Comments on: Duloxetine (Cymbalta) http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:39:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: pati http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-55195 pati Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:39:10 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-55195 Started on cymbalt 30 mgs for depression and HORRIBLE anxiety attacks. I felt like I was dying. It made me sick and tired, yawning all the time and very dry mouth. I stuck with it and after a week started feeling better. Mentally I knew things were changing. Now I am on 60 mgs and doing great!!! Going up in dose was no problem and it is amazing how my anxiety attacks have stopped. I was waking up in the middle of the night with them and having at least 3 a day. That along with the worring and gloom and doom feeling was horrible. I feel so much better now. Like a whole new person, so my advice is to try to stick with it. Oh and at first my sex drive was down, but it's back and although orgasims take a little bit longer I am having them. So maybe some of you just need to give it a chance and know that it has helped me sooooooo much. Started on cymbalt 30 mgs for depression and HORRIBLE anxiety attacks. I felt like I was dying. It made me sick and tired, yawning all the time and very dry mouth. I stuck with it and after a week started feeling better. Mentally I knew things were changing. Now I am on 60 mgs and doing great!!! Going up in dose was no problem and it is amazing how my anxiety attacks have stopped. I was waking up in the middle of the night with them and having at least 3 a day. That along with the worring and gloom and doom feeling was horrible. I feel so much better now. Like a whole new person, so my advice is to try to stick with it. Oh and at first my sex drive was down, but it’s back and although orgasims take a little bit longer I am having them. So maybe some of you just need to give it a chance and know that it has helped me sooooooo much.

]]> By: Shawn http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-54777 Shawn Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:13:57 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-54777 Hi again! I just want to tell everyone to hang on. The cymbalta is still working for me, but my Doc. added remeron 30 mg.s a night. Has anyone still have break through depression? actually I think things are working but I'm confused ? How am I really suppose to feel? They have had me on antidepressents for so long is my depression break throughs normal feeling of life or do I need something else. I still think that cymbalta is great though.Please answer me? I just want to be happy? Whats that suppose to be. What does your depression feel like? Hi again!

I just want to tell everyone to hang on. The cymbalta is still working for me, but my Doc. added remeron 30 mg.s a night. Has anyone still have break through depression? actually I think things are working but I’m confused ? How am I really suppose to feel? They have had me on antidepressents for so long is my depression break throughs normal feeling of life or do I need something else. I still think that cymbalta is great though.Please answer me? I just want to be happy? Whats that suppose to be. What does your depression feel like?

]]> By: Charlie http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-53640 Charlie Sun, 30 May 2010 16:41:25 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-53640 Hi all, Thank you all for your input. It has been very helpful to me to see the wide range of experiences. I am in my first week of Cymbalta @ 30. The first day was trippy! I wasn't sure if I could continue, but the next day and all subsequent I have woken up uncharacteristically chipper. I am renowned for not being a morning person, but I am now cuddling with the dogs, giggling and bouncing out of bed happy as a clam. I was very surprised how much the first day was nothing like the rest. I was nauseated, couldn't work, went from pacing around to lying gape-mouthed on the couch. Very weird day, but nothing like that since. I wanted to write to suggest something to the folks with the throat and intestinal side-effects. I am a vegan and have had no such problems, so if you are having these issues, maybe you might try going meat- and dairy-less for a couple of days to see if it improves. I suspect the dairy for the throat issues and the meat for the other, but that's just my guess. I feel bad for those with the sweats out there. I was a perpetually cold person and I now am finally comfortable places instead of freezing. That was a nice perk as I looked funny always wearing sweaters in summer. My best to you all. Hi all,

Thank you all for your input. It has been very helpful to me to see the wide range of experiences. I am in my first week of Cymbalta @ 30. The first day was trippy! I wasn’t sure if I could continue, but the next day and all subsequent I have woken up uncharacteristically chipper. I am renowned for not being a morning person, but I am now cuddling with the dogs, giggling and bouncing out of bed happy as a clam. I was very surprised how much the first day was nothing like the rest. I was nauseated, couldn’t work, went from pacing around to lying gape-mouthed on the couch. Very weird day, but nothing like that since.

