[Laggie]

I've been on Cymbalta 60 mg for 9 years and am now having breakthrough depression and anxiety. Getting to see a Pdoc where I live is almost impossible--one practically has to be admitted. They defer to the PCP's for medication adjustment for people like me.

I was on Prozac for 8 years, went off to have babies. Then restarted on Zoloft for 4-5 years before a major move sent me spiraling. New doc prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg in 2005.

I had a breakdown in 2011 and my PCP prescribed Viibryd on top of the Cymbalta but it made me extremely irritable.

I'm wondering if I should ask to up my dose of Cymbalta or try something new? I do have significant depression now but also a LOT of anxiety.

I'm afraid to use benzos as I need to be alert for my job and worry about addiction.

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

[Travelinglady]

Hi, Laggie, and welcome to Psych Central! I know some meds can stop working in some people after a long period of time. I think I would ask a pharmacist if Cymbalta could be one of those.

Otherwise, I think I'd ask about a higher dosage. And see what all is available for anxiety. Maybe some are less "benzo" than others.

My two cents' worth anyway.

I hope you can get help soon and start feeling better.

[Denman]

I was on Cymbalta 60mg for months, and it did nothing. It wasn't until I changed pdocs that things changed for me - he increased the dosage to 90mg and added
Klonopin 0.5mg 3x per day and that made a world of difference. I felt like a new person and it was such a relief.

[Altered Moment]

I think they can all "poop out" as it is called. Nine years is a long time to get out of one. I would think increasing the dose and trying that first before switching would be worth it. Looks like the max is 120. Of course you could get side effects you didn't have at 60 too.

[TheOriginalMe]

In the UK, we rarely get benzos for more than a few days. The longest I've ever had a script for being 5 days. It was enough to get me to a stage where I could manage my anxiety using relaxation and breathing control. So don't be totally against them, but keep then strictly short-term.

Cymbalta hasn't really kicked in for me after 8 weeks, but in the past with other drugs I've never really responded to upping the dose after a drug has pooped. It might be that drug combining or augmentation could help, would your PCP be able to do that or would that need a pdoc?

I've been on 120 mg. per day of Cymbalta (now on the generic variety) for around 2 years. I still have major depression. But the Cymbalta seems to at least "keep a floor under me", so to speak, so that I don't fall too far too fast. I have virtually no side effects. I have had difficulty adding any other med to the Cymbalta. But I think that may have more to do with me than with the medication.

[Laggie]

Thanks so much for all the replies! I will talk to my doc about increasing the dose. She was under the impression that 60 mg was the highest. That's why she gave me Viibryd in top of it but that med made me angry!

I appreciate all the responses.

[sewerrats]

if it poops it poops 9 years is great to be covered, if you go up it wont last long if it works at all , you may get more side effects than good effects