributing to the feelings of hopelessness. After that conversation, it was about 10 pm. I hung up the phone, and I felt completely paralysed. I could hardly move. It was a good thing, too, because if I could have moved, I would have found the necessary tools to end my life. Instead, I took my medicine. I took double the seroquel and I told myself before I passed out that instead of killing myself tonight, I would starve myself to death instead. It would be slower, but I could still indulge the part of me that wanted to suffer and hurt. For the next couple of days, everytime that I wanted to OD, or throw myself off of the tall buildings or walk in front of a truck or ... you name it- everything was a way to kill myself... I just thought of the emptiness in my stomach, and I felt satisfied that I was already taking action, and that it was only a matter of time before 1) I felt better or 2)I died of starvation.
Around this time, I was chatting with another babbler, she was incredibly helpful and supportive. she gave me some really important things to think about when I am in an acute crisis. Thinking about my husband and my loved ones. Thinking about my obligations. Ways to develop a suicide plan that has a safeguard. (an exit-clause, if you will). Ways to get through the next day by making a promise: I will not kill myself today. And if there's ever a day where I cannot make that promise, I need to seek help. Encouraging me to reach out to my friends to tell them that I need to hang out with people. Loneliness is not good for suicidal people.
My therapist also told me that my strategy of calling my husband and promising myself to stay in bed was a good alternative to attempting suicide.
Also, I did a little research and found that a successful suicide is not a sure thing. The possibility of permanent disability was daunting.
So. That's how got through it. I'm still working on these feelings. I'm kind of scared about the next couple of days, because I have some stress in my life right now. I will probably be posting on the psychology board or the social board to diestract myself, and give voice to some of the powerful feelings.
best wishes to you blueberry,
I'm glad to know that I'm not alone. Take care of yourself-llrrrpp
p.s. I'm going to have blueberries on my cereal this morning :)
This is the end of the thread.
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