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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 18:01:13
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » Minnie-Haha, posted by Phillipa on January 4, 2005, at 19:38:39
Hi...I've really enjoyed reading these responses and hope to get more info! Lets start off...I have major anxiety issues...and have been on lexapro, celexa, effexor, zoloft, klonopin and now cymbalta. so far, the effexor worked the best (which most of say u hate) but i got off it b/c the sexual dysfunction. i cant seem to get rid of that damn problem! now i've been taking cymbalta for a little over 2 wks..and am on 60mg. so far, ive had horrible constipation, dry mouth and still sexual dysfunction. and im not too sure if its really working for my anxiety. what do u guys think??? i need advise!
Posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2005, at 18:14:53
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 18:01:13
How can you know if it is not helping or helping with your anxiety? I'm confused. What do you mean by anxiety? Can you work, be with people, ect. Phillipa
Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 19:42:45
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor? » tina13, posted by Phillipa on January 7, 2005, at 18:14:53
> How can you know if it is not helping or helping with your anxiety? I'm confused. What do you mean by anxiety? Can you work, be with people, ect. Phillipa
Hi...i mean generalized anxiety, on a daily basis. i'm just not sure if the medicine will take longer to kick in, b/c i still have anxiety.
Posted by Donna Louise on January 7, 2005, at 20:19:16
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 19:42:45
Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
Donna
Posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 7, 2005, at 20:19:16
> Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
>
> Donna
Hi Donna...what is buspar augmentation? i never heard of that. Thanks for your input...so u think i should just give the cymbalta some more time??
tina
Posted by mogger on January 7, 2005, at 21:29:43
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
Tina,
I have buspar augmentation after I went on Lamictal and Zoloft. I actually am at 90mg a day on Buspar and love it! It calms my anxiety down so much, if I had the chance I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think it helped with sexual dysfunction as well. Take care,
Joseph
Posted by Donna Louise on January 8, 2005, at 5:06:44
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 7, 2005, at 20:56:04
> > Hi Tina, I find that buspar augmentation helps with the anxiety but the only drug that has knocked it out entirely was the paxil. Problem was that it knocked out everything else too. For me, any of these drugs that inhibit serotonin re-uptake give me the sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin helps some, not much, with that for me. However, without these drugs, I have no life due to the depression and anxiety so it is really a small price to pay. And it usually for most people with most drugs takes 4-6 weeks to get a full effect if not longer.
> >
> > Donna
>
>
> Hi Donna...what is buspar augmentation? i never heard of that. Thanks for your input...so u think i should just give the cymbalta some more time??
> tina
>I take Buspar to augment any SRI I take. It seems to synergistically boost the efficacy, currently, of cymbalta. I know my pdoc would say to give it more time, as she has said to me many many times...
Donna
Posted by tina13 on January 9, 2005, at 17:15:19
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by Donna Louise on January 8, 2005, at 5:06:44
thanks for your imput! also, did anyone find that cymbalta gave you more anxiety? i'm going on my 3rd week of it and that's how i'm feeling. i'm already thinking about going off it. let me know...thanks
tina
Posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
In reply to Re: Luck with Cymbalta, no luck with Effexor?, posted by tina13 on January 9, 2005, at 17:15:19
A question for those of you who have made the switch: how did you do it? Did your pdoc have you taper completely off the Effexor before starting you on Cymbalta, or was the change-over more abrupt? If abrupt, what dose of Effexor were you taking before you moved over to the newer medication?
I am currently on a high dose of Effexor XR. The drug had been helpful to me for a number of years, but has recently become less effective at keeping my depression at bay. This is why my pdoc suggested Cymbalta and why I'm considering it.
I'll be grateful for your responses.
tt
Posted by tina13 on January 10, 2005, at 18:40:12
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
> A question for those of you who have made the switch: how did you do it? Did your pdoc have you taper completely off the Effexor before starting you on Cymbalta, or was the change-over more abrupt? If abrupt, what dose of Effexor were you taking before you moved over to the newer medication?
>
> I am currently on a high dose of Effexor XR. The drug had been helpful to me for a number of years, but has recently become less effective at keeping my depression at bay. This is why my pdoc suggested Cymbalta and why I'm considering it.
