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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on June 30, 2005, at 9:56:51
Can anyone compare Lexapro and Cymbalta in terms of side effects? I've been taking 10 mg. Lex for about 2 weeks now and am experiencing a dull, persistant nausea, dizziness, weakness, jaw clenching, GI upset, etc. I don't recall having this problem with Cymbalta when I used it several months ago. I just remember that it made me feel grouchy. But I'd rather feel grouchy than sick all the time! I think that I'm going to switch back, and would like to know if this is a good idea. What are your experiences with Cymbalta, especially in comparison to Lexapro or Celexa (if you've ever used either of those)? Any info is appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by ed_uk on June 30, 2005, at 10:59:47
In reply to am switching back to Cymbalta and have questions, posted by jessers11581 on June 30, 2005, at 9:56:51
Hi,
Try reducing the Lex to 5mg/day.
~Ed
Posted by Bill LL on June 30, 2005, at 13:51:41
In reply to am switching back to Cymbalta and have questions, posted by jessers11581 on June 30, 2005, at 9:56:51
I was on Lexapro (40 mg) by itself for a long time, then with the addition of Strattera, then Cymbalta by itself for a few months, then Lexapro again (20 mg) with Concerta (72 mg) and starting yesterday Lexapro with Provigil.
I know it sounds like I'm having a lot of problems with medications, but I'm really not. I'm just doing a lot of experimenting to find the best mix.
Cymbalta worked really well for both my anxiety and depression. But I lost my temper a few times while on it so I stopped taking it. I think that the Cymbalta may have been to blame but I'm not sure. But I did feel very good on Cymbalta.
On Concerta and Lexapro, I was doing even better. I was less tired and was thinking more clearly. The only reason I switched to Provigil yesterday was to experiment. I got 3 weeks of samples (21 pills of 200 mg). Nice doc. So far so good but of course it's too early to make conclusions.
When Lexapro first came out, I started on 20 mg and eventually went to 40 mg where I stayed for a long time. It's a great drug, but hello sexual side effects and tiredness.
I like the idea of adding a stimulant (or Provigil) to Lexapro because it allows me to lower the dose of Lexapro and therefore lower the sexual and tiredness side effects.
I think that your side effects will go down. I would stick it out at least 2 more weeks before you make a decision.
I had a dull persistent nausea on Concerta for a few weeks, but then it lessened in intensity.
> Can anyone compare Lexapro and Cymbalta in terms of side effects? I've been taking 10 mg. Lex for about 2 weeks now and am experiencing a dull, persistant nausea, dizziness, weakness, jaw clenching, GI upset, etc. I don't recall having this problem with Cymbalta when I used it several months ago. I just remember that it made me feel grouchy. But I'd rather feel grouchy than sick all the time! I think that I'm going to switch back, and would like to know if this is a good idea. What are your experiences with Cymbalta, especially in comparison to Lexapro or Celexa (if you've ever used either of those)? Any info is appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by Chris O on June 30, 2005, at 13:52:38
In reply to am switching back to Cymbalta and have questions, posted by jessers11581 on June 30, 2005, at 9:56:51
Jessers:
I haven't been hangin' out here lately, but just looking over Psycho-bable this past week, I can't resist responding to postings that I have experience with. I think I once gave you feedback on here before, for Celexa or something. Anyway, I've taken both Lexapro and Cymbalta. I took Lexapro last year for 8 months. I too experienced nausea at first on Lexapro, starting at 10mg/day like you, but that went away after a couple of weeks. Eventually, I was able (in fact, needed, for affect) to increase my dosage to 40mg/day without any side effects beyond maybe some tiredness, and of course, the lovely weight gain that comes with all SSRIs. However, even at 40mg/day Lexapro was still to weak for my GAD and obsessive worrying. I took/experimented with Cymbalta after that but only shortly and only at the 30mg/day dosage. It was for my stronger than Lexapro, almost completely eliminating my anxiety; however, it messed with my eyes a lot, gave me blurry vision, made them sensitive to light, and caused a weird horrible pain in them. I didn't like that feeling, so gave Cymbalta up after a couple of weeks. Perhaps the feeling would have gone away in time, I don't know. To me, Cymbalta is like a weaker version of Effexor (which I've also tried shortly), but stronger than some of the other SSRIs I've tried (Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro).
