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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by odonna184 on October 24, 2007, at 19:07:50
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS FOR YEARS. AT FIRST, MY DOCTOR PRESCRIBED XANAX, WHICH WORKED VERY WELL, UNTIL I GOT USE TO IT. SHE THEN INCREASED THE DOSE. I HAVE BEEN TAKING 1 MG. XANAX 4 TIMES A DAY FOR YEARS NOW. THEY NO LONGER WORK AS WELL AS THEY USE TO. WHEN I INFORMED HER OF THIS, SHE ALSO GAVE ME A PRESCRIPTION FOR CYMBALTA. ( 30 MG.BID ).
TONIGHT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT I'M TAKING IT. ALONG WITH 1 MG. OF XANAX, BECAUSE OF NIGHT TERRORS& PANIC ATTACKS IN MY SLEEP.
CAN ANYONE OUT THERE GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ABOUT CYMBALTA ? I WAS TOLD THAT IT HELPS PAIN MEDICATIONS BECOME A BIT STRONGER, WHICH IS GOOD FOR ME, BECAUSE I AM IN A LOT OF PAIN CONSTANTLY, AND TAKE MULTIPLE PAIN MEDICATIONS.I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT HELPS PANIC ATTACKS. WHICH I ALSO GET OFTEN, EITHER AWAKE OR IN MY SLEEP. IF YOU KNOW OF ANY SIDE EFFECTS, OR ANY OTHEER KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT CYMBALTA, PLEASE,LET ME KNOW YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THIS DRUG AS SOON AS YOU ARE ABLE.
I ALWAYS WORRY WHEN STARTING A NEW DRUG!
THANKS PEOPLE!
DONNA*
Posted by linkadge on October 24, 2007, at 19:38:37
In reply to CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by odonna184 on October 24, 2007, at 19:07:50
Cymbalta is officially an antidepressnat. It is usefull for panic attacks or pain disorders even in the absence of depression.
It is very important to note that cymbalta does not work in the same manner as xanax for panic attacks. It needs to be taken every day for a little while before the benifits are seen. It is not the type of drug that can be taken "as needed" or in the midst of a panic attack, but if taken regularly it can help to reduce the sevarity and/or frequency of panic attacks.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on October 24, 2007, at 19:40:10
In reply to CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by odonna184 on October 24, 2007, at 19:07:50
One other thing to note is that sometimes cymbalta can increase anxiety for the first few days that it is taken. You will want to start on the lowest dose to avoid this side effect.
The increased anxiety should go away over time, and an antianxiety effect should appear.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2007, at 19:46:28
In reply to Re: CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by linkadge on October 24, 2007, at 19:40:10
Personally I'd make my first dose in the am to see how my body responds that's just me. Good luck. Phillipa
Posted by LlurpsieNoodle on October 24, 2007, at 20:47:48
In reply to Re: CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2007, at 19:46:28
I took cymbalta for about a year. I started out with 30mg and I had a lot of side effects, but it was an effective AD for me. I had general anxiety during the time I was taking it, but only one or two panic attacks (in a whole year). Since stopping cymbalta I have panic attax about 2x a month. '
my pdoc also told me that cymbalta was very effective for anxiety, ultimately, I had to add a benzodiazepine (klonopin) to the mix to control symptoms.
I recommend taking it at night so that you'll sleep through the side effects (should you have any).
Funny thing about cymbalta is that it made me feel caffeinated for about 60 minutes, then I totally crashed. Sedating...
good luck- let us know what happens!
-Ll
Posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2007, at 20:52:09
In reply to Re: CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by Phillipa on October 24, 2007, at 19:46:28
Additional info. Phillipa sounds like you're in luck.
Initial Treatment
Major Depressive Disorder
Cymbalta should be administered at a total dose of 40 mg/day (given as 20 mg BID) to 60 mg/day (given either once a day or as 30 mg BID) without regard to meals. There is no evidence that doses greater than 60 mg/day confer any additional benefits.Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
Cymbalta should be administered at a total dose of 60 mg/day given once a day, without regard to meals.While a 120 mg/day dose was shown to be safe and effective, there is no evidence that doses higher than 60 mg confer additional significant benefit, and the higher dose is clearly less well tolerated. For patients for whom tolerability is a concern, a lower starting dose may be considered. Since diabetes is frequently complicated by renal disease, a lower starting dose and gradual increase in dose should be considered for patients with renal impairment (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Special Populations and below).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
For most patients, the recommended starting dose for Cymbalta is 60 mg administered once daily without regard to meals. For some patients, it may be desirable to start at 30 mg once daily for 1 week, to allow patients to adjust to the medication before increasing to 60 mg once daily. While a 120 mg once daily dose was shown to be effective, there is no evidence that doses greater than 60 mg once daily confer additional benefit. Nevertheless, if a decision is made to increase the dose beyond 60 mg once daily, dose increases should be in increments of 30 mg once daily. The safety of doses above 120 mg once daily has not been adequately evaluated.Maintenance/Continuation/Extended Treatment
Major Depressive Disorder
It is generally agreed that acute episodes of major depression require several months or longer of sustained pharmacologic therapy. There is insufficient evidence available to answer the question of how long a patient should continue to be treated with Cymbalta. Patients should be periodically reassessed to determine the need for maintenance treatment and the appropriate dose for such treatment.Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
As the progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy is highly variable and management of pain is empirical, the effectiveness of Cymbalta must be assessed individually. Efficacy beyond 12 weeks has not been systematically studied in placebo-controlled trials, but a one-year open-label safety study was conducted.Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is generally recognized as a chronic condition. The effectiveness of Cymbalta in long-term use for GAD, that is, for more than 10 weeks, has not been systematically evaluated in controlled trials. The physician who elects to use Cymbalta for extended periods should periodically evaluate the long-term usefulness of the drug for the individual patient.
Posted by odonna184 on October 25, 2007, at 15:36:55
In reply to Re: CYMBALTA : INFORMATION PLEASE !!!!, posted by LlurpsieNoodle on October 24, 2007, at 20:47:48
THANKS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO MY MESSAGE FOR HELP WIITH CYMBALTA.
I DID TAKE MY FIRST DOSE IN THE AM . I WILL TAKE ANOTHER DOSE TONIGHT B4 BED.
I DO HAVE THAT CAFFINATED FEELING, AND I HATE IT! JUST LIKE THE LUNESTA DID TO ME. BUT, IF THIS WILL SLOWLY GO AWAY, I'LL KEEP TAKING IT & SEE HOW IT GOES.
AT LEAST I WON'T HAVE THAT FUNKY TASTE IN MY MOUTH ALL THE TIME, EITHER!
THANKS AGAIN, PEOPLE!!!!!
DONNA*
This is the end of the thread.
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