I've just decided to start on Cymbalta for anxiety and depression. I've seen other posts on this, but I was wondering how people made out taking it. I'm interested in hearing your experience with this drug.
Do you take it in the morning or at night? Does it make you tired?
Did you have side effects and did they go away eventually?
What dose did you start or end up on? I seem to be really sensitive to these meds and in the past I've ended up on geriatric doses of medicine.
How long did it take before you started to see a difference?
All of your comments are very much appreciated. Thank you,
B4
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Made anxiety 1000x worse along with all other antidepressants. They all induce panic attacks for me.
Only thing that has worked for me is benzos (addictive). My anxiety presents itself in the form of panic and is not situational and has no cause. I don't have depression.
What didn't work for me may work for you. Give it a few weeks if side effects are tolerable.
I have Lyme/Bartonella.
Posted by B4LYME (Member # 23222) on :
The anxiety is worse than the depression, but even on days when I have a little energy I don't know what to do. I'm not finding much enjoyment these days.
I have had problems going on antidepressants before, but my dr had me taking 1/10th of a dose to build up to only 1/2 of the usual dose.
Has the anxiety gotten better with treatment fo lyme or bart?
B4
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
Anxiety got horrible after starting treatment on doxy alone. I was in E.R. and had the feeling of doom for a couple weeks. After continuing treatment with Ceftin/Cipro (I stopped doxy for 3 weeks), I herxed again, but everything got much better within a few weeks, and after about 1.5 months, I went off Cipro because I thought it might have been making my brain feel fried. I don't know if it was a Lyme flare, or fluoroquin toxicity, but since my brain doesn't feel fried after a week of stopping it, I am going to ask if I can try something else just to be safe.
I am new to Lyme, and the anxiety factor is still better somedays and worse others. I am not ready to stop benzos yet, and I think that will be the real test. They are a CNS depressant, but instead of making me tired, they make me more lucid, happier, and more willing to engage in activity. My body is overly stimulated (though that just causes fatigue), so I think the benzos bring me back to more normal level.
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
I have had great success in the past with Cymbalta. I took for about 2 years. It caused me to gain weight so I asked my doc to switch me to something else. He did switch me and my anxiety came back and it made my mood really low.
So, I switched back about 2 weeks ago to Cymbalta and now I seem to be having side effects from it.
Every person is different though. Sometimes you have to try several before you find the right one to fit you.
Cymbalta is not an SSRI it is an SNRI which means that it works on more than one neurotransmitter in your brain. SSRI's work primarily on serotonin and Cymbalta works on serotonin and norepinephrine.
Both med classes keep your neurotransmitters around at their receptor sites longer which is why you get your mood lifted.
Since the Cymbalta works on the norepinephrine too it is effecting your sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for your fight or flight reaction. The fight or flight is what is activated during a panic/anxiety attack.
This is what seems to be happening to me now. I keep getting what feels like adrenaline rushes and I have been having increased palpitations.
I know this is more than what you asked for but sometimes it's good to know how the meds work.
You won't know how it will effect you until you start it.
Good luck to you and keep us posted on how you make out.
kit
Posted by motownlyme (Member # 11485) on :
I'm right there with kday. Horrible reactions for me on all SSRIs and SSNRIs. Cymbalta = high blood pressure, feelings of doom, extra anxiety. Unfortunately Benzos are also the only thing that helps me.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Have you considered getting a light box, as used for those with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? -
Posted by pinkpixiedust211 (Member # 14828) on :
I have seen tremendous results with my Cymbalta. I notice a difference if I forget to take it just one day. I was seriously.. close to a mental breakdown and unbelievably depressed and tried other things but Cymbalta worked almost instantly for me. I mean, after a few days but.. it has helped a lot.
I take it in the mornings. and.. that's all I know.
Posted by JR (Member # 16898) on :
When discussing which anti depressent to take with my PCP she reported that most of her patients felt more pain relief with Cymbalta and not so much decrese in anxiety. I decided I could live with the level of pain I have, so I opted for Zoloft- which has more effect on anxiety/depression.
