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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by allwerasking on October 1, 2006, at 9:05:16
For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 1, 2006, at 12:09:01
In reply to Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 1, 2006, at 9:05:16
I felt "different" after about a week (30 mg). some hints of better days after about 2 weeks (60mg). Several better days in a row by 4 weeks. Went up to 90mg after 6 weeks on 60mg, and felt my depression lifting more and more every week or so.
My babble-o-meter CES-D score dropped about 10 points a month, from 50's to the teens, where it's been for a while (recently spiking up to the 30's, but that's a different issue).
If not for cymbalta, I'd probably be dead by now.
Been on cymbalta for 5 months now.
-Li
Posted by yxibow on October 2, 2006, at 18:07:48
In reply to Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 1, 2006, at 9:05:16
> For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
Quite a while, I'd say many months, its a subtle drug, but when I got to 80mg I noticed a short "epiphany". I take 120mg now. There were periods of breakthrough depression and there probably still will be. I take it for secondary and primary depression.
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 2, 2006, at 19:48:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » allwerasking, posted by yxibow on October 2, 2006, at 18:07:48
> > For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
>
> Quite a while, I'd say many months, its a subtle drug, but when I got to 80mg I noticed a short "epiphany". I take 120mg now. There were periods of breakthrough depression and there probably still will be. I take it for secondary and primary depression.yxibow, I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean by secondary and primary depression? If this is too personal, please forgive my asking.
Thank you,
-Li
Posted by yxibow on October 3, 2006, at 0:47:01
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » yxibow, posted by Lindenblüte on October 2, 2006, at 19:48:15
> > > For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
> >
> > Quite a while, I'd say many months, its a subtle drug, but when I got to 80mg I noticed a short "epiphany". I take 120mg now. There were periods of breakthrough depression and there probably still will be. I take it for secondary and primary depression.
>
> yxibow, I'm sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean by secondary and primary depression? If this is too personal, please forgive my asking.
>
> Thank you,
> -Li
>
Secondary depression is depression concomittant with a primary diagnosis. My primary diagnosis is a Somatiform Disorder which has wrecked the last 5 years of my life. So its depressing. Hence, secondary depression. I also have some primary depression and anxiety concommittant with the disorder as well. Mostly though it is secondary depression as a result of not being able to work and achieve my potential and a loss of hope for what has been a long struggle.I hope that explains the difference.
-- tidings
Jay
Posted by allwerasking on October 3, 2006, at 6:10:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » Lindenblüte, posted by yxibow on October 3, 2006, at 0:47:01
Anyone take it for pain also? I have to take an antidepressant and need something for pain also. Not neuropathy pain. I was started at 30 mg once a day.
Thanks in advance.
Posted by Siouxgie on October 4, 2006, at 21:21:35
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 3, 2006, at 6:10:43
> Anyone take it for pain also? I have to take an antidepressant and need something for pain also. Not neuropathy pain. I was started at 30 mg once a day.
>
> Thanks in advance.I took Cymbalta for pain and depression for one month. It worked really well except my (usually normal) blood pressure sky-rocketted. Try Lyrica if the pain is nerve-related.
Posted by craiggetty on October 8, 2006, at 18:24:58
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 3, 2006, at 6:10:43
I suffer from chronic back pain. Was taking 60mg Cymbalta and 200mg Wellbutrin SR. I felt both antidepressants had reached a poop-out point so decided to wean myself off and go drugless for awhile.
I decided to first taper off Cymbalta over a period of 2 weeks. I didn't feel any worse (or better) depression-wise, but I had a back pain relapse within a week after I had completely stopped the Cymbalta.Now, that could have been a coincidence, but I decided to go back on the Cymbalta anyway (and also raised the Wellbutrin).
> Anyone take it for pain also? I have to take an antidepressant and need something for pain also. Not neuropathy pain. I was started at 30 mg once a day.
>
> Thanks in advance.
Posted by allwerasking on October 13, 2006, at 7:33:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by craiggetty on October 8, 2006, at 18:24:58
My joint pain has decreased however I must have hurt my back somehow again.
I am staying on the Cymbalta. It really has helped the joint pain and the back pain is not as bad as it was.
I need to go back on my Adderall now and hopefully don't have problems with it.Thanks for responding!
Posted by Lindenblüte on October 13, 2006, at 12:59:49
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 13, 2006, at 7:33:51
That's good news- keep up the good work and take extra good care of yourself, okay? If you're experiencing any cymbalta side-effects these should go away within a few days to 2 weeks of starting up, or increasing your dose.
mmm I like warm baths and epsom salts... so relaxing...mmm
or a cloth sack of rice thrown into the microwave to heat up for a few minutes- dry heat for over an hour. so nice on my achy back days.
I also like salonpas patches. I use them for occasional tendinitis flareups. quite inexpensive, and the smell will clear your sinuses...
-Li
Posted by wacky on October 16, 2006, at 12:06:07
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » allwerasking, posted by Lindenblüte on October 13, 2006, at 12:59:49
I started Cymbalta over a week ago and just upped the dose to 60mg on the Sat. I dropped the Effexor to 150 and the sweating has eased up - and now I notice a slight lifting of the depression. I am hopeful this stuff will do the trick.
Posted by allwerasking on October 16, 2006, at 12:17:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by wacky on October 16, 2006, at 12:06:07
I went off Lexapro before going on Cymbalta. I have bipolar so too much could be disastrous!
My achiness is gone. All except the back pain and that seems to have eased a bit. At least now 800 mg of Motrin is making me virtually pain free when I am not working. Nothing worked before. Not even narcotics.
I have no symptoms of mania however I do have a slight headache-y feeling in the morning before I get up.
The depression fog seems to have lifted.
