[beautifuldisaster78]

Hi, I recently went to my doc who increased my Cymbalta from 60mg to 120mg. He said Cymbalta is good for bipolar.

I can't find ANYTHING on the internet about Cymbalta being indicated for Bipolar and almost everything I read says the max dose is 60mg.

Anyone else with bipolar take it? Any at that high of dose?? I like my doc, and I trust him for the most part... but Im getting concerned...

thanks

[Butterflying]

I have bipolar and take Cymbalta along with lithium. It helps. I used to also take 120 mg, now back down to 60 mg. I can't remember why I went back down to 60 mg. It does seem to help depressive symptoms and mood...

I took 120 at one point, but only for awhile. Cymbalta worked quite well in conjunction with a mood stabilizer.

[owllover99]

I take 100 mg of Lamactial and 30 mg of Cymbalta. I guess it's all in the pdoc's thinking. I know it's good for anxiety, too. I'd talk to him about it, though.

[beautifuldisaster78]

If you dont mind my asking, what mood stabilizer did you use in conjunction with it?

[dj586858]

I am on 60 of Cymbalta, 300 of Lamictal and 150 of Wellbutrin XL. All working very well right now. I always talk to my doc about concerns though.

[HubbyDoogee]

Originally Posted by beautifuldisaster78

Hi, I recently went to my doc who increased my Cymbalta from 60mg to 120mg. He said Cymbalta is good for bipolar.

I can't find ANYTHING on the internet about Cymbalta being indicated for Bipolar and almost everything I read says the max dose is 60mg.

Anyone else with bipolar take it? Any at that high of dose?? I like my doc, and I trust him for the most part... but Im getting concerned...

thanks

I was on Cymbalta that did NOT work for me at all I was only taking 30 mg it actually made me more suicidal, I hope that IS NOT happening to you!!! It also made my rage get ALOT worse than it ever was... I understand trusting your Dr. but maybe you ought to ask him to ween you off of it and get you on to something more designed for your Bi-polar disorder...

Doug

[Anneinside]

I am on Cymbalta 30mg but I have taken as high as 120mg. It is given for people having depressive episodes with bipolar and people with clinical depression. Most of the medications used for bipolar are off-label uses but that doesn't mean they aren't effective or appropriately used.

[yutzman]

Psych's can prescribe any med for whatever reason they feel is appropriate (so called 'off label') based on their experience with the situation. Meds are marketed for certain 'so called' proven effectiveness, based on studies by the pharmacuetical companies. Once the FDA proclaims the med 'safe' off-label use is accepted....Check out: "Off-Label Use" in Wikipedia..............

[gravyyy]

Usually for bipolar disorder antidepressants are used in conjunction with mood stabilizers (Lithium, Depakote, Lamictal to name a few). WHat can happen (I know from experience) is taking an antidepressant alone can throw you into a hypomanic or manic episode. Clearly that's not desirable. You didn't say whether or not you were on any mood stabilizer with the Cymbalta but it's definitely worth asking him again to be sure he feels there would be no complications from an antidepressant alone. Good luck and hopefully it works well.

[beautifuldisaster78]

thanks. I was on Depakote at one time, but didn't have a good reaction to it, so I'm not anymore. My doc was talking about adding Abilify or Seroquel in a month after I adjust to this new dose of Cymbalta. Problem is, EVERYTHING makes me tired. it seems like all meds completely wipe me out no matter what it is (cept when I tried Pristiq... but that only kicked my anxiety into hypergear)

thanks to all for your replies. and in response to someone else above.. I don't have a pdoc, just a regular medical dr and a therapist, but I really love my medical dr so I just go through him.