Effexor vs Cymbalta

Hi nutmeg,  I am sorry to hear that the Effexor has not been working well for you.  I take that and it is one of my greatest fears that it will poop out on me one of these days.  Anyway, I am sure that your doc told you that Cymbalta is the newest antidepressant on the market and is showing great potential.  It sounds as if he is a smart man in that he is over lapping the two medications which is perfectly safe and will greatly decrease your side effects from going off the Effexor (which does have some of the worse side effects from stopping it).

Here is the prescribing information for Cymbalta which looks a little daunting but it is very much so indepth and will tell you everything you possibly would want to know about it.  I hope it works for it.  Please let us know how it goes...Take care

http://www.pharmacistelink.com/product/highlights/pdfs/2005/09/12Cymbalta_PI_3604.pdf

 

I am glad it was helpful for you nutmeg.  Please do let us know how you do and know we are always here if you need anything at all...Take care

I switched slowly from Effexor to Cymbalta because the Cymbalta is supposed to have an added benefit of helping to relieve chronic nerve pain.  I've been on it for a good six months now, and I haven't noticed any significant decrease in pain I could attribute to the Cymbalta.  I have heard other people have gotten benefit of some pain relief, so I guess it works better for some people.  The only way to know is to give it a fair try.

Good Luck,

Leigh Ann

Hi , I'm on Effexor , 225 mg.  I am having trouble sleeping, but drink too much caffeine.  I am really in a quandry as to what  is really the problem.  I do know that when I try to go to sleep that blaming or worrying messages  bother me.  ny suggestions would be much appreciated.  I am 60 yrs. old , retired, and have a new grandbaby girl ( who is gorgeous!).

I will start effexor tonight for the first time. I tried cymbalta several times, because I too have chronic pain, but it made me so sick to my stomach and just not feeling good. I have been on prozac before and it worked well, but eventually not as effective. I hope the effexor helps. My only worry is that it is more of a "stimulant" and I have insomnia really badly, so hope it doesn't effect that. Would you who have taken it, suggest taking it at night or in the morning? I usually take all my meds at night, just wondering what worked for you.

Hi TW,

I don't know about cymbalta much, but I do know it is a close cousin to effexor. But from what I understand, the effexor is stronger. I had asked about cymbalta (due to fibromyalgia) and the psychiatrist said it would not work as well for me as the effexor. So I do think that it helps with nerve pain. If you are unsure you should tell your doctor your concerns, as to the nerve pain.

Oh yes, welcome to HealingWell. There is an introductory thread if you would like to post on it. I will bump it up to the top.

I hope that you do well on the effexor. There are a few here that are on cymbalta and maybe they will post on your thread. I don't know if they will be able to compare the two though for you. If you are interested you can also post on Chronic Pain forum to see if anybody there has taken the two medications to compare.

Best wishes to you.

Hugs, Karen

hi im on cymbalta 30mg for 3 weeks now. i have insomnia...sleeping pills dont seem to help. I took effexor before and it had even worse side effects including panic attacks.

During the day i have to drink so much cafeine to stay awake. I get soooo tired during the day.

Anyone with the same symptoms? SSRIs dont work for me any more. I tried most of them.

 

okay, dok got the results, said that if i keep in the same field, i will be on his table soon enough...welp...my lower spine is shifted and pinching my nerve 24/7...as for the cymbalta...still havent made the changeover yet to the new meds...cymbalta is okay BUT...it seems to be wearing off a little(for me personally)...i will update later...anyways...i am in HVAC and i think i will be moving into the office to help ease my pain...thank GOD for that one....prolly due the transition after my vacation(REALLY needed)....Take Care...

TOBBY

Hi nutmeg20, I take cymbolta, 60mgs, psych. says it goes up to 80mgs, It is also suppose to help with pain as well, after 60mgs, Wich i just went up to, The 20th, yet to see pain relief, depression I'm not sure, because I think meds., work differentially for everyone, I'm 4"11, 5ft, not sure of weight, not to much of appatite ( sure thats spelled wrong) But my point, Everybodys, body, mind are different, and affects at different rate, I also have a few illnesses i take meds., for to, illnesses also have own affects, And all together i take 7pill, 1injection med., There are some chance of side affects, as with any meds., ask your psych., about them, usually i think average 2-3 weeks,it starts taking some affect, But again depends on your body set, not sure how it's working for me totally just yet, i was on 40mg, now 60 so, i guess i'm still finding out for myself, I can think of some of the side affects, But i don't want to scare or deter you, But as i said and i'm sure you know already,any side affect can be scary, or not, you may have 1-2, or not any, Sorry your other med., didn't work out, I hope the cymbolta works out for you, if you want keep in touch, I'm a great listener, or should i say, great reader, writer,:) feel free to message me whatever, good luck, Peace,Hugs, moon○

I started on Cymbalta 30 mg 6 days ago. So far so good, other then some constipation. I was on Celexa right before the Cymbalta. Celexa more or less stopped working for me and my new doctor explained to me that Cymbalta is a combination of drugs for depression and anxiety (both of which I have) where the celexa was just a SSRI, thus my need to add ativan to the mix.

I was on Effexor for about a week before the Celexa. I say only a week because of the panic attacks, just general mood swings and the urge to kill someone (not myself and not anyone in particular..I was just that out of it on the Effexor).

Good luck. My doctor gave me a 14 day supply and a script and coupon for another free 14 day supply because my insurance does not cover the Cymbalta without prior authorization so we are fighting that right now. I will say, even though I'm only on it 6 days, I feel it has made a positive difference in my life.

Jean

Back from Psyc... Lexapro 10mg... Any thoughts?

okay- since the last post:

my insurance company was fighting the bill on the meds but the specialist that i see(neuroligist) told them it was cheaper than "the table"...so...i am okay'd for a year...kick'n...since i didnt feel the need to try something new...the cymbalta has its sides on me though but seems to work the majority of the time and i consider that a big trade off from the pain...i have set in motion my projects to finish and already got to start on them.  http://s620.photobucket.com/albums/tt285/zigzag71/ MY LITTLE RED TANK...I am so flippin excited about the meds giving me a new life to look foward to...i have always told myself(every day)...it could be worse...and would actually think how worse it could be...Things i have noticed with this medicine(never on anything, even ibuprofin)...besides the stomach issues(nausiated??spelln?) it seems stronger some days than others...than i realized i still have to watch the way i play...i had to slow down a considerable amount and having issues trying to slow myself at work, but working on that process. anyways...just thought i would update and i will not be going on effexor since cymbalta does a great job on two parts...pain for nerve and depression...everyones different though and i say just get through the sides and it mellows down.(i went through the pain for four years and a few weeks of sides=good trade-off)..going 4-wheelin this weekend with my son for the first time in a while...FLIPPIN awesome...

Take Care, TW