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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by gadman on January 17, 2005, at 13:23:31
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor » gadman, posted by NISSYNICOL on January 17, 2005, at 12:16:13
Another WOW! My pdoc told me they were equivelant 60 Cymbalta = 75 Effexor... But I did not believe him. After doing some research on the Net it seems I am correct. Cymbalta is much more potent than Effexor, Am I correct?
If that is the case, can we expect the same kind of withdrawals from Cymbalta? Worse than Effexor?
> My pdoc is having me do just this, except I am on 450 Effexor. I just started 2 days ago. He told me that 30 of cymbalta is like the equival. to 150 of Effexor. I have good thoughts on this and I am hoping this switch over will work for me side effects and withdrawl free!
> Take care,
> NISSYNICOL
Posted by gadman on January 17, 2005, at 15:46:48
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by gadman on January 17, 2005, at 13:23:31
After much reading on these meds it seems that I need to just pick the lesser of two evils.
Posted by NISSYNICOL on January 17, 2005, at 20:50:11
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by gadman on January 17, 2005, at 13:23:31
> If that is the case, can we expect the same kind of withdrawals from Cymbalta? Worse than Effexor?I did a search of Cymbalta on google and I don't remember the exact website that it was on but I did read on one of them that it does have the same withdrawal as effexor. I have a friend who is a pharmacist and she is checking into the information on cymbalta for me. If there is anything worth reporting I will post it for you.
Take care,
NISSY
Posted by gadman on January 18, 2005, at 7:39:39
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by NISSYNICOL on January 17, 2005, at 20:50:11
Yep... I read the same thing. I think they are only supposing at this point though because it functions the same way Effexor does. I searched for actual experiences and really did not come up with any.
> I did a search of Cymbalta on google and I don't remember the exact website that it was on but I did read on one of them that it does have the same withdrawal as effexor. I have a friend who is a pharmacist and she is checking into the information on cymbalta for me. If there is anything worth reporting I will post it for you.
> Take care,
> NISSY
Posted by gadman on January 18, 2005, at 11:58:37
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by gadman on January 18, 2005, at 7:39:39
Well... I have been feeling pretty decent so I think I am going to forge ahead with Cymbalta.
It has been 8 days now since I have been taking 30 mg of Cymbalta and 37.5 or Effexor.
I think I am going to slowly taper the Effexor to nothing over the next four days, and increase my Cymbalta to 40 mg over the weekend.
My only negative I am noticing so far is my decreased sex drive, but everything I am reading says that Cymbalta is better than Effexor in this regard, so hopefully this will pass.
Posted by Gael on February 12, 2005, at 16:18:49
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by gadman on January 18, 2005, at 11:58:37
Hi - Been having an awful winter of depression and lately really bad persistent headaches. So the pdoc thought we'd switch from 37.5 Effexor directly to 60 mg Cymbalta without any tapering etc. I figured what the hey. Headaches gone. Nightmares over the past 3 nights (3 days on Cymbalta) and INCREDIBLY gross acid refluc, especially when having just eaten sugar/candy/cookies. etc. Is this Effexor withdrawal or coming onto Cymbalta? In the night when I wake up from a nightmare I have to breathe deeply and really get my sh*t together in order to feel like I'm not going to crack up.
Thnx.
Gael
Posted by Giraffeguitar on April 21, 2006, at 7:15:22
In reply to switching from Effexor to Cymbalta midstream, posted by Gael on February 12, 2005, at 16:18:49
The nightmares are withdrawl of the Effexor XR. Keep us informed on the Switch to Cymbalta. I am talking it over with my pDoc later today to see if the weight gain / sex problems are less than with Effexor. I am also taking Wellbutrin 150 mg /day AND Strattera 60mg /day (that one is the REAL orgasm killer!). In a previous post somenone mentioned provagil...I'll ask and let you all know what he says about it. It's a Controlled Substance - Stimulant Class - May worsen the insomnia many of us already have.
Posted by fibr on November 10, 2006, at 14:12:54
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by awatts on January 16, 2005, at 11:58:51
I've been on effexor for 4 years initially for depression and now for fibromyalgia. It's helped tremendously. To counter the sexual side effects my doctor put me on wellbutrin as well. I take 75mg extended release eff. and 100 mg sustained release Wellb.They work well together. I am concerned though about the withdrawl problems with effexor. You have to go off very slowly to the point of halving the 37. dose and tapering from there. I would like to try cymbalta as well; it is supposed to help fibromyalgia pain. Good Luck!
