Cymbalta

Nurses General Nursing

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Anyone taking Cymbalta? I took Lexapro for about a month and really liked it but doc took me off it because I couldn't sleep all night for one night and then one day I was tachycardic. I wanted to wait it out because I was doing so well on it. I did have to take an Ambien at night to sleep but felt great. But he switched me to Cmybalta which I feel very good on but there is this thing as Lawnurse says about the energy carrying over into the night and can't sleep but it's a great med. So I take the ambien at night for sleep and I have not been depressed and feel very energetic.

But my concern is having to take the Ambien all the time.

Does any one know if this not being able to sleep with the Lexapro and Cymbalta is a temporary side effect and will go away?

Thanks for any info on this.

mv

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Specializes in Geriatric, LTC, PC, home care, pediatric.

I take Cymbalta. When I started all I did was sleep. Now I am having some problems. Like I am still awake. I have a back injury, take the Cymbalta to deal with the depression associated with it. I have heard that other people get jumpy with the Cymbalta, but it is helping me tremendously. Good luck to you. I was taking Elavil 10mg to help me sleep, but I felt that was all I was doing. I would sleep half the day away. But not being able to sleep isn't good either.

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I think as long as the Ambien is working it's okay. If it stops working then you'll have a problem. I think your best bet is to talk to the doc about antidepressants in general and what made him choose cymbalta over the others.

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I think as long as the Ambien is working it's okay. If it stops working then you'll have a problem. I think your best bet is to talk to the doc about antidepressants in general and what made him choose cymbalta over the others.

Well, I wanted to stay on the Lexapro but he said it made me too wired. I had a day of tachycardia that scared me. Unfortunately, other than that, that has been the best drug I have been on. I have been on so many other that I just couldn't take because of the side effects. There is another drug that starts with the letter C that seems to have the same components of Lexapro. Do you know what that might be? I'm going to talk to the doc next time I see him.

I have been cutting back on the Ambien. It seems like the longer I take the cymbalta, the less ambien I need. I have been taking a half now because I really feel sleepy with a whole one. According to the pamphlet they gave me, it is supposed to help me sleep so I'm hoping this will happen. I've only been on it for about 3 weeks.

Thanks for your replys.

mv

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You are thinking of Celexa which is the same as Lexapro (Lexapro works faster).

Good luck!

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Specializes in med/surg, oncology.

I have been taking Celexa for two years now, and I have not had any major problems with it. I had a dry mouth at first, and I was jumpy but both of those things stopped after a few weeks. I have gained about 25 pounds over the last two years, but I was told that it would cause weight gain when I started it. It has changed my life. I am so glad I take it.

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I am taking Zoloft and it is not working. I took it about 2 year ago for the first time and it saved me... But this time it is just not working.....

I have "seizures of unknown origin" every few years, so I don't know what to do.... I can't take Wellbutrin...

My doctor is driving me nuts.....

Celexa?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

How long have you been on Cymbalta? Perhaps if you can wean off the Ambien, you will be more at ease using the Cymbalta. I agree that it is not desirable to have to take a second med to counter-act a side-effect of the first med.

If you don't mind me asking, I am curious as to why your doc selected Cymbalta. I have 2 family members who were started on it, one for depression and one for neuropathy. They both experienced such overwhelming fatigue that the drug had to be DC'd. Both were switched to older drugs that were effective without the side-effects that Cymbalta had. When asked, neither doc could give a good answer as to why they started with the newest, most expensive drug, rather than trying other meds first.

I think it was a matter of marketing over sound medical judgement.

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Specializes in Geriatric, LTC, PC, home care, pediatric.

I started on Cymbalta to deal with my depression due to my chronic pain from back injury, and having to deal with the worker's comp system. A year ago I took Effexor, and still felt suicidal. The Cymbalta is similar in effect to the Effexor, works both on Norepinephrine receptors and serotonin receptors without having to take large doses. The dose is start at 30mg for two weeks, and increase to 60mg. That is the largest therapeutic dose needed. I was extremly sleepy for about 3 to 4 weeks, but I also take muscle relaxer, and narcotic meds. And trying to heal a severe back injury tires me out. I also lost my appetite and lost 15 lbs in that time. But overall, I like this drug for me. I wish luck to anyone dealing with depression.

