[January]

Hello,

My pdoc removed my lexapro and replaced it with Cymbalta in hopes of calming some of my pain. That made me more manic than I have ever been in my life, and oddly very, very depressed at the same time. She is very slowly adding Abilify to help with the depression and I can see a difference since I started taking it about nine days ago.

I am still manic, with little sleep and not really able to sit still. Since I have health problems, I really need some rest. When I do sleep, I have the most horrible night terrors I've ever experienced. I can't continue to be afraid to sleep because of them.

Have any of you ever experienced night terrors and/or mania while taking Cymbalta? If so, will you please share how you handled it?

Many thanks for taking the time to read this.

January

[buttrfli42481]

I have been on Cymbalta (120mg) for about 4 yrs now, but haven't had any night terrors or mania with it. When do you take it and what dosage are you on? I am also on Abilify (5mg). Does you pdoc know that you are still having trouble with it, or is that why she is adding the Abilify slowly. When I started Abilify, I was on 2.5 mg. We just upped it about a month ago to the 5mg.

[Hope-Full]

I had a horrid experience with Cymbata - I lasted less than a week. The first day I took it I was awake for 20 hours straight. I took it for 4 days. I didn't sleep and hardly ate for 7 days. It was miserable. I was completely manic and felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. Needless to say, I stopped Cymbalta, and it took a good two weeks to get it fully out of my system before we tried the next med.

[January]

Thank you for your replies, Butterfli & Hopefull. They mean a lot to me.

The pdoc backed me off the Cymbalta to 30 mg and she added the Abilify at 2.5 mg, wanting to work up to 10 mg. I'm still at 2.5 right now. She thought the mania would stop if she dropped the Cymbalta from 60 to 30 mg.

I swear, I feel like I can feel the blood burning through my veins and I'm a nervous wreck. I am usually a polite person, but it takes very little to either make me angry or so upset that I get anxious and shake.

I am bipolar, but in it's mildest form. I am horrified at the mania. I'm not used to talking too fast, having forced speech, not being able to stay still or any of this.

My depression is always much worse than any mild mania I might have. A friend told me today that she's used to me being sad, but not so hyper active that I'm bouncing everywhere.

I don't know if I should try to hang on until Wed. when the pdoc will return to her office to call her, or try her emergency number. I've never, ever called it and am frightened to try it.

Thank you again.

January

[krisakira]

Cymbalta also gave me a manic episode, that did not subside until I stopped taking it. Effexor does the same thing. Both meds are SNRI's which help increase the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine being used in the brain. The increase of norepinephrine being used is what causes me to have mania. I am actually now on a med, Tenex, which DECREASES the norepinephrine being used. I am much calmer with less mood swings.

[January]

Thank you so much for the information. I will bring this to my pdoc's attention and hopefully she will get me on something else, maybe even what you're taking.

Again, thank you.

January

[Hope-Full]

I'd suggest stopping it now, rather than waiting for your pdoc on Wednesday. You know yourself and your body best, so if it is causing you trouble... I actually called my dr and said "I can't take the cymbalta anymore, it's making me manic, so I took my last dose yesterday. What do we try next?" or something like that, cause it was that bad for me to continue. I couldn't wait five days until my next appointment. Good luck to you!

[January]

What a great way to phrase it! I think your advice is very good and I thank you so much.

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

I'd suggest stopping it now, rather than waiting for your pdoc on Wednesday. You know yourself and your body best, so if it is causing you trouble... I actually called my dr and said "I can't take the cymbalta anymore, it's making me manic, so I took my last dose yesterday. What do we try next?" or something like that, cause it was that bad for me to continue. I couldn't wait five days until my next appointment. Good luck to you!

[LacunaCoiler]

Both night terrors and mania are side effects of cymbalta. I had the same problem you do. During the day I was very antsy and almost manic, to the point of driving recklessly. I slept maybe 3-4 hours a night and when I did sleep I had night terrors or I would sleep too hard but would be up within hours. In the end my doctor switched me to pristiq. Which had eliminated the night terrors and has cut the mania like symptoms to almost half. I would suggest talking to your doctor about these since there are other types of meds they can put you on. There is no reason to have to deal with these side effects.

[animallover821]

I hope that by now you're off of Cymbalta. I had a horrible experience with it. I was constantly aggitated and angry and there was no reason for it. It almost ended my marriage. I know that meds work different on each person because of chemical make up. But, this one did not work for me at all. I was extremely suicidal also. Just a bad experience all around. I called pdoc and got off of this immediately.

Definitely call your pdoc's emergency number and let him know what is going on.