Posted by Lexxor on April 2, 2007, at 22:23:14
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by fibr on November 10, 2006, at 14:12:54
honestly there isn't a comparison between effexor xr and cymbalta. in the office i work in, the doc it trying to switch all of the effexor xr patients over to cymbalta. this cymbalta stuff is working on deression, diabetic neuropethy, fibromyalgia, and one of the reps told us today that it is now indicated for anxiety disorder. hardly any of our patients have gained weight on it, and no one that we've seen has had high blood pressure from it, like effexor xr. Some of the patients that the doc has switched,think he is God's gift to mankind. I don't know about that, but cymbalta seems to be helping.
Posted by Tiffi24 on August 15, 2007, at 10:35:36
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor » fibr, posted by Lexxor on April 2, 2007, at 22:23:14
I am making the switch to Cymbalta from Effexor XR , I have been on it since 03...so 4 yrs..I am nervous to say the least!
most of the reason is the high BP..my diastolic number is 100..my BP has typically been low...until effexor..it has crept up over the yrs..
I am on 300 of effexor xr (down from 375 a few months ago..) and am supposed to be making a lateral move to cymbalta...60mgs..I am wondering if I should do a small transition period..150 and 30? then mabye 75 and 60? then off the E totally?
I am nervous as hell..effexor has yanked me out of a serious bout of Major Depression..and has done me well over the years..I know how hellish it can be to go off of it, I am hoping that Cymbalta, since it is the same class, will keep some of the worse withdrawal effects away...
I have 2 boys, 10 and 7, and I cannot be down for the count very long!!!
Posted by Clayton on August 15, 2007, at 12:04:56
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by awatts on January 16, 2005, at 11:58:51
Just to let you know that I am on 300 mg of Effexor a day and the doc recently added Provigil. The improvement was immediate and substantial. Elevated mood and much more enery mostly. I definiteltly would give this a try!
Posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 4:43:40
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by Tiffi24 on August 15, 2007, at 10:35:36
hi there,
I was a longtime veteran of effexor for five years or so. I have been on cymbalta since its release and I can definitely say that [for me] Cymbalta has a moderately superior anxiolytic and antidepressant effect profile.
I am very med-sensitive, but the good news is that I have slightly less overall side effects on cymbalta when comparing it to effexor. *However, I do think that in comparing the recommended dosing levels of the two drugs, Cymbalta is more powerful than Effexor. I would highly recommend getting the 20mg pills and stay at 20mg per day for the first week or two. Then, when you feel up to it, try 30mg daily. And then go up conservatively. I know many people who have found that their optimal dosage level is well below the standard of 60mg.
JB
Posted by jhj on August 16, 2007, at 5:46:47
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor » Tiffi24, posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 4:43:40
HiI have tried venlafaxine for three years for my depression,GAD & social phobia.I have been on 300 mg dose for quite some time.But,i have not felt any better in addition to side effect like stomach discomfort.Do you thing i should give duloxetine a try despite the failure of Venlafaxine despite the same mechanism of action? By the way,are you the same jrbecker76 who gives list of upcoming list on neurotransmitter.net? if yes,i would like to know which drugs of depression and anxiety are likely heat market by 2008 end? Thanks.
Posted by Tiffi24 on August 16, 2007, at 9:09:57
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor » Tiffi24, posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 4:43:40
jrbecker76-
Thanks for the info!
I am hoping to avoid alot of side effects from stopping my effexor..we all know that can be hellish...so I think that was the reason for the 'lateral' move to 60 of cymbalta..I may try working up to 60 tho w/ 30 then 60 in a few days..
my depression is dx'd Major Depression and it is quite a bugger..very persistent..and cycles w/ my hormones too..fun fun fun! LOL!!!
my main concern is taking them at the same time...
Posted by Tiffi24 on August 16, 2007, at 9:12:09
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor-jrbecker76, posted by jhj on August 16, 2007, at 5:46:47
I have heard/read that the side effects from cymbalta are less and that it is more effective than effexor!! good luck
Posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 11:41:34
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor-jrbecker76, posted by jhj on August 16, 2007, at 5:46:47
>
> Hi
>
> I have tried venlafaxine for three years for my depression,GAD & social phobia.I have been on 300 mg dose for quite some time.But,i have not felt any better in addition to side effect like stomach discomfort.Do you thing i should give duloxetine a try despite the failure of Venlafaxine despite the same mechanism of action? By the way,are you the same jrbecker76 who gives list of upcoming list on neurotransmitter.net? if yes,i would like to know which drugs of depression and anxiety are likely heat market by 2008 end? Thanks.
