![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Ok, I've been reading some other messages in here about this drug. I was just prescribed Cymbalta 30mg today. I have yet to wean myself off Effexor XR(which I've only been taking for 2 weeks, but having really bad SE.) My pdoc had me fill out some tests to better help him understand where I'm at with anxiety and depression. Well, I scored a 48 and he told me he wants the score to be 10 or less. I read that the majority of people have started out at 20mg and that 30 made them "explode". Being the way I am and how I'm currently feeling, I've got to tell you I'm sooo scared to take it. Perhaps it will do me good, but then maybe it will be like what I've read. Sounds like all bad things. Any advice???...Totally Terrified
Posted by ronaldo on December 21, 2006, at 8:30:56
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Hi Frankie
Seems like you should just try it at 20 mg to start with and if it doesn't agree with you then you can stop it immediately. On the other hand if 20 mg goes down well then if you feel confident you could up it to 30 mg. Does the tablet break down to 20 mg easily? Can you get it in 10 mg denominations? Or could you ask your pdoc to prescribe 20 mg to start off with? You are much better off starting at a dose that you feel confident with. Maybe its time to stand up to your pdoc and assert yourself. Maybe you can suggest to him that he does it your way or he doesn't do it at all. You are the boss in the doctor patient relationship and don't you forget it.
Research quickie:
"Cymbalta is available in 20 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg capsules."
You could get the 30 mg capsule, empty the contents of the capsule into a measured glass of orange juice, and then drink 2/3 of it. That would give you 20 mg. You would probably have to throw the remaining 1/3 away or store it to drink with the remaining 1/3 from the next dose. This method does not work every time so I hope another babbler can confirm that this method is OK for Cymbalta.
I visited the Cymbalta home page:
http://www.cymbalta.com/depression/about/about.jsp?reqNavId=3
"The target daily dose for Cymbalta is 60 mg."
Seems that 30 mg is eminently suitable. You will not be overdosing at 30 mg. Seems that you don't have much to worry about.
I hope it all goes well for you. Maybe you just have a lot of background anxiety which is voicing itself. Visit the Cymbalta home page and read about all the good things it can do for you (according to the manufacturers).
I bet there are lots of babblers on this board who can give Cymbalta a good reference. They just seem to be a bit shy at the moment.
ronaldo
> Ok, I've been reading some other messages in here about this drug. I was just prescribed Cymbalta 30mg today. I have yet to wean myself off Effexor XR(which I've only been taking for 2 weeks, but having really bad SE.) My pdoc had me fill out some tests to better help him understand where I'm at with anxiety and depression. Well, I scored a 48 and he told me he wants the score to be 10 or less. I read that the majority of people have started out at 20mg and that 30 made them "explode". Being the way I am and how I'm currently feeling, I've got to tell you I'm sooo scared to take it. Perhaps it will do me good, but then maybe it will be like what I've read. Sounds like all bad things. Any advice???...Totally Terrified
Posted by ronaldo on December 21, 2006, at 8:42:21
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Seeing as there is no rush of babblers to voice their opinions your next best bet is to type 'Cymbalta' in the Google search engine (scroll down to the bottom of this page) and you will come up with ten plus pages of results all about Cymbalta - the good the bad and the ...well there won't be too much of that.
Happy hunting
ronaldo
Posted by ronaldo on December 21, 2006, at 10:12:17
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Hello Frankie
I was wrong about dissolving the contents of the capsule in orange juice. Apparently the Cymbalta capsule is rather special. Don't try to dissolve the contents of the capsule. Follow Larry Hoover's advice. Sorry for the mistake. The contents of the Cymbalta capsule are not designed to dissolve. See:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050424/msgs/493589.html
> Hi Frankie
>
> Seems like you should just try it at 20 mg to start with and if it doesn't agree with you then you can stop it immediately. On the other hand if 20 mg goes down well then if you feel confident you could up it to 30 mg. Does the tablet break down to 20 mg easily? Can you get it in 10 mg denominations? Or could you ask your pdoc to prescribe 20 mg to start off with? You are much better off starting at a dose that you feel confident with. Maybe its time to stand up to your pdoc and assert yourself. Maybe you can suggest to him that he does it your way or he doesn't do it at all. You are the boss in the doctor patient relationship and don't you forget it.
>
> Research quickie:
>
> "Cymbalta is available in 20 mg, 30 mg and 60 mg capsules."
>
> IGNORE THIS ADVICE ! ! !You could get the 30 mg capsule, empty the contents of the capsule into a measured glass of orange juice, and then drink 2/3 of it. DON'T DO THIS !!! That would give you 20 mg. You would probably have to throw the remaining 1/3 away or store it to drink with the remaining 1/3 from the next dose. This method does not work every time so I hope another babbler can confirm that this method is OK for Cymbalta.