Sorry this is all the experience I have; wish I could give you more detailed feedback. I think if you're not happy with one med, you should definitely try another. You can always stop the other med if you're not happy with it.Good luck,
Chris
Posted by Phillipa on June 30, 2005, at 19:07:10
In reply to My feedback, for what it's worth » jessers11581, posted by Chris O on June 30, 2005, at 13:52:38
I took 60mg of cymbalta for a month. I'm glad I got off it when I did. But I didn't have any aches and pains while on it and I do now. It's approved for peripheral neuropathy too. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by monserrat on July 2, 2005, at 3:11:51
In reply to am switching back to Cymbalta and have questions, posted by jessers11581 on June 30, 2005, at 9:56:51
I agree that you need to lower your dosage to 5mg. Lexapro is by far the most potent (by mg) of any antidepressant I have taken. I took 5mg for several months and occasionally tried to up the dosage to 10mg or 7.5mg but always experienced increased anxiety, dizzyness, GI upset without any benefit.
Cymbalta is a great drug if you have chronic pain or headaches. I wasn't impressed with it as an antidepressant though. Plus it gave me night sweats.
> Can anyone compare Lexapro and Cymbalta in terms of side effects? I've been taking 10 mg. Lex for about 2 weeks now and am experiencing a dull, persistant nausea, dizziness, weakness, jaw clenching, GI upset, etc. I don't recall having this problem with Cymbalta when I used it several months ago. I just remember that it made me feel grouchy. But I'd rather feel grouchy than sick all the time! I think that I'm going to switch back, and would like to know if this is a good idea. What are your experiences with Cymbalta, especially in comparison to Lexapro or Celexa (if you've ever used either of those)? Any info is appreciated. Thanks!
Posted by Sarah T. on July 4, 2005, at 21:25:06
In reply to My feedback, for what it's worth » jessers11581, posted by Chris O on June 30, 2005, at 13:52:38
Hi Chris O,
Welcome Back! I was wondering what had happened to you. Sorry, I don't have anything to add to this thread. I just wanted to say it's good to see you.
Sarah
Posted by Chris O on July 5, 2005, at 13:39:22
In reply to Re: My feedback, for what it's worth » Chris O, posted by Sarah T. on July 4, 2005, at 21:25:06
Sarah:
Hi, there. Thanks for giving me a "shout out." I'll try to send you a babble mail or leave a longer thread when I have time. Still stuggling greatly with my ole' buddies panic and anxiety. Haven't really experimented with a new med since I went off the Lexapro back in February. (Oh, did take Cymbalta for a couple 'o weeks, but it greatly bothered my eyes.) Just been exercising a lot, taking some powdered magnesium and waxing and waning in my panic and worry.
How are you doing? Hopefully, all is well for you.
Sincerely,
Chris
Posted by Sarah T. on July 5, 2005, at 23:29:13
In reply to Hey, there, Sarah T » Sarah T., posted by Chris O on July 5, 2005, at 13:39:22
Hi, Chris.
I'm glad to hear that you're still exercising a lot. You mentioned powdered magnesium. Do you know whether it's magnesium glycinate or citrate or something else? I don't think I've ever taken the powdered form. Magnesium is the best supplement I've taken. I take it at night.I was interested to hear that you'd tried Cymbalta. How did it affect your eyes? Blurred vision? I tried it shortly after it came out, but I couldn't begin at such a high dosage. It gave me severe headaches, confusion and fatigue. The lowest strength available is 20 mg capsules. Another poster here, BarbaraCat, actually opens the capsule and takes a few grains, but I was reluctant to do that because I don't know whether all the grains are the same. Also, I wondered whether the capsule might serve some protective function. I don't know whether it's safe for the grains to be in contact with the lining of the stomach.
You mentioned that you still have bouts of anxiety and panic, and I wondered when these bouts began? Did they begin in the past few years, or has it been a longstanding problem? I ask because I developed panic attacks while I was taking a terrible drug combo some years ago. Shortly after I got off that combo, the attacks stopped, but I also did that behavioral self-help therapy that I mentioned to you a few months ago. I bought those tapes from the Mid-West Center for Stress and Anxiety.
Do you drink coffee or soda with caffeine? Sometimes I feel as if I'm on the verge of a panic attack if I have too much caffeine.
It's good to see you again.
Posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2005, at 18:31:15
In reply to Re: Hey, there, Chris O » Chris O, posted by Sarah T. on July 5, 2005, at 23:29:13
Those cymbalta granules are enteric coated. Just take with food but don't chew them. Not meant to be absorbed in the stomach. A lot of posters are doing this. Check the Archives. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Sarah T. on July 6, 2005, at 22:06:29
In reply to Re: Hey, there, Chris O » Sarah T., posted by Phillipa on July 6, 2005, at 18:31:15
This is the end of the thread.
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