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When to take Cymbalta..A.M or P.M.?

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Posted 2/24/2012 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. Karen!  My apologies for taking so long to respond.  I am from the South.  It sounds like we have some things in common.  I, too, am a big worrier when I am "not well."  I did switch to Cymbalta almost three weeks ago, and I'm taking Trazadone.  While there have been some improvements, I just am having a really hard time with the negative thoughts, especially at night.  I was so worked up last night, that despite taking my meds, I only got a few hours of sleep (very discouraging). I start making mountains out of mole holes, and even the simplest things become a worry.  I am trying to stay hopeful, and I know there are many options out there if this isn't working for me.  But it is hard. I was wondering, with the meds you are taking, do you feel dopey in the morning?  I really want to be healthy again and feel like myself.  Thank you so much for your help!

Kristen

Post Edited (Gator Girl) : 2/24/2012 4:06:07 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/24/2012 12:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kristen,

I am so glad that you wrote back. Right now I am taking pristiq, xanax and abilify. That is for depression and anxiety. My anxiety is pretty well under control right now. The pristiq works good and the abilify was a life saver for me. It keeps me in the moment. It keeps me from thinking too much and helps the pristiq work better.

I have been having some issues with my stimulant. I switched to vyvanse from adderall. I want to go back on the adderall. There was an adderall scare, that they didn't make enough so I got scared and switched to something else, but it doesn't work nearly as well. So I am trying to switch back. It is hard changing meds, I tell you...

I haven't been sleeping good like I usually do. I have fibromyalgia and the pain is waking me up early in the mornings now. So I have really long days. I was up every hour after midnight and decided to get up at five. I am already tired. But one moment at a time. I am not big on napping, but I think I will today...

It is easy to make mountains out of molehills. I use to do that a lot. But in our minds we can work on that. And learn to face things head on when the time it right. Try to stay in the "now" if you can. Only think about what is going on at that particular time. If your mind wanders to worrying, put up the mental stop sign and make yourself come back to the present. This works with practice. It can be done if we stay on top of things.

I feel you are going to be feeling better. Give the cymbalta time to work. It takes six to eight weeks to reach it's full potential. Try to be patient with yourself. I wish you the best.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/24/2012 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, Karen! What is pristiq for? Do you feel dopey with the meds you take? I so desperately wish to return to how I used to feel. While I wasn't the energizer bunny, I felt "normal" and was active.

It's very hard to stay in the moment when I've felt awful for so long, and fear that it will never end or get worse. I go through all of the what-ifs and just the normal day-to-day things feel so difficult. I worry way to much about not sleeping which doesn't help with getting to sleep. Last night, I was so keyed up, despite taking the cymbalta and trazadone (both at night), I had a horrible night's sleep. It took me a while to get to sleep, and then I only slept for a few hours.

It's reassuring to know that the meds take 6-8 weeks. Is this true even when switching over? So, I guess I need to be patient since I'm still adjusting to everything.

Thank you again, Karen, for helping me! It's comforting to know I'm not alone.
Posted 2/24/2012 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
You are definately not alone here. Pristiq is my antidepressant. Xanax is for anxiety and Abilify is my mood stabilizer. It keeps me from thinking so much. Something like that may help you also. I would let the doc know about your obsessive thinking. I had it so bad that I talked to myself all the time. My psychologist said I had too much on my mind. So the abilify really helps and it si a mood stabilizer too. Also used for bipolar med. Though I am not bipolar, I don't think...

I hope that you continue to feel better. Do keep us posted. We all care about you here. The forum has been rather slow lately, so don't get bummed if you don't get a lot of replies, it will pick up soon.

Take care,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/24/2012 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Gator girl

It IS slow around here right now...maybe the winter blues?? Altho here in Mississippi it is 78 degrees today, cold front tomorrow

I too take anti-depressants in the am. One psychiatrist told me alot of anti-ds can have a stimulating aspect to it, especially Welbutrin.

i take seroquel which like abilify is a mood atabilizer. Seroquel makes me really sleepy so that is my night med. I obsess about sleep too which I know makes it worse-lol..you are not alone in that-all we can do is try to get relaxed at bedtime. I read and try to turn off the tv..deep breathing is realxing too. I have one of those sound machines (rain, waterfall, rain forest) and that helps (any white noise is good-I use fans too) My husband said it's like living in a wind tunnel-lol

Anyway welcome and keep posting-it has really helped me and I have met some great folks here...we do understand

Take care
Maggie
Posted 5/19/2012 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to these forums, but felt like I needed some advice on a new med that the dr. has put me on.  It is Cymbalta @ a 30mg dosage.  I am trying it at night, and just took my first one.  I am a little nervous about it since the medical support here in Kuwait is less than stellar.  It's to treat my fairly major depression and anxiety.  I am a diagnosed bi-polar although my level of suffering is fairly moderate.  I think that the situational issues related to living in the middle east are what aggravates that condition most of the time.  However, the depression and general hopelessness has been pretty regular and severe recently.  I experience a fair amount of insomnia and have utilized Ambien from time to time when it is really bad.  The biggest issue here is that psychotropic meds are handed out in a very stingy manner - you would think it was heroin the way they act and presently I have one month worth of Cymbalta and Xanax.  I am praying it works because truthfully I don't know what I will do if it doesn't.  My moods and the crying jags are so out of control now it is really effecting my life.
Posted 5/19/2012 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Q8Blues,

Welcome to the forum. I am glad that you have joined us. Cymbalta does take six to eight weeks to reach it's full potential, but don't let that get you down, you could start feeling better before that. Which I hope that you do.

Do you have oppertunity to have therapy there? It would probably really help. Due to your situation.

I think you may have situation depression due to your circumstances. So you may not have to take antidepressants forecver like most of us have to. Are you in the service over there? I am assuming that you are. I want to thank you for being there and know that I am thankful for all that you do.