I restarted the Adderall and am increasing by 5 mg a day to find the lowest dosage that works.
Between the pain and the being nutso I find myself in a spin a lot! :)
Posted by chante on October 22, 2006, at 14:38:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by wacky on October 16, 2006, at 12:06:07
Hi anyone is taking only cymbalta just for depression and extreme stress? (social phobia). I tried effexor for 6 months at first felt better then at the end felt more stress and paranoid that was worst than depresion... then tried lexapro was never leaving my coach!! not good. and zoloft too wasn't good for a 2 week period too anxiety too. My new doc say to try cymbalta. Is anyone feel tired with this or ??? somebody said to try aurorix?? when my doc give me a month of zanax just help for the moment and , and that's it I don't like that, doesn't seem to work for me... anyway thank you for info... let me know anybody cause I'm getting overwhelme with this feel that nothing is working for me..
Posted by allwerasking on October 22, 2006, at 14:48:24
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by chante on October 22, 2006, at 14:38:39
My anxiety is really relieved lately. Cymbalta keeps me very calm. I hope I don't stay THIS calm. I am pretty tired but I am told that there is a 4 week break in period. Anyone know about that?
Posted by chante on October 22, 2006, at 14:58:41
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » chante, posted by allwerasking on October 22, 2006, at 14:48:24
when you say calm do you feel no motivation for exercise or else ? or you feel nice?
Posted by allwerasking on October 22, 2006, at 16:11:08
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by chante on October 22, 2006, at 14:58:41
I never was real motivated for exercize. I walk to work when I get up early enough (one mile each way). I am very calm and often tired. The Cymbalta info says 4 weeks to level off. I will give it that.
I have been resting after a year of depression ans stress. My body and mind deserve it. I am going to work and keeping the house degrunged. The clutter still has to be removed.
Once the four weeks is up I will work on motivaion for health and home decluttering.
I am taking a 4 week hiatus from major cleaning and thinking. Purposefully.
Posted by keeppluggin on October 25, 2006, at 9:33:26
In reply to Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 1, 2006, at 9:05:16
> For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
It took about six weeks at 60 mg to work for me. I also take 600 mg of tripleptal to augment, as my pdoc felt that I wasn't getting a robust response from Cymbalta alone.
Posted by allwerasking on October 25, 2006, at 14:21:32
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by keeppluggin on October 25, 2006, at 9:33:26
How does Trileptal produce a more "robust" response?
I take Trileptal for bipolar, mood stabilizer--- and I take Cymbalta.
Posted by chante on October 26, 2006, at 1:04:57
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 25, 2006, at 14:21:32
what happen if your not use to take any medication, is Cymbalta make you sleepy like lexapro? I wonder if it's because I took it only 2, 3 months maybe I had to wait longer?
I'm scared of taking just one anti-depressant I notice most people take 2 at a time. Just one is not enough? it's so confusing
Posted by allwerasking on October 26, 2006, at 6:06:38
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by chante on October 26, 2006, at 1:04:57
Everyone is different. One works for me.
Posted by getinwl72 on October 26, 2006, at 7:35:36
In reply to Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 1, 2006, at 9:05:16
> For people who have taken Cymbalta, and it worked for you, about how long did it take to work?
I started and stopped a few times with Cymbalta because I felt that it was not working. One thing is for sure with me though.. I cannot take it during the day as it makes me very sleepy.
I have been back on it for about 2 months now at night. 60 mg.
My cocktail for Bipolar 2
60mg Cymbalta
100 mg Topamax- anything higher and I am Dopamax
For my Fatigue due to MS
10 mg adderral 3 X day just started- Made all the difference for me.
For my Anxiety when Adderral is coming out of system in the evening
1mg Xanax pm.
I was taking the adderral XR but it seemed to be building up in my system each day. The Non Extended release is better for me , so it's in and out.
Wanted to make sure you got the whole picture.I felt some initial relief with Cymbalta immediately but was not truly stable from my depression for about 6 weeks. So hang in there-
I kept quitting because I would get that initial relief(high) and then I went back to feeling depressed so I assumed it wasn't working. I stopped taking it. Finally , I decided to go back and try one more time and just hang in there and as with all anti depressants I just started to realize I was feeling better about 4-6 weeks into it.
Posted by keeppluggin on October 26, 2006, at 11:05:56
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 25, 2006, at 14:21:32
> How does Trileptal produce a more "robust" response?
>
> I take Trileptal for bipolar, mood stabilizer--- and I take Cymbalta.Good question. All I know is that I my mood did seem to stabilize and improve a few weeks after adding the trileptal. I have unipolar depression, so I was a little skeptical about adding Trileptal into the mix, but my pdoc thought it was worth trying...
Posted by chante on October 26, 2006, at 13:05:43
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited, posted by allwerasking on October 26, 2006, at 6:06:38
I been reading a lot last night from all thoses website for my problem I have social phobia and this make me a little depresse, I try hard everyday to fight it but this is so exhausting I'm getting discougage... I need help it's been going on for years now... my husband keep saying to me if I would do more exercise and been busy I would feel better but I'm trying so hard , I'm tired of feeling bad inside I'm not happy like that. I'm quiting my job because I feel too uncomtforable been with a lot of people it's too much for me everyday, I'm looking for something else that I work on my own or with few people... that's how now I know that this is getting a big problem I need to change this before I get worst... NO body know about this not even my husband I can't say it.. I'm ashame and embarrase. I hope cymbalta will be good for my anxiety...
Posted by chante on October 26, 2006, at 13:07:32
In reply to Re: Cymbalta revisited » allwerasking, posted by getinwl72 on October 26, 2006, at 7:35:36
thank you for your info, I 'm so glad I found out this website it's a big help,
This is the end of the thread.
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