I wanted to write to suggest something to the folks with the throat and intestinal side-effects. I am a vegan and have had no such problems, so if you are having these issues, maybe you might try going meat- and dairy-less for a couple of days to see if it improves. I suspect the dairy for the throat issues and the meat for the other, but that’s just my guess.

I feel bad for those with the sweats out there. I was a perpetually cold person and I now am finally comfortable places instead of freezing. That was a nice perk as I looked funny always wearing sweaters in summer.

My best to you all.

]]> By: Kate http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-53218 Kate Fri, 14 May 2010 06:44:07 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-53218 Started Cymbalta tonight. Been on Paxil for 2 years and it stopped working, all of a sudden. I have been on everything. Lexapro made me tense in the jaw it ached. Welbutrin was 3 weeks of agony, got more depressed. I took Effexor for 5 days, I think. I was climbing the walls, so much anxiety! Remeron was magical for me BUT I was puffy and bloated everywhere. I felt like a water balloon. I took it for a year but I didn't even look like myself anymore. I really hope this helps, I am tired of sleeping all the time. Tired of wanting to disappear. Started Cymbalta tonight. Been on Paxil for 2 years and it stopped working, all of a sudden. I have been on everything. Lexapro made me tense in the jaw it ached. Welbutrin was 3 weeks of agony, got more depressed. I took Effexor for 5 days, I think. I was climbing the walls, so much anxiety! Remeron was magical for me BUT I was puffy and bloated everywhere. I felt like a water balloon. I took it for a year but I didn’t even look like myself anymore.
I really hope this helps, I am tired of sleeping all the time. Tired of wanting to disappear.

]]> By: AKeene http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-53130 AKeene Mon, 10 May 2010 01:01:49 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-53130 I started 30 mg of cymbalta 2 days ago. I take it at night. Other than a head cold (that may have nothing to do with the med) and dry mouth. I Have had no major side effects. i have been on a number of anti-depressants for a number of years. Effexor made me horribly sick to my stomach, prozac didnt help at all, zoloft made my grind my teeth, and paxil was horrible to start and stop...i had a horrible time starting the paxil (which helped at first then after a year quit working all the way around) then when i came off of it..well i thought i wasnt going to get through the withdrawls. But i did, started lexapro when i was pregnant..it made me throw up even more than i already was. So i stopped anti-depressant for 2 years. I have payed deeply for it! I have been a mess, my relationship is a mess, and i have anxiety terrible. i have no patients with my children. So i started Cymbalta, It has been great so far. I dont know about the sex drive thing ( i didnt have one to begin with due to the depression) so we will see. But dont let these blogs scare you....ALL ANIT-DEPRESSANTS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS OF SOME SHAPE OR FORM. but you have to decide if you want to live depressed and anxious or take a pill that can make that go away. The side effects will slow down and eventually go away. good luck to everyone! I started 30 mg of cymbalta 2 days ago. I take it at night. Other than a head cold (that may have nothing to do with the med) and dry mouth. I Have had no major side effects. i have been on a number of anti-depressants for a number of years. Effexor made me horribly sick to my stomach, prozac didnt help at all, zoloft made my grind my teeth, and paxil was horrible to start and stop…i had a horrible time starting the paxil (which helped at first then after a year quit working all the way around) then when i came off of it..well i thought i wasnt going to get through the withdrawls. But i did, started lexapro when i was pregnant..it made me throw up even more than i already was. So i stopped anti-depressant for 2 years. I have payed deeply for it! I have been a mess, my relationship is a mess, and i have anxiety terrible. i have no patients with my children. So i started Cymbalta, It has been great so far. I dont know about the sex drive thing ( i didnt have one to begin with due to the depression) so we will see. But dont let these blogs scare you….ALL ANIT-DEPRESSANTS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS OF SOME SHAPE OR FORM. but you have to decide if you want to live depressed and anxious or take a pill that can make that go away. The side effects will slow down and eventually go away. good luck to everyone!