>
> I visited the Cymbalta home page:
>
> http://www.cymbalta.com/depression/about/about.jsp?reqNavId=3
>
> "The target daily dose for Cymbalta is 60 mg."
>
> Seems that 30 mg is eminently suitable. You will not be overdosing at 30 mg. Seems that you don't have much to worry about.
>
> I hope it all goes well for you. Maybe you just have a lot of background anxiety which is voicing itself. Visit the Cymbalta home page and read about all the good things it can do for you (according to the manufacturers).
>
> I bet there are lots of babblers on this board who can give Cymbalta a good reference. They just seem to be a bit shy at the moment.
>
> ronaldo
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Ok, I've been reading some other messages in here about this drug. I was just prescribed Cymbalta 30mg today. I have yet to wean myself off Effexor XR(which I've only been taking for 2 weeks, but having really bad SE.) My pdoc had me fill out some tests to better help him understand where I'm at with anxiety and depression. Well, I scored a 48 and he told me he wants the score to be 10 or less. I read that the majority of people have started out at 20mg and that 30 made them "explode". Being the way I am and how I'm currently feeling, I've got to tell you I'm sooo scared to take it. Perhaps it will do me good, but then maybe it will be like what I've read. Sounds like all bad things. Any advice???...Totally Terrified
>
>
Posted by dmlvt on December 21, 2006, at 11:39:12
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Cymbalta has worked very well for me as an AD. I started at 20 mg and went to 40mg within a week. I had some minor headaches at the start and some sweating, but nothing that bothered me very much.
At 40mg, I did have sexual side effects, which were helped but not cured by adding 150mg of wellbutrin. The wellbutrin then caused anxiety, for which I was given Ativan. Eventually, I quit both the ADs through a lengthy taper, and then after realizing that I needed something, added back just 20mg of Cymbalta.
Ignoring the sexual side effects, I found Cymbalta to be a very good medication for me. When you factor in the side effects, I'm not sure what I think.
I see my pdoc in a couple weeks and we'll discuss other options that I might try.
dml
Posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 18:20:22
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by dmlvt on December 21, 2006, at 11:39:12
Thanks for the advice. I would never break the capsule and mix the contents in juice or whatever, that's not how it's supposed to be done. I'm going to take 37.5mg of effexor until saturday. Then on Sat. I will take one 30mg. Cymbalta while I'm at work. I'd feel a lot safer taking it at work for the first time because I work at a hospital. I will keep you posted on how I do.
Posted by blueberry1 on December 21, 2006, at 19:13:29
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
Starting Cymbalta - Very Scared. Ya know, that's exactly how I feel every single time I put a new pill in my mouth. I'm so terrified of meds. That's because I've had so many bad reactions to them over the last decade. So anyway, you aren't alone.
Hey, there is an easy way to start cymbalta gently, if you haven't already started it. Empty out the capsule into a small bowl or plate. Count out the beads...10 beads is approximately 1mg. Believe it or not, the first time I tried 10 beads I definitely felt it. And it felt good. Next day I did 10 beads 3 times. And by the 3rd day I was up to about 20mg. But by then I had real bad side effects...sexual, feeling very drugged out, feeling very cold and chilled, shivering in the summertime, so I didn't go any more with it. And by the 3rd day I didn't feel any more good from it but instead felt like it was making me more depressed than where I had started. Not a fair trial, but an example of how to get started gently if you want to.
Posted by Racer on December 23, 2006, at 1:37:50
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 18:20:22
I started Cymbalta a couple of years ago, after some very bad experiences that left me in a state of hysterics regarding anything. As a friend of mine put it, "Right now, if I gave you a Flintstones vitamin, you'd think you were being poisoned." Much as I denied it, he was precisely accurate.
He called me every single day, to tell me I'd survive. Without that, I'm not sure if I'd have stuck it out.
There were no real side effects for me. I had trouble at the beginning with diarrhea, which stopped when I started taking it halfway through breakfast instead of before. Headaches and sweating, which went away pretty quickly -- within a couple of weeks. Insomnia for about the first three days. Beyond that, no problems. And those problems, as I said, went away.
I started at 30mg, and it was fine. I hope my experience helps give you some confidence in starting it. It really is a pretty benign little drug, as far as any of the psych meds go.
Good luck with it.
