[IrisBloom]

Went to my doc yesterday and after much consulting between her, the therapist and a mental health advocate we concluded that I am in need of a med adjustment. I'm going to try Cymbalta and increase Trazodone. This is much relief to me, as I was functioning for the most part on Zoloft, but not really improving. I was so used to just being at a steady level that I didn't realize I was just barely not depressed, not improving much along the way. I have big changes coming soon, and while they are not in and of themselves depressing changes, all of the stress of several different things going on at once was too much at one time. I've also figured out that as I get older the depressive episodes are worse than they used to be, so I do want to prevent them if possible. I have high hopes for Cymbalta.

Does anyone have experience with Cymbalta? I'm curious about side effects, but don't really want to hear horror stories.

Thank you.

[TheOriginalMe]

I hope Cymbalta works for you, I know how hard it is finding the right combination without too many side effects.

[Edward Kenway]

I was taking duloxetine (Cymbalta) for depression and anxiety a few years ago I found it to be ok. There are a few side effects but they soon go away. I was on venlafaxine before that and I found that was similar.

Ed

[Angelique67]

I was put on Cymbalta my last ip experience. There was initial anxiety (but it's hard to say whether that was also from withdrawing from Klonopin) but it got better after 3 or 4 days. I was tolerating my new med cocktail pretty well after 8 days when I was sent home. But I didn't stay on it because I ran out of meds and then due to a couple of weird medical issues unrelated to my meds I think, I couldn't go anywhere to get my rx refilled.

When I tried to go back on it since then, I have had just a little increase in Anxiety and since I live completely alone, I got scared and didn't give it a chance. I keep thinking maybe I'll try again though.

My new pdoc wants to put me on Lexapro or something and I'm not sure what I'll do. He also wants to increase my ap and I don't want to do that either. Good luck!

[vonmoxie]

Being an SNRI, it will likely feel quite a bit different than Zoloft (which it sounds like you're looking forward to), by way of its norepinephrine action. I know it's helped a lot of people, but for me it didn't happen to; I suspect because of being adrenaline based it didn't jive well with some physiological PTSD issues I have outstanding. Hypervigilance and whatnot.

As far as side effects go, some recommend it be taken at night, since it can make you quite drowsy, and I would recommend trying that too, although for me it made me grind my teeth which complicated matters for me. I already had TMJ though, which may have something to do with what's listed as a rarer side effect happening to affect me. I ended up having to time it in just such a way as to balance having fewer effects at night, with still having a chance to experience wakefulness during the day. I think it was 2PM every day I ended up settling on, for me. The jaw thing lessened for me somewhat over time, but never totally went away while I was still taking it.

Even though in terms of its anti-depressant action it didn't happen to work out for me, while I was taking it I did appreciate its generalized effect on pain, which was not numbing or anything like that but did seem to somehow negate some of my "smaller" aches and pains that result from a physical disorder that I have. That alone might have made it worth it for me were it not for the particular side effects I ended up with.

I hope it turns out well for you!

[IrisBloom]

I read that it takes 3-4 weeks for full effectiveness, so I'm going to try it at least a month. I hope you get what you need soon, Angelique

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by IrisBloom

I read that it takes 3-4 weeks for full effectiveness, so I'm going to try it at least a month. I hope you get what you need soon, Angelique

Similar to VonMoxie, it also helped the arthritis pain in my knees. That pain has only gotten worse in the past two years which is one of the reasons I wanted to try Cymbalta again.

Thank you for your kind wishes, Iris! I hope Cymbalta works out well for you!

[bluekoi]

IrisBloom,

I've been on Cymbalta for a couple of years. A few months a go had a med increase. No side effects. I take it in the morning.