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Cymbalta for anxiety?

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Posted 1/14/2007 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
hello

is anyone out there taking cymbalta?  is it effective for panic attacks?  do you like it?  are there any side effects?  loss of sleep, weight gain, etc??

Thanks

nm lyme gal

Posted 1/14/2007 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Meg,
I just started Cymbalta about 2 weeks ago for depresion/anxiety I have noticed that my moods have not been so down, and I think it has started to help with my anxiety some, I have not noted any probs with sleep a little apetite change i dont have quite as much apetite but I still have no energy, hope that helps
Brandi
Posted 1/28/2007 5:33 AM (GMT 0)

Are you two still taking cymbalta?  I just found your posts.  I had stopped cymbalta from the 60mg. I was taking, to try lexapro again.  I was once again allergic to the coating.  The cymbalta was working great for me, but I felt it was giving me a little too much nervous energy after it kicked in.  My dr. suggested starting back at 30mg only and seeing how I did.  I am really happy with it.  I may try going back up to 60 down the road.  I had loss of appetite, so no weight gain.  I always take it first thing in the morning.  I have some fatigue in the afternoons, but hope that will go away with time.  If I push through it, it is not so bad.  I think drinking lots of water with this med helps.  The nausea as the start up effect will go away within a week or two, at the most.  I sleep fine....some waking up during the night, but it isn't anything I can't handle.  I go right back to sleep.  It works fine for me for my panic disorder, and only take a xanax when I absolutely have to.  I'd like to hear how you both are doing.

I'm really surprised there are not more people talking about cymbalta.  I wish they'd come here and give their experiences! yeah

Posted 1/28/2007 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
cymbalta is a fairly new antidepressant and as with all of them it will be a big help if it works for you

all these  ADs can have strong side effects that differ from person to person

Posted 1/28/2007 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello nmlymegal

 

I haven't taken cymbalta but it looks like you have already recived some great advice here. There will be others come along soon to answer you questions sorry I couldn't be more help. Big hugs and I wish you the best.

Posted 1/28/2007 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Cymbalta hasn't been studied adequately for panic disorder, but there is no reason to believe it won't be effective. It is a very similar drug to Effexor XR and still has a primary mechanism of serotonin reuptake.

Give it some time to work and see if it helps. If not, there are many other options out there that could help.
Posted 1/28/2007 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I thought cymbalta was approved off-label for panic disorder?  I know it is still under trial for gad, I believe.  Others have said it got full approval for gad/sad already, but I haven't found that anywhere on the net.  The funny thing is, Effexor XR did not work for me, as the cymbalta did.  I don't know what is different about the two, except cymbalta is not supposed to be as harsh.  When it is really kicking in, I do get nervous energy, but nothing like agitation/anxiety.  I don't know if that makes sense or not.  It's like I can feel the nervous energy, but no one can notice it.

I have been reading awful things about weight gain after a year or so on it.  Some people say they lose, and some say the gain.  What does everyone else think?

Posted 1/30/2007 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
There are clinical studies out there with adequate data to show Cymbalta is effective for both GAD and panic disorder, but they have not been formally submitted to the FDA for approval yet. Most psychiatrists don't pay much attention to studies and just go with their experience in treating many patients with different medications. Since Effexor has been proven to be effective for anxiety, Cymbalta probably works just as well.

Weight gain is a common complaint with all antidepressants, so I don't think Cymbalta is any worse or better than the others. It certainly is better than Remeron or Paxil, but only time will tell if it becomes a problem. Effexor also is known for weight gain at higher doses.

If it's helping you, don't worry about "what if" for now.
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