posted
Hello are any of you taking this medication? I
just started and it is like i am on a caffine
high. It also is giving me headaches. It seems
to be helping my pain and achiness greatly. But
the side affects are crazy. Just wondering if
any of you had any experience with this
medication.
Thanks
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter was on it for a year, and it worked well for her, then she switched to Wellbutrin.
Are you starting with small doses? Any of those drugs take a couple of weeks to shake out.
If there is still a problem after that, call your doctor. If you can't sleep, call her now.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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posted
Thanks for the reply. Funny thing is that they
tell you to take this at night. I can't sleep.
I sleep for 4 hours wake up and can not fall
back to sleep. I am on ambien and that is not
helping. I am not sure if the sleeplessness is
from the cymbalta or is the ambien not working
anymore. I started cymbalta on tuesday and
monday was the first night that I couldn't
sleep. So it may be a coinsidence but I am not
sure. I am on the third day of only 4 hours of
sleep and I am going to go crazy. The cymbalta
is helping so I don't want to stop that. I
think I will try to take it in the morning in
stead of night time. I just don't know what to
do....I need to sleep!!!!!!
-------------------- Love, Merrie Believe in the power of your spirit..for it will carry you through the darkest hours of your life Posts: 261 | From minnesota | Registered: Sep 2004
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
IMPORTANT: this is one of those drugs that comes with suicide warninG! So be careful*)!*)! And trouble sleeping IS LISTED AS A SIDE EFFECT to CALL YOUR DOCTOR about!!!
Trouble sleeping will NOT help you get better with TBDs- my LLMD said one of the most important htings to him is getting peoples sleep on schedule so the body can help repair itself as much as possible-!! Take care, Sincerely, *********************************************** http://www.drugs.com/cymbalta.html
What is Cymbalta? Cymbalta is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Cymbalta affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression.
Cymbalta is used to treat major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder. It is also used to treat pain caused by nerve damage in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy).
Cymbalta may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Cymbalta?
Do not take Cymbalta together with thioridazine (Mellaril), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take Cymbalta. After you stop taking Cymbalta, you must wait at least 5 days before you start taking an MAOI.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures, other medication for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Cymbalta.
Cymbalta can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Cymbalta? Do not use Cymbalta together with thioridazine (Mellaril), or an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam). Serious and sometimes fatal reactions can occur when these medicines are taken with Cymbalta. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can take Cymbalta. After you stop taking Cymbalta, you must wait at least 5 days before you start taking an MAOI. Do not use Cymbalta if you are allergic to duloxetine, or if you have untreated or uncontrolled glaucoma. Before taking Cymbalta, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
liver or kidney disease; seizures or epilepsy;
bipolar disorder (manic depression); or
a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Cymbalta, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. Cymbalta may be harmful to an unborn baby, and may cause problems in a newborn baby if the mother takes the medication late in pregnancy (during the third trimester). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Cymbalta can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medication.
Do not give Cymbalta to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor. How should I take Cymbalta? Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication.
Try to take the medicine at the same time each day. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open a delayed-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. It may take 4 weeks or longer for your symptoms to improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Do not stop using Cymbalta without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly. Store Cymbalta at room temperature away from moisture and heat. What happens if I miss a dose? Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medication. Symptoms of a Cymbalta overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, fast heart rate, feeling light-headed, or fainting. What should I avoid while taking Cymbalta? Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Cymbalta. Alcohol may increase the risk of damage to your liver. Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold medicine, pain medication, muscle relaxers, medicine for seizures, other medication for depression or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by Cymbalta.
Cymbalta can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert. Cymbalta side effects Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
restlessness, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fainting, coma; or
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fast heartbeat.
Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
constipation;
drowsiness, dizziness, headache;
sleep problems (insomnia);
weight changes;
feeling anxious or nervous, increased sweating;
sore throat; or
decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Cymbalta? Before taking Cymbalta, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:
cimetidine (Tagamet);
linezolid (Zyvox);
lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith);
St. John's wort;
tramadol (Ultram);
tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);
almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig); or
any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Ascendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), protriptyline (Vivactil), sertraline (Zoloft), trimipramine (Surmontil), or venlafaxine (Effexor).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Cymbalta, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Cymbalta. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
Where can I get more information? Your pharmacist has additional information about Cymbalta written for health professionals that you may read. What does my medication look like? Duloxetine is available with a prescription generically and under the brand name Cymbalta. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.
Cymbalta 20 mg - green capsules
Cymbalta 30 mg - white/blue capsules
Cymbalta 60 mg - green/blue capsules
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Click here for more information on Cymbalta from the manufacturer. Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.07. Revision Date: 06/07/2007 9:07:24 AM.
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-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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cactus
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7347
posted
I take cymbalta, and it has seemed to help the peripheral neuropathy in my case. We're all different.
I also had a kind of caffeine-like feeling at first, and tried taking it in the morning. After doing that, found that I yawned all day. So... I now take it in the early evening, with dinner, well before bed. Maybe you can play around with the time of day, if you feel it is helping.
You must get your sleep to get well.
Start with small doses, and go up slowly. Also, when you decide to go off, taper the doses down slowly. My doc gives me samples if I want to play around with the dose so I can go up or down slowly.
Hope you find something that works for you, whether it's cymbalta or something else.
-------------------- �Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?� - A.A. Milne Posts: 1987 | From No. VA | Registered: May 2005
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posted
My dr put me on Cymbalta for depression and because it helped w/neuro pain.
I started off taking mine in the evening but I found that it did nothing to help my inability to sleep.
I figured after a month or so that symptom would get better but it never did.I would lie awake all night and literally go days and days w/o a wink of sleep.
It got that I was exhausted all the time and so I weaned myself off of it.I also experienced some sexual dysfunction(blushes)don't know if this is an issue for you but it is another side affect.
If it persists I would definitely try something else.With lyme u need all the rest u can get.
Hope things get better for you!
-------------------- AND NOW THESE THREE REMAIN: FAITH,HOPE,AND LOVE. BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. Posts: 35 | From Springfield, Mo. | Registered: Feb 2005
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
It's the Cymbalta. I wasn't on Cymbalta, but I had this side effects with many antidepressants - Wellbutrin was one. Buspar - I forget what class of drug that is - but that one wigged me out, too - so stay away from that one. I usually could not tolerate any of the ones that made me feel like I was on speed.
Paxil and Klonopin were my favorites, though I wouldn't take any psychotropic meds ever again.
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