>
> I'll be grateful for your responses.
>
> ttHello...I was taking 75 of effexor and it took me 2 mths to get off it. my dr. had me take less and less each week(i guess thats how ur suppose to do it). it was pretty hard to get off it and there were definately withdrawel effects. good luck !!
Posted by mikerush on January 11, 2005, at 11:49:39
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
I was on 225/mg per day, my pdoc had me wean down to 37.5/day and then I stopped for a couple of days. I never really felt any withdrawal symptoms as I was tapering down. Then my pdoc started me on Cymbalta at 30/mg day for one week and bumped it up to 60mg/day which I am still on. I still haven't decided if it is better than Effexor but I was at the point where the Effexor wasn't working for my GAD as well, so I wanted to try something different.
Posted by Elroy on January 11, 2005, at 19:26:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 29, 2004, at 8:36:10
Have you had your cortisol levels checked? 24hr UFC test is best. If your 24hr UFC is above normal, then have Late Night Salivary Cortisol Tests done to make sure you don't have Cushing's Disease. If not, but you still have high cortisol, then it's probably "pseudo Cushings", then need to look into research being done with mifepristone (RU486) to knock out high cortisol and re-set HPA axis which would then correct excessive cortisol secretion.
Posted by thistlethorn on January 12, 2005, at 20:17:49
In reply to Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 10, 2005, at 14:56:59
Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
tt
Posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 14:30:04
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 12, 2005, at 20:17:49
> Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
>
> I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
>
> Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
>
> ttglad i was of help. anyway i stopped taking the cymbalta after almost 3 wks b/c i felt llike it was giving me more anxiety. im still waiting to hear from my dr. i think im just gonna tell him to put me back on effexor. what do u guys think? i need some advise!
Posted by Elroy on January 13, 2005, at 17:34:11
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 14:30:04
Not sure if this helps, but my situation was one of primarily anxiety and secondarily depression - say a 60/40 mixture! My psych doc had me on Ativan (worked better than nothing but not super spectacular) and recently switched me to Xanax XR. Now that she feels she has a better handle on the anxiety - maybe too much as I feel quite a bit of sedation - she now wants to add an AD, specifically Cymbalta, in order to balance things out. Possibly something like that is the answer? It seems like many ADs are "overstimulating" and many anti-anxiety meds are depressing. So maybe its the combination that's needed?
Elroy
> > Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
> >
> > I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
> >
> > Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
> >
> > tt
>
> glad i was of help. anyway i stopped taking the cymbalta after almost 3 wks b/c i felt llike it was giving me more anxiety. im still waiting to hear from my dr. i think im just gonna tell him to put me back on effexor. what do u guys think? i need some advise!
>
Posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 19:02:33
In reply to Re: Cymbalta » tina13, posted by Elroy on January 13, 2005, at 17:34:11
> Not sure if this helps, but my situation was one of primarily anxiety and secondarily depression - say a 60/40 mixture! My psych doc had me on Ativan (worked better than nothing but not super spectacular) and recently switched me to Xanax XR. Now that she feels she has a better handle on the anxiety - maybe too much as I feel quite a bit of sedation - she now wants to add an AD, specifically Cymbalta, in order to balance things out. Possibly something like that is the answer? It seems like many ADs are "overstimulating" and many anti-anxiety meds are depressing. So maybe its the combination that's needed?
>
> Elroy
>
>
> > > Thank you, Tina and Mike. Your posts are interesting and helpful.
> > >
> > > I'm taking 450 mgs of Effexor now, so I worry that it may take a very long tapering-off period and a continuing descent into deeper and deeper depression before I'm at the point at which I can even begin to take the Cymbalta. That's why I'm sort of clinging to the Effexor even though it's lost much of its efficacy for me.
> > >
> > > Mike, as you tapered down, did your pdoc augment your diminishing doses of Effexor with another med?
> > >
> > > tt
> >
> > glad i was of help. anyway i stopped taking the cymbalta after almost 3 wks b/c i felt llike it was giving me more anxiety. im still waiting to hear from my dr. i think im just gonna tell him to put me back on effexor. what do u guys think? i need some advise!