Do you ever meditate? It really helps to center us and relax us. I am thinking you are in a situataion where it would be hard to relax. I think that the meditation could help you. I hope that you are able to get cymbalta on a regular basis. It is not a fun drug to take and run out of. The withdrawal symptoms are bad. So keep that in mind when starting this drug.

Being bipolar is definately no fun. If you are interested, we also have a bipolar forum, you may want to check it out. Though know that you are truly welcome here as we have a few bipolar members.

I feel crying is cleansing. But it is no fun to go on a crying jag. Not being able to stop and not even knowing why you are crying. I really know what you are feeling at this time. The hopelessness, the unsettledness. But do not dispair. Things will get better. I highly recommend the counseling. It will help get you through everything. And keep posting here. Knowing that other's understand really helps. And knowing that you aren't alone. Know that we all do care.

One other thing. This is kind of an older thread. If you are comfortable with it, feel free to start a new thread for yourself, kind of an introduction if you want to. If not, that is fine too. I truly hope that you feel better soon. Know that I am thinking about you. You probably feel really alone sometimes. But know that we are here.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/19/2012 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed that this was an older thread, but it was the one that I was looking for with regard to when to take Cymbalta.

No, I am not in the service, I am married to a Kuwaiti, but I do work for the military, so I am adjacent. Ironically, part of my job is related to keeping other's spirits up. Funny huh? 10 years of it is wearing on me...although I have always struggled.

I definitely think that the extremes of the lows are situational. Therapy here is impossible - western "confidentiality" doesn't exist...most help is found from the government hospitals and everything you do there is reported to the Ministry of Health. Obviously not the ideal environment for anyone suffering from mental illness, or even a medical condition that you would not want broadcast about.

My first dose of Cymbalta was completely yuck. I slept a few hours, but woke up with an acute headache and nausea with a lot of groggy. My job doesn't allow for a lot of leeway in the adjusting to meds area so if this is a repeat I may have to go back to the drawing board or just deal with the crying. I need my brain with all of the areas I have to juggle, so being foggy or on the edge of dazed and confused will leave me unemployed and with more to be blue about. Ugh...what to do.
Posted 5/20/2012 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Try to give it a week. If the side effects have not started letting up see about getting a lower dose. While 30 mg is a very common starting dose Cymbalta does come in one dosage lower...I think it is 20mg.

There are a lot of other medications available though that can be tried. If you doctor wants you on a Cymbalta like medicine ask about trying Effexor. It is very similar and is in the same class of anti-depressants as Cymbalta.

As I have mentioned many times I used to take Cymbalta. When I was first started on it I was given a 60mg dose and had some side effects. When I went to the 30mg for a few weeks I did fine and eventually built up to 90mg without any real problems other than it messing with my sleep at times. I had to stop taking it due to insurance issues and it took a long time to find a suitable replacement.

A few weeks ago I started taking Effexor ER, 37.5mg. I have had zero side effects from it.

I am not a medical person at all so don't take this as anything more than food for thought.
Posted 5/20/2012 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I took Effexor in 2005 for about 6 months and didn't have too many side effects, but the two I had were horrible.  I yawned ALL the time.  People thought I was either constantly tired, or partying all the time and not getting any sleep.  I could yawn 10 or 12 times in a very short conversation...even just a few minutes.  The other side effect was serious weight gain.  I didn't eat any more really, but packed on pounds that took forever to get off.  I will try something else if it doesn't work, but will never take Effexor or Paxil again (Paxil had bizarre side effects).  I am going to try to hang in for a week, luckily this week isn't terribly busy - but the nausea today was not lovely.  I guess I could bright side the whole situation and think about the pounds I will lose.  Silver lining and all that.

 

Posted 9/15/2012 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,
I just started on cymabalta two weeks ago. 1st week 30 mg and 2nd week I bumped up to 60 mg and I take it after breakfast around 9. By three o'clock I feel like I'm on three benadryls. I get very jittery, clammy, cotton mouth and just that weird "medicine head" feeling and I'm groggy. It lasts until 6 or 7 then I seem to level out. I'm taking trazodone at night (50 mg) and that helps me mellow out. I tried taking trazodone during the day to see if that would help the jitters and it did, but it also made me more groggy. Will these feelings go away? Today I decided to take the cymbalta at night and see what happens. This is my first time on meds and I'm not sure what to expect or if should try something else.
Posted 9/15/2012 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi G,

I take 200mg of cymbalta, i take 100 in am 100 in pm. the side affects wear off within a month or so. You have to eat and drink at least 16 oz of water with this medication.

Let the doc know your side effects

Hope you settle down soon.

Trina
Posted 1/8/2013 6:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have read some feedback post on people taking Cymbalta.  As a user of this meds, these are my findings:

1.  Effective medication - I take to control my arthritis pains and relax me.

2.  30mg - I started on 30mg once a day in the mornings for 30 days.  Before my second week, I switched to taking the meds in the evenings because I was always sleepy during the day at work..  And that was my only side-effect.

3. 60mg - Knowing how I felt while using the 30mg and with my Dr. concent, he increased my dosage to 60mg per day in the evening.  Yes I continue to take in the evening.  Side-effects?  YUPPIE.  I had morning headaches for about 1 week, which has now disappeared.  I must report that I have had a serious case of INSOMNIA!!!  I will consult with my PCP and switch the med to the morning and see how that works. 

I will update within a week or 2.

Thanks

Unkown 1234

 

Posted 1/8/2013 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Unknown 1234,

Thanks for your post. I am going to lock this thread due to length. If you could start another thread when you come back, that would be fantastic... I hope cymbalta continues to work for you...

All the best,

Hugs, Karen
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