]]> By: patt http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-52620 patt Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:05:05 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-52620 this article might be interesting to you all, although i think each persons body reacts differently--you have to find out what is best for you. http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/200902/lexapro-and-zoloft-in-cloud-dust this article might be interesting to you all, although i think each persons body reacts differently–you have to find out what is best for you.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/200902/lexapro-and-zoloft-in-cloud-dust

]]> By: Shawn http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-52196 Shawn Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:24:58 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-52196 Hi, everyone. First of all I think that you need to find a good Dr. that will work with you. I have had Funky feelings on all the meds. that I have Taken. I've felt nausea, dizzy, anxious, and feelings of despair. I told Drs. that these I couldn't take; Paxil, Zoloft, Remeron. abilify, welbutrin, Seraquel, klonopin, because I got so anxious that my heart pounded and I put myself into a panic attack. This was like a cycle that I couldn't stop. It was my own hell and no one could understand it but me. While I was in a hospital because a Dr. put me on 9 mgs. of xanax a day They put me on cymbalta. Wow....This is the only med. so far that I can say works. I think that it worked so fast on me , as it should for all of you, because I was on a ssri before I started it. I was trying to tell myself that the paxil was working because thats what my Dr. said. Cymbalta is the best antidepresant around. It gave me my life back. Don't get me wronng I still have my downs but alot less often. I am taking 120mgs. and yeah I was scared of all the side affects they say. Don't worry, get a good Dr. and trust him. The hardest thing is trusting a person that has your state of well being in his or her hands. Please do so but make sure your comfortable with him or her. One way to check is see if they return your phone calls. That will always make you feel better when adjusting...and remember no question is a stupid question.. Cymbalta is great !!!!!! Shawn Hi, everyone. First of all I think that you need to find a good Dr. that will work with you. I have had Funky feelings on all the meds. that I have Taken. I’ve felt nausea, dizzy, anxious, and feelings of despair. I told Drs. that these I couldn’t take; Paxil, Zoloft, Remeron. abilify, welbutrin, Seraquel, klonopin, because I got so anxious that my heart pounded and I put myself into a panic attack. This was like a cycle that I couldn’t stop. It was my own hell and no one could understand it but me. While I was in a hospital because a Dr. put me on 9 mgs. of xanax a day They put me on cymbalta. Wow….This is the only med. so far that I can say works. I think that it worked so fast on me , as it should for all of you, because I was on a ssri before I started it. I was trying to tell myself that the paxil was working because thats what my Dr. said. Cymbalta is the best antidepresant around. It gave me my life back. Don’t get me wronng I still have my downs but alot less often. I am taking 120mgs. and yeah I was scared of all the side affects they say. Don’t worry, get a good Dr. and trust him. The hardest thing is trusting a person that has your state of well being in his or her hands. Please do so but make sure your comfortable with him or her. One way to check is see if they return your phone calls. That will always make you feel better when adjusting…and remember no question is a stupid question..