> >
>
>yea who knows...i'm also feeling so out of it--probably b/c i just stopped the cymbalta out of nowhere
Posted by Elroy on January 13, 2005, at 20:39:28
In reply to Re: Cymbalta, posted by curious2know on November 29, 2004, at 8:36:10
Posted by mikerush on January 15, 2005, at 20:12:06
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by thistlethorn on January 12, 2005, at 20:17:49
Once I was down to 37.5 my pdoc had me on 30/mg of Cymbalta and I stopped the effexor and then went up to 60/mg of Cymbalta. I haven't made up my mind which one is better. I guess time will tell.
Posted by phillipa on January 15, 2005, at 21:28:07
In reply to Re: Cortisol Imbalance (nm) » curious2know, posted by Elroy on January 13, 2005, at 20:39:28
Stick with the anti-anxiety meds only. As was posted in another Thread, back in the 50's and 60's that's really all that was available. People did not expect so much. Today the drug companies are making money hand over foot on AD's through gifts, trips, etc for the pdocs. If you don't let anxiety drain you it shouldn't turn into depression. Just my opinion. Once you're on an AD it's a rollercoaster of one med after the other. You could lower your dose of anti-anxiety med till you find one that doesn't make you tired. Fondly Phillipa
Posted by thistlethorn on January 16, 2005, at 18:52:32
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by mikerush on January 15, 2005, at 20:12:06
Posted by caleb96 on January 17, 2005, at 20:14:39
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition, posted by tina13 on January 13, 2005, at 14:30:04
I was tapered by my internist from 300 mg Effexor per day,(after almost 4 years) to 60 mg Cymbalta in just 4 weeks. NO adverse effects--in fact no effects at all except I got my sex drive back. So far, Cymbalta's been working great--no depression. It may not be right for everyone, but it's sure nice to get my sex drive back.
Love & sanity
Caleb
Posted by KaraS on January 17, 2005, at 22:10:46
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition » tina13, posted by caleb96 on January 17, 2005, at 20:14:39
> I was tapered by my internist from 300 mg Effexor per day,(after almost 4 years) to 60 mg Cymbalta in just 4 weeks. NO adverse effects--in fact no effects at all except I got my sex drive back. So far, Cymbalta's been working great--no depression. It may not be right for everyone, but it's sure nice to get my sex drive back.
>
> Love & sanity
>
> Caleb
That's really great! I don't know why so many posters here talk about Cymbalta being such a failure. I've read several very positive posts here lately. I wish I could have tolerated it better. I only took a small dosage for a short while but I felt both groggy and yet stimulated (probably tachycardia) at the same time. It was scary. I also started it when I was at the end of my taper from Effexor. I think it's a really good thing to take to prevent Effexor withdrawal symptoms.Kara
Posted by gadman on January 31, 2005, at 16:41:53
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition » caleb96, posted by KaraS on January 17, 2005, at 22:10:46
What I don't understand is that Effexor and Cymbalta are both doing the same thing (supposedly).
How can they make you feel so different? I know that there mechanisms are different, but the end result is SUPPOSE TO be the same.
Gadman
Posted by KaraS on January 31, 2005, at 19:51:49
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition » KaraS, posted by gadman on January 31, 2005, at 16:41:53
> What I don't understand is that Effexor and Cymbalta are both doing the same thing (supposedly).
>
> How can they make you feel so different? I know that there mechanisms are different, but the end result is SUPPOSE TO be the same.
>
> Gadman
I don't know what to tell you other than it's a different drug and it has more of an effect on norepinephrine.K
Posted by gadman on January 31, 2005, at 21:02:19
In reply to Re: Effexor XR to Cymbalta transition » gadman, posted by KaraS on January 31, 2005, at 19:51:49
Yes, I agree... I was thinking the same thing... But at the higher doses they should be similar I would think.
Just as I would think that all of the SSRIs should be a similar end result even though the mechanisms are different.
I realize some patients may take readily to different meds, but all things being equal they should be semi-similar... (Again just supposing)
Is there a Doc in the house?
Gadman
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