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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HEART on June 16, 2006, at 12:20:18
I take a low dose Cymbalta 40mg in the morning and 50mg Topamax at night. My problem is in the morning and throughtout the day I become drowsy, confused and have difficulty concentrating, even reading something I just scan over the words. Even my responses to stimuli when you are about to hit something in your car and your heart should be pounding in your chest is not there. I am trying to figure out which drug is doing what and what I can do about it. I know Topamax can make people get stupid and I know it causes me to make mistakes and have to ask people to repeat things. And since the Cymbalta is at such a low dose maybe it's not working. Dr tried me on 60mg Cymbalta awhile ago and it was too much for me. I just don't know which drug is causing me to feel like I am just gone, not there in the morning. Could it be the mixture of the two?
As far as my options could people help me out here? I am having difficulty just getting my thoughts together to type this. So I apologize if it doesn't flow together nicely.
One idea is to add Wellbutrin to this cocktail. Is this just a setup for more problems?
Which med is doing what and any ideas what I can do?
Posted by Ripley Snell on June 16, 2006, at 17:14:06
In reply to Which is it theTopamax or Cymbalta?, posted by HEART on June 16, 2006, at 12:20:18
> I take a low dose Cymbalta 40mg in the morning and 50mg Topamax at night. My problem is in the morning and throughtout the day I become drowsy, confused and have difficulty concentrating, even reading something I just scan over the words. Even my responses to stimuli when you are about to hit something in your car and your heart should be pounding in your chest is not there. I am trying to figure out which drug is doing what and what I can do about it. I know Topamax can make people get stupid and I know it causes me to make mistakes and have to ask people to repeat things.
**I strongly agree with this line of thinking. Topamax is a sodium blocker, just t u r n i n g down the speed of the parietal lobes. The worst Cymbalta could be doing, IMO, is not working (and it not-works a lot).
And since the Cymbalta is at such a low dose maybe it's not working. Dr tried me on 60mg Cymbalta awhile ago and it was too much for me. I just don't know which drug is causing me to feel like I am just gone, not there in the morning. Could it be the mixture of the two?
Yes--synergy. Why all this Cymbalta? Have you tried the other SNRIs, Effexor or Strattera? Is an SNRI right for you? What about Remeron (mirtazapine)--in a class by itself and quite effective with the SNRIs?
> As far as my options could people help me out here? I am having difficulty just getting my thoughts together to type this. So I apologize if it doesn't flow together nicely.
> One idea is to add Wellbutrin to this cocktail. Is this just a setup for more problems?
I hate Wellbutrin, but it is the "accepted" alternative to an SNRI. I can't speak well about it, though, because as a BP II it makes me totally manic.
> Which med is doing what and any ideas what I can do?
Just a few thoughts above. Others will have others. :-) Stop the Stupamax.Snell
Posted by HEART on June 16, 2006, at 18:31:17
In reply to Re: Which is it theTopamax or Cymbalta? » HEART, posted by Ripley Snell on June 16, 2006, at 17:14:06
Hi Snell,
Thank you kindly for responding. :) I understand your suggestion to be to stop the Topa. I agree to an extent. I do benefit from it though in terms of cravings but do suffer the horrible memory, sedation, word loss effects. So I may exp. cravings again.
Sometimes I do think it is the Cymb that is making me feel like this too. But you are thinking that is unlikely? Am i correct in understanding this? Lol I apologize I guess this drug can make one stupid.
Feel free to elaborate on your ideas and suggestions as you seem to know what you are talking about. Look forward to hearing your ideas.
Take care
Posted by Phillipa on June 16, 2006, at 20:07:39
In reply to Re: Which is it theTopamax or Cymbalta?, posted by HEART on June 16, 2006, at 18:31:17
Cymbalta can be an energizing med for many. At 30mg I had to stop. Muscle twitching, head felt like it was going to explode, and wanting to cry and couldn't Love Phillipa
Posted by TJO on June 18, 2006, at 5:08:25
In reply to Which is it theTopamax or Cymbalta?, posted by HEART on June 16, 2006, at 12:20:18
Hi,
I think it is that your meds aren't working for you and you need to change them or up the doses, and think it might be your illness itself giving you the effects you describe-if you dont mind me asking, what is your dx? Topamax at 50 mg has been a "wonder" drug for me, so I wonder if it is giving you the "stupidity" it is famous for at such a low dose. My pdoc told me that it gives you stupidity only when the dose is raised too quickly-and that might be another avenue to explore if it turns out that "Stupamax" is the right drug for you- you could always come off of it and begin taking it again at 25 or even 10 mg if they make the pills that small.Tam
Tam
Posted by CEK on June 21, 2006, at 8:40:22
In reply to Re: Which is it theTopamax or Cymbalta?, posted by TJO on June 18, 2006, at 5:08:25
The symptoms you are describing are how I feel when I am depressed and not on medication. I took Cymbalta while being weened off of Effexor and then continued. 30mg seemed ok, but I still felt depressed. The doc increased to 60mg and that was when I started experience full blown mania. It did not have a calming,take away the depression effect on me. It made me want to tell everyone off that did any little thing that hurt my feelings whereas, I wasn't like this before. It really showed its stuff at work when I got in my boss's face almost daily. With Effexor I could hold back emotion, Cymbalta, I let them fly with no recorse of action. It did not help my depression and ended me up in the hospital wanting to commit suicide. I took Topamax at one time. I started out at 25mg for 2 weeks, then went up to 50mg for 3 weeks and never had the stupid like side effect. Just the known tingling in my fingers and it stopped all cravings and compulsive eating within 3 days of taking it. I agree with the previous poster and also the mention that the Cymbalta may not be working for you.
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