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
I started Cymbalta about 3 months ago. It has done wonders for my anxiety and depression. I had more anxiety though.
I was about ready to have a breakdown. I am the only caregiver of my 77yo mom with alzheimers. I had had about all I could take.
It's hard enough for us all to have lyme but then add another person with alzeheimers to the mix. Very very stressful.
I haven't felt like that since so it has been a life saver for me. My family thinks so too. LOL
The only side effect is that I had nausea because I would forget to take it with food.
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
I've taken it for a few years - for peripheral neuropathy.
It's a huge help with the pain.
And though I didn't have much anxiety/depression prior to taking it, I'm sure that the anti-depressant "side effect" has helped me as well.
Posted by B4LYME (Member # 23222) on :
Keebler,
I tried the light box prior to my dx with lyme years ago. I love light, but it didn't help with the anxiety.
I think the anxiety part is worse than the depression which I think is mild.
I just wanted to get on something before I start on some new abx because I was afraid the treatment might increase these symptoms.
What dose do you all take. I've started by dividing the 30mg pill into gel capsules because the last thing I need is an increase in anxiety or nausea.
Thanks for all your input. I do have some xanax if I need it. I've taken it before treatment last time and didn't have a problem getting off of it later in my lyme treatment.
Actually, most of the sleep issues, anxiety and depression went away after 11 months of treament for the lyme. Never treated for bartonella and only treated for babesia after the 1 year mark.
Thanks again for sharing,
B4
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I've been taking 90 mg for years, no side effects, it has been extremely helpful for anxiety, depression, and pain.
Everyone is different. It has not adversely affected me in any way; but I got no relief until I reached 90 mg.
Posted by B4LYME (Member # 23222) on :
I'm on my 4th day of 1/4 dose. I don't know if I feel better because of my time in my lyme cycle or because of the drug. But I'll take whatever relief I can get.
I don't always need a full dose to get results from a drug. I take 2.5 mg of ambien when I have my worst nights sleeping.
Is anyone else on a low dose?
B4
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
I only take 30mg a day. Not sure what you consider a low dose.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Tracy we are all wired so differently. I tried bumping up to 90 and after a couple months I found myself highly aggitated.
Too anxious. Went back down to 60mg and then gradually went down to 30mg.
B4, I've found that taking my 30mg at bedtime with my AmbienCR is good for sleeping.
Pam
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
120 mg in the morning now, and adderall too@
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
had to work up from 1 mg though every day doubbling the dosage practically
Posted by Amanda (Member # 14107) on :
I had a very hard time with Cymbalta. I tried for 10 days to take it, but I would wake up in the middle of the night, already vomiting on myself. It made me afraid to fall asleep, and I had to make sure I spelt on my side. After 10 days of that, I said F this, we gotta try something new.
To be fair, I had a very difficult time with all the SSRIs. Including I might add, the natural remedies like 5-htp. I take remeron (its in an older class of antideperessetns, related to elavil).
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
wow, the cymbalta really didnt work for you.
For me it was just too much stimulation at first.
I had akathesia and tardive dysconesia
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
quote:Originally posted by lymeHerx001: wow, the cymbalta really didnt work for you.
For me it was just too much stimulation at first.
I had akathesia and tardive diskenisia
Posted by B4LYME (Member # 23222) on :
As an update, I couldn't handle the cymbalta. It was too stimulating to my system. For now I'm on a low nightly dose of klonopin that helps me sleep too.
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
If you struggle with weight loss or lack of appetite, Cymbalta might not be for you. In some people it has these side effects.
Posted by kday (Member # 22234) on :
My newer psychiatrist called Cymbalta poison. I see the nurse practioner because he is crazy. However, I believe him because he is one of those docs that hand out drugs like candy.
Want a script for a rediculous amount of benzos? He will write it. My case is severe and perhaps I need the extra help at times, but if I were to listen to him I'd end up as screwed up as him and in rehab.
Now the nurse practitioner is much more down to earth. The doctor (older guy) just scares me.