Anyone have anything GOOD to say about Cymbalta?

Question

I've tried several different anti-depressants over the past 9 years. None have really had any negative side effects other than lowered sex drive and Paxil would make me extremely irritable when I drank alcohol (which of course is my own fault since you are supposed to avoid it). But with the Cymbalta (which I'm taking for depression and anxiety) my anxiety has increased about a million times over. I keep reading horror stories online about how it makes you suicidal. I'm not to that point but thoughts do run through my head. I told my doctor I was worried about the extreme increase in anxiety and she told me to keep taking it and prescribed some Xanax as well.

Is there any particular reason this drug is affecting me about a million times worse than the 7 or so other medications I've tried? People are also talking about how horrible the withdrawal is; I stopped all my other meds cold turkey with no problems, now I'm really worried about getting off this crap.

Answer 1

I took Cymbalta for quite a while. I found it to be a lifesaver and getting off the drug was no problem ...cold turkey. There are many different anti-depressants. Keep trying. You'll find the one that's perfect for you. Do you take in the PM like my Dr. suggested? Good luck. I do know how you feel and I feel for you.

Answer 2

I think that you should change doctors. If you are getting anxiety as severe as what you are describing then that is not gonna do your mental health any good for starters. It just seems pointless and possibly harmless to me to continue with a drug which is making your mental state worse.
When you say you stopped your other meds cold turkey without a problem, did you just swap an SSRI for another SSRI. If you stop taking one drug and replace it with a similar acting drug then the similar acting drug will prevent withdrawal symptoms. For example if you cold turkeyed heroin and replaced it with another opiate eg hydrocodone and methadone you can't say that you can cold turkey heroin or if you cold turkeyed prozac and replaced it will paxil/seroxat then you haven't really cold turkeyed prozac. Dunno if I am making sense or not.
Cymbalta is not exactly the same as SSRI's so it may not be covering withdrawal from an SSRI or whatever your prior antidepressant drug was. If it isn't withdrawal then it sounds like a hardcore side effect. Whatever the case the Cymbalta is not working for you and you should stop it. It is making your mental state worse or else stopping a med is making your state of mind worse. Plus by continuing with xanax the chances are very high that your body will become dependent on xanax. Xanax is a million times worse than antidepressants. Ok not a million times worse but a thousand times worse lol. Read this about benzodiazepines http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/
Xanax is a benzodiazepine.
Hope you get yourself sorted out soon.

Answer 3

I agree with Mark F. who said switch docs.

I think it is unconsciounable for your doc to tell you to continue to take a medication that is increasing your anxiety. You do not have to feel emotionally uncomfortable in that way.

Prescribing Xanax is a solution that would only mask the anxiety for a short time after you took it. Some people experience "rebound anxiety" after the effect of a benzodiazepine wears off. Plus, it is addictive, and you may need to take a higher and higher dose to get the desired effect.

I can't get over the fact that your doc is prescribing -- for your depression and anxiety -- a drug that is making you more anxious. Frankly, I think this doc is phoning it in, or maybe has run out of ideas after you've tried seven meds and doesn't feel like doing the work of monitoring you while you go off and try something else.

Many people are helped with Depression and Anxiety if they add a little bit of Lithium (but watch the side effects) or an anticonvulsant like Lamictal (though that can REALLY increase anxiety at the lower doses, and you have to start really low and increase slowly with this drug).

Check out those options AFTER you have a new doc.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

I'm on cymbalta & it hasnt made me suicidal, but it does seem like I have more energy so if u take it, it may very well add into ur anxiety. If you want to stop the meds just go for it, if u do start feeling suicidal or anything call 1-800-suicide I know of ppl who have use that hotline. Also U can always restart the meds if need

Answer 5

I switched from Prozac to Cymbalta two years ago. Cymbalta has definitely increased my anxiety a bit. (At least more than Prozac. ) Unfortunately, I think this is just one of the side affects of the drug. This should hopefully subside after being on it for awhile. The other side affect (for me) is being less amorous. If the anxiety doesn't subside, work with your doctor to slowly wean yourself off the drug, and move to another. The withdrawal should be minimal if you follow your doctors guidelines.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Take my word please.. I went off of it cold turkey. I spent the worst 8 months of my life and in a great deal of physical pain. My depression is mild, so I just use 10mg Lexapro to help take the edge off now. I also take an anti-anxiety med but only at bedtime. Good luck . I hope this can be of some help

Answer 7

i don,t recommend xanax its addictive i use to take and i found it so hard 2 stop it theres lots of antidepressants (prothaiden) was helpful but all antidepressants has side affect such as
gaining weight
confusion
tiredness
wats really help is counselling talk 2 ur doctor and he can refer you to a councler or cycytrist

Answer 8

your psych is killing you slowly. proof from the psychs on a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30iwhEw9ho&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile%2Emyspace%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Duser%2Eviewprofile%26friendid%3D55073312