Cymbalta is great !!!!!!
Shawn

]]> By: Ron http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-51974 Ron Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:36:23 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-51974 Cindy, Thank you for the information, it is so encouraging to hear you are working on yourself with success. I want to share 3 + things I have learned, take it for what it is worth to you. 1. Don't worry about coming off the drug, pray that it will continue to work and if you need it the rest of your life, is it not worth it to feel this health. And if you start feeling down, first think of all the things you can be thankful for. Today in Chicago it is rainy and foggy, wow is that beautiful to see how God can change our world for us.Also, there will always be help for you, other med's, other counselors ( they are not all going to work for you ), other friends , the list goes on. 2. In response to your last line,you start with the word Sorry. Hey kido, this word in the way you use it implies you do not value what you are telling us, you are taking our time. What you are telling us is what you think we need to hear, you are attempting to give a part of yourself to us, to help us, thank you for that. You need to stop that kind of thinking, first recognize your negative thought and immediatley bring in a thought of beauty or joy , something good. I am sure you are beautiful, God made all things. 3. Finally, please remember, you cannot be all things to all people. You may say or do something that will bother some one, let it go, we all have a bad day, we all struggle with different problems. Focus on what you need to do to become healthy but do not get self absorbed, constantly thinking about how you feel. Even the most succesfull people in this world have pain and suffering, they may not be affected by it because they focus on something or someone they can control like,work.I would rather meet a depresses person that is open and caring than a tycoon that just wants to talk about him or herself. Thank you, ron p.s. Cindy, I am not going to say ... sorry .. for all the misspelled words or my grammar I need people in my life that do not value me by what I look like or how smart I am, how about you?. Oh ya! Have ... fun , take time off time months off !!!!! Work hard, maybe now it is only on yourself but do it. A Don't ever stop being curious it will bring you much joy in your life. Sorry this is so long. woops! Cindy,

Thank you for the information, it is so encouraging to hear you are working on yourself with success. I want to share 3 + things I have learned, take it for what it is worth to you.

1. Don’t worry about coming off the drug, pray that it will continue to work and if you need it the rest of your life, is it not worth it to feel this health. And if you start feeling down, first think of all the things you can be thankful for. Today in Chicago it is rainy and foggy, wow is that beautiful to see how God can change our world for us.Also, there will always be help for you, other med’s, other counselors ( they are not all going to work for you ), other friends , the list goes on.

2. In response to your last line,you start with the word Sorry. Hey kido, this word in the way you use it implies you do not value what you are telling us, you are taking our time. What you are telling us is what you think we need to hear, you are attempting to give a part of yourself to us, to help us, thank you for that. You need to stop that kind of thinking, first recognize your negative thought and immediatley bring in a thought of beauty or joy , something good.
I am sure you are beautiful, God made all things.

3. Finally, please remember, you cannot be all things to all people. You may say or do something that will bother some one, let it go, we all have a bad day, we all struggle with different problems. Focus on what you need to do to become healthy but do not get self absorbed, constantly thinking about how you feel. Even the most succesfull people in this world have pain and suffering, they may not be affected by it because they focus on something or someone they can control like,work.I would rather meet a depresses person that is open and caring than a tycoon that just wants to talk about him or herself.

Thank you, ron
p.s.
Cindy,
I am not going to say … sorry .. for all the misspelled words or my grammar
I need people in my life that do not value me by what I look like or how smart I am, how about you?. Oh ya! Have … fun , take time off time months off !!!!! Work hard, maybe now it is only on yourself but do it. A Don’t ever stop being curious it will bring you much joy in your life.
Sorry this is so long. woops!

]]> By: Cindy http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-51936 Cindy Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:14:19 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-51936 I started on a lower dosage of Cymbalta for one month and now am 60 mg - I am almost finished month 2. I am taking it for Depression and Anxiety. I had both for years but never addressed them. Then I got layed-off and financial difficulties kicked in and I became suicidal. Honestly, I do get the sore throat - really bad, the sweating and the hot flashes, but still, I have never felt better in my life! I feel good about life, I look forward to each day, I have loads of energy and I can deal with situations remarkably better. I will be attending counselling as well, but my worse fear is coming off the drug. Right now it is such a crutch for me. Everyone reacts differently for everyone, but I hope that you find a remedy that works as well for you as Cymbalta does for me. Sorry just one more thing, I have stopped emotional eating and am losing loads of weight! I started on a lower dosage of Cymbalta for one month and now am 60 mg – I am almost finished month 2.

I am taking it for Depression and Anxiety. I had both for years but never addressed them. Then I got layed-off and financial difficulties kicked in and I became suicidal.

