Cymbalta?

[Gypsy]

I am currently on Paroxetine for anxiety and depression. My doctor wants to switch me to Cymbalta cause I''m gained 50 pounds in the time I''ve been on it. Now have cholesterol problems, cysts on my ovaries, bladder issues bad enough for surgery (!)... lovely. Really lovely (just had my physical) All of which can be fixed by losing the weight (already dieting and starting exercising this week) QUICKLY. My anxiety has gotten worse recently, and paroxetine seems to have made it that way (lovely).

So I was wondering if anyone on here has been on it, or knows someone on it. Help? I''m scared ... I''ve read the withdrawal is worse than the withdrawal from Paroxitine, and I was terrified of that!!! If it doesn''t work on me... I''m apparently in for a hellish ride.

 

[nsaids_nurse420]

ask your dr. if you may be a candidate for wellbutrin, other nurses @ work are raving about it. the nurses say "it''s a quick fix for the b!%(h." as for the cholesterol issue, sometimes it''s diet, sometimes it''s heretity. skinny people have bad cholesterol too. have a long envolved talk with your dr. that''s what you''re paying him for, and if he or she doesn''t have time to listen, find another dr. who actually cares, trust me a lot don''t.

 

[basil]

I don''t know if this is helpful...

Paroxetine (Paxil) is a straight SSRI. Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is a SNRI (inhibits serotonin AND norephinephrine reuptake). The other drug in this class is Effexor (Venlafaxine). They all have similar mechanisms, but as you know can affect people very differently within the same drug class.

FWIW, my fiance takes Effexor at a pretty low dose, and has for about 3 years now. He doesn''t have any side effects, and it has really worked for him. He does get withdrawal symptoms if he forgets to take it - headache mostly. He hasn''t been off of it long enough to really withdraw, but he doesn''t ever want to go off, so it''s a nonissue for him.

Cymbalta, being a newer drug in the same class, has managed to get some extra approvals (neuropathy, chronic pain, etc.), but I still think that unfortunately, most psychiatric drugs are basically trial-and-error.

 

[diamondfan]

I am interested in cymbalta because of my chronic pain/fatique situation, and have been wanting to ask my doctor about it. I do not want to have weight gain as a side effect, nor headaches, as I get migraines already and they are miserable...so let me know if you find out anything! Good luck...

 

[Gypsy]

My doctor (primary care) is really great. Very thorough and extremely conscientious. My family history is not prone to cholesterol (or any of these problems) so when we talked about it today he was really convinced that it's a combo of Paxil and lack of exercise. I've tried serious dieting and excercise before and have had a difficult time getting any results... which is also strange as my family is all thin (both sides) and not prone to any obesity.

My new pyschopharmacologist is pretty positive that Cymbalta is better for me than Wellbutrin because it covers the range of problems I have : weight gain, sexual repression, bladder issues and chronic pain. Plus, according to her, it works in as little as a week... AND I will not suffer from Paxil withdrawal if I switch. All great. Wellbutrin is likely to expose me to Seretonin withdrawal and doesn't cover the range of issues that Cymbalta does.

But its a new drug... which is worrisome as there isn't as great an amount of information available on it as others... and these drugs always have issues that are discovered as time goes on. And it has a freaking nightmare of a discontinuation penalty-- probabaly because you aren't just suffering from Seretonin withdrawal but Nueropenepherine withdrawal too. Still, I'm thinking I could maybe talk to her about medication alternatives if it doesn't work and the consequences of switching to them (in terms of withdrawal). There might be a way to ameliorate the problem.

I can't be completely off meds yet... so I'm likely to have to switch to something else anyway.

DF... I will post as I find more out. But it doesn't have weight GAIN listed as a problem (weight loss though is a side effect) as for headaches...
Article:

What are the possible side effects of Cymbalta?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

*

nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
*

restlessness, overactive reflexes, hallucinations, loss of coordination, fainting, coma; or
*

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and fast heartbeat.

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

*

constipation;
*

drowsiness, dizziness, headache;
*

sleep problems (insomnia);
*

weight changes;
*

feeling anxious or nervous, increased sweating;
*

sore throat; or
*

decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

 

[monarch64]

Gypsy, haven''t had experience with any of those, but i just wanted to offer joining the weekly workout thread if you feel like it...it''s a very welcoming bunch and helps with staying on track as far as exercise and weight loss. Even if you don''t join or post, or whatever, maybe read it from time to time or daily to aid in your weight loss and workout progress! We''d love to see you there, and we discuss all kinds of things, including personal issues...so feel free to join in anytime!

 

[diamondfan]

Gypsy, just reading those things scares the pants off of me!!!!! I have had anaphalatic type reactions before to motrin and now cannot take any NSAIDS or aspirin, and I get very scared to take new meds because of the chance of a reaction...the swelling, trouble swallowing, etc. I think it would give me a panic attack just thinking about it!!!!! But I am curious to know if it does work and how you feel on it. I take a headache med each day now to prevent them and think it is a contraindication with the cymbalta, not totally sure but seem to recall that it is, but who knows? Would love anything that takes the pains and sleeplessness away...

 

[boston_jeff]

Hey Gypsy,

It sounds like you have a great relationship with your PCP and a psychopharmacologist who is being sensitive to your concerns about the side-effects you have experienced and your concerns about withdrawal.

Good luck with your workout plan, your prescription, and road to better health!

 

[ephemery1]

Hi Gypsy,

I'm not on Cymbalta myself, but I do know a lot about the various medications out there (my dad is a pharmacist and I'm a therapist, so sort of combination of knowledge!)... Cymbalta is one that seems to have helped a lot of people, with very few side effects. Doctors particularly like prescribing it for people dealing with chronic pain related to their depression (headaches, etc), as it helps those things too... also why it works for things like fibromyalgia or nerve pain (so really might be something to look into, DF!) And there is rarely an effect on weight... in fact, I believe weight loss is more common, but that is more based on anecdotal evidence (people posting on websites, forums, etc).

I take Wellbutrin myself, and although it works well for me (and I went through several others before finding that), one of the most frequent side effects is an INCREASE in anxiety and jitteriness... my problem is more depression than anxiety, but even so, I usually keep Klonopin on me just in case of an attack. So if you have any trouble with anxiety at all, it is probably better to avoid the WB. It also causes insomnia (which I NEVER had a problem with before) and headaches, especially when you first begin taking it, which is a really negative side effect for me since I already have headache issues.

If I were to switch off the Wellbutrin, I would definitely go to Cymbalta... I've considered it MANY times because of its impact on serotonin and not just norepinephrine. But as for now, I'm sticking with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" philosophy and not screwing with my meds anymore!

Good luck, Gypsy... keep us posted!

 

[Gypsy]

I will keep you all updated. I promise.


Ephemery... THANK YOU SO MUCH. That was so very helpful. I cannot express how happy I am to read your post. I''m very glad Wellbutrin is working for you... and if it causes anxiety its of no help to me. I just had another (fairly bad) attack this morning... and I''m not over it yet. I''m so close to tears and hysteria right now it''s freaking me out... which only feeds the problem.

PS is a godsend though.