Posted by flmm on December 23, 2006, at 16:37:07
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared » Frankie1984, posted by Racer on December 23, 2006, at 1:37:50
For me 30 mg is just right. Do not rush to 60mg! I got completely wacked at 60mg! Tried a lot of variations, settled on 30. Still get a little anxiety, but depression is really improved. It takes a while, couple months for me to balance out on this drug, but hey, nothing good is ever easy! I do not have the ssri blahs on this drug. Much better motivation. Go really slow! I am glad I had patience with this drug! I am done with ssri type drugs, I hope!
Posted by yxibow on December 24, 2006, at 4:31:22
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by flmm on December 23, 2006, at 16:37:07
Some doctors plow right in and start Cymbalta at 60mg, but I think it is better to start with 20s and work up. I currently take 120mg, and although studies have not completely shown the difference between 60, 80, 90, 120 -- somewhere around 80, it very subtly did something interesting for a moment.
I would say its rate of attacking MDD is fairly good and for those like myself who can't tolerate the more harsh effects of Effexor it is a compromise. But it takes a while to build up to a point where one "feels different"
We've had stories of people opening capsules but this is not the best idea. First of all, in general they were meant to dissolve fairly evenly and not leave the dissolving to individual pulsules.
Also each of the many dots in the capsule is not evenly weighted, only the capsule itself is. The capsules may even vary faintly in color depending on batch run. The worst possibility in breaking them open and mixing them with food (worse) (or not) is that you will chew them and instantly get a NE rush. If one absolutely has to do it, be very careful. I wouldn't recommend it.
Its up to you and your doctor of course where you start, but I would say that tapering up slowly, if you are concerned, is best, since even placebo effects (anxiety over medication) can be as much as 30%.-- tidings
Posted by shadowplayers721 on December 25, 2006, at 1:54:18
In reply to Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by Frankie1984 on December 21, 2006, at 1:59:53
I am more scared of my depression. For me, the depression is so serious that the suicidal thoughts are every moment. I am on 90 mg of Cymbalta with no problems and it helps me with chronic pain. No suicidal thoughts now.
Posted by Simcha on December 25, 2006, at 2:24:07
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared, posted by shadowplayers721 on December 25, 2006, at 1:54:18
> I am more scared of my depression...I am on 90 mg of Cymbalta with no problems and it helps me with chronic pain. <
I'm more scared of my depression too.
I'm in the process of switching to Cymbalta. I have fibromyalgia, terrible chronic pain.
What kind of chronic pain do you have and how has Cymbalta helped?
Thanks,
Simcha
Posted by shadowplayers721 on December 25, 2006, at 7:46:56
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared » shadowplayers721, posted by Simcha on December 25, 2006, at 2:24:07
I injured my low back on the job and chronic pain from that. I have a fibromalgia pain too. The doc said the pain dosage for Cymbalta is 90 mg. I have found that to be true.
Posted by Phillipa on December 27, 2006, at 12:29:31
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared » Frankie1984, posted by Racer on December 23, 2006, at 1:37:50
Racer did 30mg of cymbalta work for you? Playing catchup Love Phillipa
Posted by Frankie1984 on December 29, 2006, at 0:55:14
In reply to Re: Starting Cymbalta--Very Scared » Frankie1984, posted by ronaldo on December 21, 2006, at 10:12:17
Ok, I think it's a lot easier for people to help other people if we know what were diagnosed with. It has taken me a long time to actually see a pdoc, about two years, and just started going about a month ago. I always knew I had anxiety and ocd, but I had no idea my depression was so bad until I went to see him. A couple weeks went by and I felt like I was getting worse. He had me fill out some tests to see how I scored as far as my level of depression and axiety were. I scored a 48 and he told me that he likes to see it somewhere around 10. He said I have a lot to work with. So basically I'm telling you fellow babblers out there I have really really bad depression and anxiety. So when others tell me about cymbalta I'd like to know what their case is so I'm kinda on the same level. Or just say what your condition is.
UPDATE ON CYMBALTA: I've taken Cymbalta 30mg for about a week now, and I seriously feel pretty good. I feel like I have a bit more energy, like I can do my job a little bit better, and just feeling sorta good about myself. I know I'm where I'd like to be/feel. Who know's if that is even possible. As far as side effects go, I haven't really had any bad ones(knock on wood), basically I've been thirsty, sick to my stomach and today I started having a really bad headache. One odd ball thing to throw in there, I diagnosed myself as having carpal tunnel. I wake up every morning with my hands being super stiff and a little puffy. Ok, that's fine, except today I've been having what feels like a rush of cold and wetness to the palm of my hand. When it started I kept looking/feeling my hand to see what I had on it, but there was nothing. Any ideas out there as to what that could be?
Sincerely,Frankie
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.