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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 ricker on August 1, 2008, at 18:30:38
Hello everyone,
Like most of you, I've pretty much tried them all. :(
I'm currently on zoloft 100mg, remeron 15mg, rivitrol 0.5mg and lamactil 50mg.
I've been feeling very lathargic for several months now.... zoloft pooping out (for the 2nd trial now).
My pdoc wanted to try adding lamactil 100mg as an augmentation but I just can't get past the 50mg.
I become quite short tempered, irratable and have trouble sleeping when I take 75mg of lamactil so I will be stopping it.
Thats not to say it's a bad drug, I believe all drugs react differently with people and I'm sure it has helped many of you. :)Effexor worked somewhat for me a couple of years ago but I struggled with aggression along with bad tinnitus.
Also, I have to be carefull with the anxiety aspect so something like wellbutrin is out of the question. I'm sure lots of you understand what I mean, I'd love to have that "get up and go" feeling over this chronic "I just don't care what happens in life" feeling.
So how do I draw the line between over and under stimulating? I had a hard enough time tolerating zoloft the first time so the rivitrol was introduced to combat the irratability. We just can't win?
Anyway, I'm slowly decreasing the lamactil and will be asking my pdoc for a cymbalta trial.
That means stopping zoloft and I'd really like to stop the remeron as well. For those that suffer from tinnitus, you will understand why. :(I know most of us here are just looking for something that will help us cope with our daily lives, interact with our loved ones, have the motivation and confidence to be socially active etc.
I've been trying for 22 years now and I've certainly had my ups and downs. As mentioned earlier, Ive tried most cocktails and a 2 week course of ECT back in 1989.If you have thoughts you'd like to share about cymbata, please do. I have to constantly remind myself to stay positve, maybe cymbalta will help me ! :) Chronic depression and anxiety is not a disability... well at least thats what I try and pull off in my mind, lol. I believe most of us here are strong, kind and caring people. We really do appreciate the little things in life.
Thanks for taking time to read my post. I hope you all enjoy the weekend.
Regards, Rick
Posted by Hygieia's Bowl on August 1, 2008, at 19:15:50
In reply to cymbata trial, posted by ricker on August 1, 2008, at 18:30:38
Firstly, I very much appreciate the sentiment I read in your post. I am sorry for your struggles and commend you for your spirit in dealing.
I took Cymbalta briefly. I believe it may have been effective for me if, at the time, I had been willing to give it the fair trial it needed... I didn't. The upramp of anxiety seemed intolerable at the time and I was not using anything else, chemicalwise, to file the edges, which I believe would have been very helpful...
Stating the very obvious, we never know until we know and a decent trial is the only proof, IMO. As second hand info, I have a friend who has been on it for a while and has done well... FWIW.
I hope it's a good path for you if that's your and yours choice.
Posted by bleauberry on August 1, 2008, at 20:13:23
In reply to cymbata trial, posted by ricker on August 1, 2008, at 18:30:38
Wow, what a heartfelt story. I have enormous respect for you. I relate strongly to your goals, your battles, and the tinnitus. Similar background with me...many meds, ECT, tinnitus.
Cymbalta. I am no pro at it. I have had multiple brief trials with it. First time was added to ongoing prozac+zyprexa. Ramped up to 60mg in a few days, didn't really feel much from it, but got severe anorgasmia and stopped it.
Post-ECT things changed. I found even tiny doses seemed massively powerful. Benefits for me...quieter tinnitus, better sleep, social anxiety eased greatly, leg cramps gone, leg weakness greatly improved, a small but noticeable boost in motivation, slight anorgasmia along with slightly increased sexual desire. Negatives...less appetite, felt on the edge of crying for no reason, though not really depressed. Keep in mind this was all in a dose range of 5mg to 10mg.
A recent clinical study showed that for people who had not responded to 60mg during the first part of the trial, half of them were in remissioni 4 weeks later at 60mg, and those that were raised to 120mg showed no more benefit than those at 60mg. It was apparently the extra time, not the extra dose, that did the good. Total time was 12 weeks.
