Hi guys!
I haven't met with my PCP since prior to my first rib resection for TOS in October. Been under the care of the vacular surgeon since then.
My PCP and I met on Friday and one of the things we discussed was depression.
A subject which is diffucult for me to discuss. Anyway, after some discussion I decided to try taking Cymbalta 30mg.
Been taking it since Friday evening and seem to be experiencing some side effects.
I'd be curious to hear what anyone has to say regarding anti-depressants or Cymbalta specifically.
What's been going on in last four days:
1) Waking up at night after only a couple hours sleep and not being able to get back to sleep due to my mind racing around different thoughts.
2) Weird dreams. Was dreaming enviromentalist's were carrying away my truck and I was the scorn of the neighborhood.
3) Nausea. Feeling like I need to vomit. Have not vomited though.This has happened several times now. No it's not acid reflux.
4) Tapping my feet or shaking my legs.
5) Pacing around the house.
6) Breathing. Seems like I have noticed my breathing more. Seems like I'm taking deeper faster breaths. I don't feel short of breath. I don't feel like I'm having any difficulty breathing, just seem to notice my breathing more.
7) Clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth.
If anyones got any thoughts I'd appreciate hearing them.
Thanks

Cymbalta is a mixed drug...some serotonin reuptake actions and also
NORepinephrine ones.

The norepi--is stimulating. Would cause agitation, sleep difficulties, some
people sweat alot on it, tapping feet.

The serotonin part--- nausea, some people get diarrhea too, sweating,
flushing, the pacing agitation is common.

Cymbalta comes in a 20mg capsule. Many doctors start their patients at
that dose.

The norepi part is fairly quick to give some depression lifting, but the serotonin part typically takes weeks, 2 or more to get rolling.

You should report these symptoms to your doctor. See if an adjustment can be made.

Remember no alcohol.... Cymbalta has a serious warning about liver damage, especially combined with alcohol use or prior damage from infections.

Thanks mrsd!
Spoke to my doctor just a little while ago.
We determined there wasn't any emergency. Also decided that if I was still having side effects on Thursday she'd write a new prescription for 30mg instead of upping to the 60mg. I'll ask about 20mg at this time.
May even switch meds at that time.
Thanks for the heads up on the alcohol. Shouldn't be a problem since I rarely drink alcohol.

Hi GBSB,

I started taking Cymbalta 30 mg in Sept. My doctor wanted to up my dosage at my 2 week follow-up because I was still having a problem with depression. I also experienced extreme fatigue in the afternoon, sweating (like I was having hot flashes). She increased my dose to 60mg after 1 month. It took 6 weeks to start feeling like myself again and the side effects stopped after 3 weeks. A couple of things you said in your post is the grinding of your teeth and clenching of your jaw. I found myself doing this and am wondering if it is from the Cymbalta. I also have some wild dreams but thought it was from the Ambien. I wake up laughing sometimes because the dreams are completely off the wall!

I have also lost 30 pounds while on it.
Take care and feel better.

I took Cymbalta for both pain and depression - 60 mg. I had no side effects as you have described. Unfortuntely it did not help the pain or the depression. Thus I discontinued it after about 6 weeks or so. HOwever, this is typical for me - no pain relief or side effects from most meds.
Good luck
Sydney

Sydney,

Not only was mine prescribed for depression but for pain as well. I had surgery and afterwards my thigh was numb and had a burning pain with stabbing pains. The Cymbalta did not work for the pain but worked for the depression. It took 6 weeks for it to kick in and I am happy for it. As for the leg pain, I saw a neurologist who diagnosed meralgia paresthetica and am taking neurontin which seems to help.

I hope you found something to help you with both the pain and depression. Feel better!

Be very careful with this drug . It made me go nuts and has happened to others as well

Razzle,

You said it made you go nuts? How so?

Thanks!!

Hi gbsb.

I've taken Cymbalta since it came out. I was excited about it because it's touted to help with fibromyalgia pain, periperal neuropathy, and certain other conditions. It is not a general pain reliever.

I started at 30, went to 60, and then up to 90. I have since gone from 90 to 60 on my own, as an experiment. I went through a long bout of more depression than usual along with 'suicidal ideation'. So...I thought, well maybe it's that, because it seemed to coincide.

Those thoughts stopped and actually, I think it's worked better for my depression at 60 mg. However, my primary doctor said that 'they' are now saying that 90 mg is the magic marker for helping generally with pain, not 60 as was said before.

My fibro seems to be no better or worse. My depression level is okay. I've lost 10 lbs., but it may not be attributable to that because I was on Paxil...UGH UGH, which I gained quite a bit of weight on.

My son-in-law started on Cymbalta 30 last year when he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. The first week he was just deathly ill to his stomach. He felt so sick. (I did not when I started it.) He took it in the morning and had trouble staying awake. I believe he started to take it at night and it works better for him that way.

When I first started taking it at night, I too was restless. So I started taking it in the morning and thought it was helping with my energy. Then I changed my mind...LOL...and now I take it after I get off work as a happy medium

My son-in-law's stomach/sick feeling went away. I don't know how long it took but it was within the week. Getting sick to your stomach when taking a drug with serotonin in it is common, to my knowledge.

As a rule, any antidepressant I've taken (which is quite a few), I've started out on the smallest of doses and worked my way up.

Good luck!

Been taking Cymbalta, 60mg, twice a day with no significant side effects. I also take an opiod and Lyrica. I think they both help to keep my pain level at 4 to 6. Take care,

Bruce