Yes, even though nausea might be an issue at start-up as well as higher doses, I think it's worth a shot to find out the cost-benefit ratio. I recall reading a study that compared Effexor to Cymbalta's side effects, and that Cymbalta rated slightly higher for nausea issues. However, hopefully, you can find an effective dosage window where this isn't a problem.Subjectively speaking, I'm not a good candidate to evaluate the typical side effects seen at standard dosage levels since I'm a med-sensitive individual. But back in the time when I was still taking higher doses of Effexor, I also recall nausea issues being a problem. I've had no such problems on Cymbalta. But once again, I'm not a typical case to be measured by.
The transition from Effexor to Cymbalta is not really a rough one in terms of the need for cross-titration. You could always give Cymbalta a try for 2-3 wks. If it's not working, you can re-initiate Effexor with very little cross-tolerance issues.
As for new drugs on the horizon... it's tough to prognosticate there. The FDA makes it harder than Vegas to bet on outcomes. However, we are likely to see drugs like Gepirone (a 5-HT1a partial agonist) be possibly approved by end of '07; Pristiq (a metabolite of Effexor, that like Cymbalta, has a slightly more noradrenergic-to-serotonergic balance) will probably be launched in early '08. Possible other candidates are Amibegron (a purely adrenergic [beta-3] drug) might have a chance of approval in late 08/09. More further down the line in '09 are be saredutant, a neurokin-2 antagonist and agomelatine a 5-HT2c antagonist/melatoninergic agonist. These drugs aren't exactly the next big leap in ADs, however, most of them are attractive because they represent newer classes of drugs and/or have more pin-pointed mechanisms of action (thus, perhaps heightening efficacy while limiting side effects). So, yes, some hopeful things on the horizon.
JB
Posted by Tiffi24 on August 16, 2007, at 12:28:00
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor-jrbecker76 » jhj, posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 11:41:34
I am very excited to see Pristiq is so close to approval..it seems that I respond better to the SNRI's than the SSRI's..I am just glad there is a broader pool to choose from if one needs to...
Posted by Clayton on August 16, 2007, at 20:49:16
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor-jrbecker76 » jhj, posted by jrbecker76 on August 16, 2007, at 11:41:34
To augment jrbecker76's post, it should be pointed out that there is much excitement about the pending release of the so-called Triple Reuptake Inhibitors (TRIs) which inhibit reuptake of the three monoamines seratonin, norepineprine AND dopamine. They may have a faster onset of action, fewer side effects and greater efficacy than SSRIs ans SNRIs. The first is scheduled to hit the market in 2009. Other new antidepressant stategies are also being tried. Here are excerpts from psychiatryonline.org. For the full text see:
http:/pn.psychiatryonline.org/cg1/content/full/41/11/22
Posted by jhj on August 18, 2007, at 3:59:17
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor-jrbecker76 » jrbecker76, posted by Clayton on August 16, 2007, at 20:49:16
Hi,
Thanks for the information.Buti am very passimistic about desvenlafaxine which i do not think would be more effective then Venlafaxine.Among other drugs,what is the current status of Vilazodone and likely NDA filing with FDA.
Hi Clayton,
I have read in many other articles that first Triple reuptake inhibitor to come in the market will come from DOV pharma and it won't come before 2010.Thanks any way.
Posted by Ctay561 on September 25, 2007, at 11:15:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by Tiffi24 on August 15, 2007, at 10:35:36
Tiff24,
I was wondering how the switch over is going, because I am thinking of switching. Our situation is very simular concerning the length of time and dosage of Effexor. I am very scared to switch because I have had such good results from the Effexor.
Posted by MistaFuji on January 7, 2008, at 17:04:12
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by Ctay561 on September 25, 2007, at 11:15:12
My PCP suggested to switch from 225mg of Effexor XR to 60mg of Cymbalta due to blood pressure concerns, despite the great success with effexor.
I agreed and when I asked him how this "switch" should be performed he said I could just stop taking effexor and start taking cymbalta the same day.....no taper off....should I believe him? I feel like this could possibly backfire.