Honestly, I do get the sore throat – really bad, the sweating and the hot flashes, but still, I have never felt better in my life! I feel good about life, I look forward to each day, I have loads of energy and I can deal with situations remarkably better.

I will be attending counselling as well, but my worse fear is coming off the drug. Right now it is such a crutch for me.

Everyone reacts differently for everyone, but I hope that you find a remedy that works as well for you as Cymbalta does for me.

Sorry just one more thing, I have stopped emotional eating and am losing loads of weight!

]]> By: Ron http://www.joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/comment-page-3/#comment-51714 Ron Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:39:07 +0000 http://joanslow.com/posts/2005/duloxetine/#comment-51714 Depressed and anxiety most of my life, 55 now, but most people say, you are so cool and in control. Inside I can be boiling over. I started Cymbalta in June of 2009 felt better, not great the first week at 40 mil. Then felt totally depressed the next 4 weeks, even worse would describe it better. At 5 weeks I went up to 60 mil., that took about a week to kickin but I felt alot better alittle numb no depression but was still very sleepy most of the time. After 3 more weeks of feeling good but sleepy, the Doc put me on Nuvigil, it was about 60 mil. to start, this is an interesting drug. The first 5 days @ 60 mil. I was superman ,then little by little after a couple of weeks I slowed down to be sleepy again but no depression. Doc kept adjusting up Nuvigil every couple of weeks. I am at 250 mil of Nuvigil and 60 mil. of Cymbalta now after 9 months. I have been on this combo 4 months and everyday is mostly good, as before, I find I can talk myself into being depressed if I want to no matter what drug I take. My wife and I believe in God and Jesus as our savior. This has helped me for years and now I am just seeing something totally different that has helped me greatly. I realized around the end of 2009 that the most important relationship I have is with Jesus. As long as I keep my life in line with him i do not feel insufficeint or unworthy I do not see myself the way the world does, I see myself the way Jesus does. If you see yourself the way the world does and try to look that way you will never come out of depression, you will just try to get more and more high on the meds .Jesus sees me as a sinner , a man that is trying hard to be better. I will never be perfect, I can do what I can and try as much as I am able to do what needs to be done. I make no excuses for making bad choices, I have only Jesus to answer to. And, I have Jesus to listen to. I pray if you read this, you too will find the love of Jesus. ron Depressed and anxiety most of my life, 55 now, but most people say, you are so cool and in control. Inside I can be boiling over.
I started Cymbalta in June of 2009 felt better, not great the first week at 40 mil. Then felt totally depressed the next 4 weeks, even worse would describe it better. At 5 weeks I went up to 60 mil., that took about a week to kickin but I felt alot better alittle numb no depression but was still very sleepy most of the time. After 3 more weeks of feeling good but sleepy, the Doc put me on Nuvigil, it was about 60 mil. to start, this is an interesting drug. The first 5 days @ 60 mil. I was superman ,then little by little after a couple of weeks I slowed down to be sleepy again but no depression. Doc kept adjusting up Nuvigil every couple of weeks. I am at 250 mil of Nuvigil and 60 mil. of Cymbalta now after 9 months. I have been on this combo 4 months and everyday is mostly good, as before, I find I can talk myself into being depressed if I want to no matter what drug I take. My wife and I believe in God and Jesus as our savior. This has helped me for years and now I am just seeing something totally different that has helped me greatly. I realized around the end of 2009 that the most important relationship I have is with Jesus. As long as I keep my life in line with him i do not feel insufficeint or unworthy I do not see myself the way the world does, I see myself the way Jesus does. If you see yourself the way the world does and try to look that way you will never come out of depression, you will just try to get more and more high on the meds .Jesus sees me as a sinner , a man that is trying hard to be better. I will never be perfect, I can do what I can and try as much as I am able to do what needs to be done. I make no excuses for making bad choices, I have only Jesus to answer to. And, I have Jesus to listen to.

I pray if you read this, you too will find the love of Jesus.

ron

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