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How long have you been on Cymbalta? Perhaps if you can wean off the Ambien, you will be more at ease using the Cymbalta. I agree that it is not desirable to have to take a second med to counter-act a side-effect of the first med.

If you don't mind me asking, I am curious as to why your doc selected Cymbalta. I have 2 family members who were started on it, one for depression and one for neuropathy. They both experienced such overwhelming fatigue that the drug had to be DC'd. Both were switched to older drugs that were effective without the side-effects that Cymbalta had. When asked, neither doc could give a good answer as to why they started with the newest, most expensive drug, rather than trying other meds first.

I think it was a matter of marketing over sound medical judgement.

Jolie, Hi:

I'm glad you wrote. First, I have been on so many drugs that did not work, and then the Lexapro worked great for the first time but doc was concerned about me being "wired" from it sometimes, and then that day I had tachycardia, so he switched me to Cymbalta, saying it worked on both serotonin and norepenephrine. What is odd, I also got to the point of being so tired I just couldn't take it anymore and was afraid I was going to lose my job. One day, I could barely get myself out of bed to go to work and was afraid I wasn't going to make it. When I finally got up and decided I was going to talk to the doc that I just had to get off of it, that was when things started turning around.

I had been feeling so good on the Lexapro and when that wore off and I was on the Cymbalta I gradually began going back into the hole of depression and fatigue. But when that day turned around for me, I was amazed. I am feeling so much better now, but still get fatigued later in the afternoon, so slowing I am getting better. Even if it is slow going I am so greatful to be going the other way. I am beginning to think you may have to take more time to wait for the side effects to go away.

I am taking it for depression and another reason the doc gave it to me was for body aches. Well, I thought that was a crock but I would try it anyway. But you know what, the day that I started getting better, the pain in my fingers from arthritis started getting better. Maybe that is why the doctor prescribed the cymbalta for neuropathy. I notice when I start getting tireder at the end of the day, it comes back. Seems to be connected with how long I feel good.

It just seems like little by little, this drug is healing my mind and body and my energy lasts a little more each day.

I work in a psych hospital and the nurse manager was talking about these drugs are getting better and better. I just kind of nodded. But it seems to be true in this case. Maybe they are truly getting better.

Hopes this helps and your family members haven't given up to soon because I was just beside myself and just wasn't going to take it anymore. I am glad I did not have the opportunity to do it.

Oh yes, I think I have been on it 5 or 6 weeks now. I am like you. After taking so many drugs that didn't work I began to wonder if the docs really knew anything about them. Just took the word of the cute little sales reps that give them samples. But I am sure they evaluate their patients on the success after they try them on a drug.

I have been also able to take only a half an ambien now. I think that is because Cymbalta is kicking in.

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Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.

did you have any trouble with weight gain on the Cymbalta? how about libido?

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I was on Cymbalta earlier this year and had terrible side effects. I had zero energy, slept all the time and gained 10 pounds. In addition, I had a lot of mental sluggishness - my mind was very slow and I wasn't as articulate. But the worst part of it was getting off the drug - the withdrawal was TERRIBLE. I lost 5 weeks out of my life. I was naseous, vomited, couldn't sleep, and was so dizzy I could barely stand up. And you get these weird "brain zaps" where you can feel dizzy impulses going through your head. I couldn't even leave my apartment to go grocery shopping because I felt so bad. Luckily I had just graduated nursing school and hadn't started my first job yet, so I could stay home. I wouldn't have been able to work! I think my doctor was unfamiliar with how to ween someone off of it, and he did it way too soon. Plus, I've heard of some docs prescribing benzo's to help ease the withdrawal symptoms. But everyone is different, and I'm glad it's working for you - just be really careful if/when you try to get off of it. Go slow. Now I'm on wellbutrin and it's working great. And I've lost those pesky 10 lbs! Hang in there.

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