Posted by lexxor on January 14, 2008, at 10:32:52
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by MistaFuji on January 7, 2008, at 17:04:12
It's not an exact science, but you should be ok. I've heard of patients going from 300mgs of EffexorXR straight to Cymbalta with no side effects. I hope it works for you. Not too many Blood pressure issues associated with cymbalta that I've seen.
Posted by babyblues on March 7, 2008, at 9:12:44
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by lexxor on January 14, 2008, at 10:32:52
i was on paxil for 10 yrs, switched to effexor about 2 years ago. i thought i was bad when i needed the paxil, but the effexor actually made my depression 10x's worse. the last straw being the headaches i sufferred, the neurologist actually gave me medication that was not yet approved for the headaches. my depression was so bad that i took the entire bottle of the pain meds. thank god it just made me sick... scared me enough to actually tell my doctor that i needed a change and ASAP. today is the 1st day of the cymbalta and i'm thinking positively, the effexor was the worst experince i've ever had on a medication. looking for some reassurance that cymbalta has done some good... and one can only hope that it doesn't have weight gain as a side effect, yea "fat and happy" not always accurate!
Posted by MOON on March 11, 2008, at 19:22:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by babyblues on March 7, 2008, at 9:12:44
HUMM GEE..
IVE BEEN ON BOTH EFFEXOR N CYMBALTA..
IM NOT A BIG FAN OF MIND ATERING DRUGS. THO XANAX I FIND I DONT EVEN FEEL IT IN MY SYSTEM BUT MY PANIC ATTACKS ARE NILLE. ON ONE PILL A DAY FOR 2 YEARS NOW OF XANAX.NOT ONE PANIC ATTACK SINCE. MIDNYOU I DID TRY TO GO WITHOUT IT FOR A WEEK AMDE IT FIVE DAYS THEN HAD A PANIC ATTACK.. I REFUSE TO ALLWO MY BODY TO BE COME ADDICTED TO ANYTHING. NOW ABCK TO THE SUBJECT
THEY HAD ME ON THE EFFEXOR FIRST TO SEE IF ITLL ALTER MY PANIC ATTACKS. THEY DINT I CRIED ALOT THO. COULD OF SOLVED SOME OF THAT DROUGHT ISSUES IN TENNESSEE.. THEN THEY SAID CYMBALTA TIME.. NOW. ON THT I COUDLNT LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR.. MY EYES WERE SO BIG N SO SCARY ALL I DID WAS SLEEP AS WELL.SO I PLAYED PRACTICIONER TO MYSELF. I TOOK THAT CYMBALTA APRT TO THE TINY PILLS INSIDE I TOOK AFTER TWO MONTHS OF PSYCHO LADY LOOKING SCARY RED RIDING HOOD. TO 14 LIL DOTS.. 14.. N THAT HELPED ME.. ITS A PRETTY POTENT PILL FOR US LESS ADEPT FOLKS WHO CANT HANDLE THE BIG SQUEEZE..... :)SO TWEEN THE TWO??? I SAY XANAX!! I DONT FEEL IT AT ALL.5MG
Posted by jada alexis on May 4, 2008, at 16:26:23
In reply to Re: Cymbalta vs Effexor, posted by Ctay561 on September 25, 2007, at 11:15:12
Effexor worked really well for me along with xanax until I was up to 300 mg. I didn't really care what was going on around me (I think my dosage was way too high!) and I gained 10 lbs a month for 10 months before the doctors said it was the effexor. My psychiatrist said it wasn't the effexor because the side effect would more likely be weight loss. My family doctor monitored my weight monthly since I couldn't convince my psychiatrist and was convinced it was definitely from the effexor.
Immediately after switching from effexor to cymbalta, I lost 20 lbs with no effort. I've been on Cymbalta for about 14 months and I've asked to switch back to Effexor.
I've never been suicidal, but since being on Cymbalta, I have been in ICU 2 times for "accidental" overdoses of klonapin and soma. I also became more depressed and on top of depression, GAD, and PTSD, I developed agoraphobia. I was approved this year for SSDI due to my mental problems. I have worked since I was 14 years old but now I am worse than ever. I lost a good job and can't get myself to do anything!
No I don't want to gain more weight, but the Cymbalta did not help with any pain issues at all, and appears to have made me worse than I would be with no treatment at all! Just a week off Cymbalta so far but I am actually beginning to feel motivated to do something besides sit in my pjs all day!
This is the end of the thread.
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