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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by slee on August 29, 2007, at 14:17:49
I have been taking cymbalta for about 3 or 4 months. I was prescribed this for depression, which I didn't think I had. I have never had suicidal thoughts and I am always happy.I have a great life with a wonderful husband and grown Daughter. As far as problems go I don't have any, other than What kind of craft I'm going to do today or who am I going to go to lunch with today, to me that does not sound like I have depression,maybe just a little boredom at times. My husband takes very good care of me and i don't have to work. I have back problems that causes me pain but I don't feel sad or depressed. I just trust in the Lord and deal with it. I have explained this to my doctor but he just said that most of the patients that he thinks is depressed tells him that they don't feel depressed. He has been giving me samples of cymbalta 60 mg, well the samples ran out and I had to buy the cymbalta. even with my insurance it was going to cost me $100., which I can not afford, so I just quit taking the cymbalta. I don't think I need it anyway...but now I have been off the med for 3 days and I am having electrical sensations going through my head when I move my eyes from side to side. Will this go away & is this dangerous. I am so sorry this is a long posting, I just felt it needed to be said.
Posted by linkadge on August 29, 2007, at 14:57:51
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by slee on August 29, 2007, at 14:17:49
If you truely believe that you were/are not depressed, then I think you're probably right.
I must say that sometimes patients feel better on the medications and that makes them think they were never depressed so they stop the meds.
(I just said the above incase this might be your case.)
But in the end, if you don't feel the med has done anything, and you believe you never felt depressed, then just don't take the medication and ask for a second oppinion.
The electric zaps are a withdrawl symptom and will go away.
Linkadge
Posted by Fivefires on August 29, 2007, at 14:58:28
In reply to Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by slee on August 29, 2007, at 14:17:49
> I have been taking cymbalta for about 3 or 4 months. I was prescribed this for depression, which I didn't think I had. I have never had suicidal thoughts and I am always happy.I have a great life with a wonderful husband and grown Daughter.>
Did you mention suicidal thoughts because you had some while on Cymbalta? I apologize if this is too unfront, but I have a bit of troub' w/ ADs as they increase these sort of thoughts.
>As far as problems go I don't have any, other than What kind of craft I'm going to do today or who am I going to go to lunch with today, to me that does not sound like I have depression,maybe just a little boredom at times. My husband takes very good care of me and i don't have to work. I have back problems that causes me pain but I don't feel sad or depressed. I just trust in the Lord and deal with it. I have explained this to my doctor but he just said that most of the patients that he thinks is depressed tells him that they don't feel depressed.>
This sounds like a response to insure the stability of his occupation. I'd like to debate what is 'truly depression'.
>He has been giving me samples of cymbalta 60 mg,
Did you begin at such a high dose and stay there?
>well the samples ran out and I had to buy the cymbalta. even with my insurance it was going to cost me $100., which I can not afford, so I just quit taking the cymbalta. I don't think I need it anyway...but now I have been off the med for 3 days and I am having electrical sensations going through my head when I move my eyes from side to side.>
I'd think you should definitely titrate down. I would think your doc should have suggested you do so.
It's been suggested to me to 'pour out granules' slowly until I'm feeling back to myself, when med in capsule form, unless they are extended release, I believe.
>Will this go away & is this dangerous.>
Yes I'd think it will go away, but I'm certainly no authority. Think never 'cold turkey' a med been on 3-4 months. I'm not an authority on whether it could be dangerous. You're stable I think and nothing worse is going to happen, but I understand your fears.
I was on 30mg and it increased physical pain instead of decreasing pain as it claims to do. Can't even recall if it worked re: depression(?) as was so focused on the pain issue. This scared me because have an injury from which breakthrough pain can occur requiring I take extra pain med, and my med doc doesn't like me to do this. I stopped 30mg a day dosage after 5 days. In my past, I've found Effexor-XR to be more helpful, didn't exacerbate any pain, and felt some relief very early on 'from anxiety' and, 'I'll give depression a maybe'.
It seems to me, your doctor might/should have thought a person on 60mg for four months certainly needs to d.c. by titration.
>I am so sorry this is a long posting, I just felt it needed to be said.>
Don't apologize. (I do it all the time too tho'.) It wasn't so long anyway. And, we all have long ones and short ones. I'm glad you're seeking some help w/ this here. You came to the right place. A lot of knowledgeable folks here.
I have to run, well not literally, tho' wish I could. Instead, need get offline and deal w/ $ matters rather quickly. Maybe call your doc. I'll check back later to see if you've gotten some more responses from your post.
bestwishes, 5f
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 22:12:20
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Fivefires on August 29, 2007, at 14:58:28
I took cymbalta when first out at 60mg for about three months noticed no difference went down to 30mg for a while and then off no side effects. It's not dangerous just uncomfortable. May I ask why your doc thought you were depressed if you stated you were happy? Phillipa
Posted by slee on August 30, 2007, at 8:11:55
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 22:12:20
Thank you, that is good to know. The problem now is high pitch sounds in my head and when I move my eyes it seems to get worse. maybe it is something totally different from stopping Cymbalta. I just hope it stops soon. Yes I have always told my Dr. that I was happy. I also told him that instead of being depressed I felt I had anxiety at times. Maybe that was the reason for 60 mg Cymbalta. I see the Dr. on Oct.6th. Maybe new help them. Again, Thank You
Posted by linkadge on August 30, 2007, at 8:35:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by slee on August 30, 2007, at 8:11:55
Yeah, sometimes antidepressants are prescribed for anxiety, but generally only for a type of chronic severe anxiety disorder called GAD.
The zaps when you move your eyes are related to the cymbalate withdrawl, they will go away over time.
Linkadge
Posted by slee on August 30, 2007, at 13:09:21
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 22:12:20
Thank You for the response I think the Dr. thought I was depressed because the day I talked to him I was having some anxiety and just a little pissed off because I can't find anything that makes my back feel better. If I can get through the zaps and the high pitch frequency sounds in my head everything else will fall into place.
Posted by linkadge on August 30, 2007, at 15:43:46
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by slee on August 30, 2007, at 13:09:21
It may also have been prescribed for pain. Sometimes antidepressnats have effect on chronic pain that is independant of their antidepressant mechanism. It doesn't apply to all antidepressants, but cymbalta is one that is sometimes used for chronic pain.
It can also help anxiety.
If your doctor prescribed it just for depression he may have been misguided, but there may be some grounds in terms of the other symtpoms you are having (pain/anxiety)
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2007, at 19:58:23
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by linkadge on August 30, 2007, at 15:43:46
Link I agree on the pain and cymbalta as didn't know I had back pain till off the med but it never helped my anxiety. No ad every has. Was just rediagnosed as PTSD. Phillipa
Posted by slee on September 1, 2007, at 20:51:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal » linkadge, posted by Phillipa on August 30, 2007, at 19:58:23
Thank You. I do remember the Dr. saying that Cymbalta would help with the pain and since I have been off it I have had much more pain.That had just slipped my mind, thanks for reminding me.
Posted by rskontos on September 3, 2007, at 16:45:44
In reply to Re: Cymbalta withdrawal, posted by slee on September 1, 2007, at 20:51:54
bendryl will help with the brain zaps and the tinneyness in your ears. I still have zaps occassionally and I have cymbalta free since April but they don't hurt just remind me they are there. I had two this morning upon awakening. They will become less and less. Just one benedryl at night should help if you have them more at night or one during the day or a half of one during the day if that is time you have them most.
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