Cymbalta users?

Hi Mommy0711 and welcome!

I am sorry that you are going through a rough spot currently.

I am/have not been on Cymbalta, but wanted to welcome and encourage you in your steps toward anxiety management.

I wish you the best on your start up! Know that the first few weeks can bring increased A/D symptoms (ironic, I know!) but if you can stick out the initial building up and levling off stages, you will reach a theraputic level eventually...and may end up with a med that is right for you!

During the first few weeks, try to use some good coping skills/stress relief exercises such as the ones in our Resources here. You can find these on our main page, 1st post...or let me know and I will post a link for you.;)

Keep posting with us for support if you wish. We are always here to listen and encourage.

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

I just wanted to say I have been taking cymbalta 60mg every morning for the past 8 years for chronic depression due to The chronic pain from Rheumatoid arthritis,Fibromyalgia,chronic anxiety and panic attacks.For the first 2 years I was so happy with the cymbalta it helped me because I finally after turning 37 found the first job I ever loved,I moved up so fast in the company and was receiving the employee of the year all five years I worked for them.I also recieved trophy's and awards constantly then one day I woke up and my fingers would not move they were so inflammed I called my family physician right away and she got me right in,I had many blood tests and was lacking many crucial vitamins including B12 and Vitamin D (very crucial vitamins the body needs)I within 6 months of time got so depressed went from a star employee to confined to my bed,I was put on so many different meds for my chronic pain and nothing works and the pain meds that do work physicians automatically look at you like your an addict,Well its 8 years later and the only med that i have taken everyday
on a constant basis is my CYMBALTA,I love it just give it a chance.After the chronic pain took a toll on my body I was a mess mentally. So I started seeing a Psychiatrist and for the chronic depression,Anxiety and panic attacks I was on Cymbalta 60mg daily,Clonazepam(Klonapin)2mg-4X daily for the anxiety and panic attacks,Ambien CR 12.5mg to help sleep during the pain,and I dont know if you know in Ohio you cannot get long term pain meds from a family physician so I have my mom take me monthly for a 50mcg Fentanyl patch every 72 hours for chronic pain,which works for almost 2 days then with drawl symptoms start.

So anyway I love cymbalta,I recommend it to anyone with pain,depression,anxiety.I still recommend a benzo like Clonazepam for panic and anxiety,They work so well with cymbalta.Im a miserable lifeless human being but I probably would not be here today if it was not for Cymbalta and my Panic attack medicine clonazepam.
I know this is alot to read but If you have any questions about any of my diagnosis I have dont hesitate to contact me anytime day or night,I want to help.Have a wonderful day and take it one day at a time hopefully one day we will wake up feeling 20 years old again.

Whatever you do get off the Xanax WITH your Doctor’s help. I am struggling to get off of it now. My Doc is going with Cymbalta. It takes 6 weeks for Cymbalta to become effective. I was on Xanax for 10 years. One 3mg XR daily. Ran out once recently and didn't think much of it. By 3 days I was sure I was going to die. My heart raced a million miles an hour. My body turned red. I could not eat sleep or sit still. I felt like running as fast as I could. I was taxiing down a runway and was going to get up and tell the pilot to let me off. Good thing he got it in the air before I jumped out of my seat. I was wondering if I could jump out the emergency exit before the plane got too high in the air. I will tell you right now it was the scariest thing I have went through other than a gunfight. You MUST have your Doctor’s help. Cold turkey from Xanax can and does cause seizures. Good luck, you will be OK. 6 weeks to get off of it isn't that bad.

Bob

Wishing you the best!! Keep us updated, and allow us to support you during this time.

S.C.

DV,
Welcome to HealingWell.



I am sorry that you are going through such a rough time of it right now. I know how frustrating anxiety and its symptoms can be...so I hope that by reaching out here, you can start to feel some support and relief.

Switching meds is often a challenge that none of us want to take yet realizing it is the best choice helps us make the move and tough out those first weeks on the new med.

What about therapy ? I ask because I have always done good with a therapist as well as a psychiatrist to monitor my medications.



We have a great Resource Guide here on our main page. It is full of self-help ideas that may be of use to you.

Here is the link for you so browse through it and take a look at some of the information.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Keep posting here with us as well. We are a caring group that understands, and are always here to listen !

SSRI/SNRI's can take anywhere from 4 up to 12 weeks to reach theraputic levels in the body. During this time, the med level is building, and the body and mind are adjusting.

Side effects often happen during this time, including a worsening of symptoms in certain cases. This however is temporary, and will most likely fade after the initial start up phase.

Wishing you the best, and inviting you to keep posting with us.

S.C.

(great advise in the above post from Kitt, be sure and check out the link provided.)

I agree my Dr wants me to take 4 x .5mg of Ativan a day and I take 2 maybe three if Im having a stressful day. I would never stop that cold turkey either.

I am on my first week of Cymbalta so all of us will be going on this journey together. So far I haven't noticed any difference, just a little anxiety in the morning because I have slowly decreased the Effexor that I was on. I should be done with my Effexor by this weekend. It hasn't been too bad so far with regard to side effects. I try and keep busy and at the end of the day, just mark it off on my calender. I know it will have to be two or three weeks before I feel any change so I am just trying to get there. Hope it works for all of us.

Welcome to us as the test group then! My Doc said about 6 weeks before the Cymbalta will start to work. I have been taking it for 2 weeks now. I am still on all other meds. Therefore, right now I am getting a double dose of meds so to speak. Once the Cymbalta takes hold the Doc wants to begin weaning me off of Xanax and Amitriptyline. As you read from me above, I had a bad experience with Xanax after 10 years I missed 3 doses in a row. I am lucky nothing seriously happened.

A Symptom that occurred within 2 days of Cymbalta introduction was "knock out sleep". I would sit and feel relaxed about 4 to 6 pm and bam, I wake up at 2 or 3 in the early morning with the newspaper over my face. So far that's it. No nausea but, I take it (Cymbalta) before bed. I hope that goes away for you. I await that 6 weeks with trepidation. If I think something is happening I'll pop in and let you all know. So far just major fatigue. My Chron's has always caused that but, certainly the "double up" had an effect. I literally can't keep my eyes open! That is subsiding in frequency as time passes.

Good luck to us!

Bob

Hi

Welcome and good to meet you. I am currently taking this medication at 90mg and have found it to be a good medication for me so do give it time it took about 6 weeks for me to feel the benefits I hope you feel better soon and keep posting.

Hibee.