If start-up anxiety is a problem, you can customize dose size and ramp up slower. Inside the capsules are enteric coated beads. 10 of them is approximately 1mg. Works good on applesauce or anything soft where you won't chew the beads. This strategy is more common in getting off the med, but I used it getting on.
During my first week I did experience worse sleep, a slight increase in tinnitus, and some flu-like stuff. But even on the first day I could feel some warmth, social confidence, and I even smiled for the first time in a while. It was at maybe day 5 or so that the benefits mentioned above started to show themselves a little.
At askapatient.com or at revolutionhealth you'll see cymbalta is much like anything else...it is a miracle for some and poison to others.
My own personal opinion is that the dose is often too high. I do know of people that do best at half of a 30mg capsule per day. As the clinical trial hinted, I believe lower doses can work better assuming they are given plenty of time. And of course, less side effects at the lower doses. Many doctors will have patients at 30mg, not responding after a few weeks or a month, and raise it to 60mg, where maybe it would have been better to stay at 30mg and wait. Can always go to 60mg later. It just seems to me reviewing ratings and reviews of users that those who got pushed to higher doses quicker were the ones that quit due to side effects.
You need to do something, and if a med can help your life, I believe it should be tried. I guess I'm saying that in my opinion, opinion only, cymbalta trials are usually pushed too aggressively and for too short of a time. I plan on revisiting it with all of this in mind myself.
I could name a few other meds too, but I understand your focus here is cymbalta.
Posted by Phillipa on August 1, 2008, at 21:06:59
In reply to Re: cymbata trial, posted by bleauberry on August 1, 2008, at 20:13:23
Was on 60mg for three months when first out no improvement in anxiety or depression but in pain. Second time couldn't handle 30mg too wired. Yesterday my pdoc said now the company says 90mg the pdoc here wanted me on 120mg in a month didn't do it. I do wish you the best on your second trial. Love Phillipa
Posted by ricker on August 1, 2008, at 21:35:38
In reply to Re: cymbata trial » bleauberry, posted by Phillipa on August 1, 2008, at 21:06:59
Thankyou all for your kind words. Isn't it so true that a certain med. is heaven for one, and hell for another??
I certainly enjoy and appreciate reading through the threads, keeping in mind that some comments may contain negative results, which is understandable.The best I've felt in 22 years is when I switched from zoloft 100mg to 37.5mg efferxor the next day.
It's hard to explain the feeling, it lasted for approx. 24 hrs and was like floating on a cloud. I was so content with life and praying the feeling would not end.
But... there we go again. I've often wondered if I could duplicate that feeeling by combining the 2 meds?
I mentioned it to my pdoc at the time and he seemed to brush it of as coincidental... not wanting to entertain that avenue.I've been seeing my pdoc for about 15 years, he's actuallt a great guy and verry open-minded.
I remember him telling me psychiatry is the least understood practice and is quite certain what's known to date is probably 1% of what could be known.
The 3 chemicals we try so hard to regulate, with all there receptors, is just a fraction of what needs to be regulated.
Thats why, personally, if I can have one good day, I take it and run like there's no tomorrow.Another thought I quite often have is, if and when there is a true discovery that can successfully diagnose and treat mental illness, a person very much like one of us will play a large part in it? :)
Once again, thanks all for your input. I'll let you know how the cymbalta goes although I'm not scheduled to see him for another 3 weeks.
Regards, Rick
Posted by manic666 on August 3, 2008, at 4:04:43
In reply to Re: cymbata trial, posted by ricker on August 1, 2008, at 21:35:38
hy buddy im trying to come of cymbalta,it is an easy drug to take not many side effects, but didnt work for me. started on 60mg i thought it to high but am in england so they do as they like.did help depression but not anxiety.so the n=b put me on 120 to target anxiety can you amagine a leap like that.anyway made me worse but keeped my wondering if it would work before kicking me in the b=lls.but you said effexor worked for you an the drugs are simular.but cymbalta has less side effects.venlafaxine didnt work for me, infact it was a nightmare but if it worked for you maybe cybalta will. manic666
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