[thinker22]

I just got samples of it last night and took my first one at 8 this morning. This was to replace Strattera, that was making me sleep up to 16 hours a day and was not helping with my depression.

So far I went back to sleep until 10, woke up briefly, ate some toast, then went back to bed until almost 12:30pm. Is this normal? I feel okay right now, but I wonder if it's always going to make me tired and want to sleep so much.

The Dr. only had 60mg samples, so I couldn't ease into it. Will the tiredness wear off over time or should I be taking it at night? I feel totally useless.

Does anyone else feel like they have to lower the bar for their days because getting out of bed and maybe coming on PC is about all they can accomplish? I read and reviewed a poem too, so I'm really exceeding my expectations already. Being a perfectionist, my lowered bar is bothering me, but I know there's not much I can do while meds are being shifted. Trying not to get depressed about so much "wasted" time. The illness is a master of wasting productive time.

[thinker22]

Okay, now I'm getting chatty and hypomanic. My brain feels good for a change. This is totally weird. Nothing works on me. Is this actually working? Shall I light a candle at the Cymbalta shrine? This feels too good to be true.

[Shakti]

Ride it out and see. For a little while. It's hard that you had to start at a higher dose....

I've never taken Cymbalta.....

[owllover99]

Now I'm on 30 mg. of Cymbalta. I was sucidial and went to the hospital and told them I needed an antidepressant. The pdoc there talked me through a few and said no you can't take that one, etc. and she picked Cymbalta. But me being bipolar she gave me a low dose. I was normal in 4 days and home in 5. When I went to my new pdoc after the hospital stay I thought he would up my Lamactial but he said no I could keep taking the Cymbalta. Now it's not generic, I pay $60 a month for it, but I think it's worth every penny. I don't have any side effects. I take it in the morning when I get up and I don't get sleepy with it. But I'm only taking 30 mg. I know it's not for everyone but for me it's great.

[thinker22]

I woke up feeling great this morning with a smile on my face. For the first time in months I don't dread the day or the hours in it. I feel like I can do anything and have the opposite of what I did before, which was being overwhelmed by everything and doing nothing but sleep. Now I find so many things interesting and the day goes by fast. Cymbalta has been an overnight success for me. I know they say give it 2-3 weeks to see if it helps, but it helped for me on the very first day and even though I only take it once in the morning, the effects of the first pill were still working when I took the second one this morning. If this is real...If this lasts...I'm home free. Finally a combo that works. I thought my brain was defective or that there were no pills out there that could help it. I was wrong. I'm so glad to be wrong.

[vjdragonfly]

I'm glad the cymbalta is working for you thinker22. I used to be on it when I had insurance and it worked great for me. I hope all keeps going well for you.

I believe Cymbalta made me suicidal, and at quite a low dose. Maybe 20mg?

That being said, we are all different, and I hope this medication is the one for you.

[thinker22]

Now I'm feeling fried and like I have too much of it in my system. Fine hand tremor started this afternoon. My eyes are dilated. My jaw trembles when my teeth meet.

I don't want to go down to a lower dose because I've been feeling so great, but maybe that's what the doc will want to do when she sees me next week. Bummer. I just want that feeling of euphoria back. Now I feel overcaffeinated and like I have computer screen glaze in my eyes. I've also been yawning all day even though I got 10 hours of sleep.