My doctor wants me to try this and I would like you guys input…
What dose are you or were you on?
What were the side effects? How long did they last?
How long have you or were you on it?
What symptoms did it best address?
What were or are the drawbacks?
I know some of you have had bad experinces with it and some of you good or better I would just like some imput from you to see where I may go…
Is it s drug with more or less side effects in comparison to others?
Umm …nobody had any experience with Cymbalta?
I thought I remember seeing that Colleen is on it and was doing well…at maybe 20mg…
Hi Timeless,
Haven’t posted in awhile, but I do try to check in regulary. I’ll be happy to answer your questions about Cymbalta.
What dose are you or were you on?
My doctor started me at 20mg and that is what I am still taking. There hasn’t been a need to go any highter…so far.
What were the side effects? How long did they last?
At first I felt very shaky and jittery, constipation was also a slight problem. The side effects lasted about two weeks, but were managable.
How long have you or were you on it?
I started taking it in March of 2009…so about 9 months.
What symptoms did it best address?
I have to say, I am pretty much 100% back to myself. The only time I feel a little dizzy is after I exercise. It helped with everything and really helped a great deal with my anxiety. I wrote in the Success Stories thread right when I started to feel better and I think I was more descriptive in the symptoms and how they started getting better.
What were or are the drawbacks?
Honestly, this drug was a miracle for me. I am very sensitive to meds, as most of us are, and I tolerated this very well and it really made a huge difference. I feel like I have my life back! I rarely think about MAV anymore. The drawback for me at this point is that if I plan on having another baby (which I would like to in the near future) I would have to stop taking it b/c it is a Category C drug.
I wish you the best with whatever you decide!!
Colleen
such great news, Colleen. I was rereading your success story and you mentioned that you tried verapamil in the past. Just wondering what dose you got up to on it before you dropped it? It is interesting how some drugs don’t work, and then you can find the one that does the trick. also wondering, you mentioned anxiety. Would you say that the anxiety was bad enough to interfere with your life, and were you having panic attacks? Thanks for sharing, and stay well! btw - my husband spoke to a psychiatrist who is doing research on preg and psych drugs, and said that just because something is a category C does not necessarily deem it unsafe. It’s definitely worth looking into it more before deciding that it is absolutely unsafe. That being said, I was scared to take anything during my pregnancy, so i’m not one to speak.
Hi Lisa,
I only ended up taking Verapamil for about a week. I started off at 120 mg, which was probably way too high for me to begin with. I knew very little about it so I just started at that dose. I was so dizzy on it, I could barely get through the day. It was not a good match for me.
As for the anxiety…yes, yes, and yes. My anxiety was affecting my life in so many ways. I was thinking about my condition and how horrible I felt every second of every single day. I would cry all the time. I experienced my first panic attack during this time (at work, no less) and several panic attacks after that one. My life revolved around how bad I felt and how I felt that I was never going to get better. My daughter was two at the time and I would just get so upset when I had to go and lay down b/c I felt so dizzy and out of it. The Cymbalta really helped in that aspect. Even before all the dizziness went away, I felt like my moods were so much more managable…almost like my brain wouldn’t let me spiral out of control and get so upset (does that make sense?).
My OBGYN also told me that the only unsafe anti-depressant to take during pregnancy was Paxil. I don’t know what I’ll do when that time comes. When I had my little girl, I didn’t even drink a drop of caffeine for 9 months…so it would be tough for me to stay on a medication. Thanks for that information though. I’m glad that research is being done!
Take care Lisa
Hi,
Boy, after reading Colleen’s experience, I have to say I am quite excited about the possibility of Cymbalta working for me. I have been on Ami for a month or so and titrated up to 20 mg. It helped my moods and depression a lot, but the dizziness still plagued me and still have bad anxiety in the mornings. I talked to my P-doc and asked if I should continue up on ami or try the Cymbalta (let me regress: I saw a “headache specialist” here in Las Vegas and he rx ami at 10 mg and Cymbalta at 60 mg for my condition. I talked to the P-doc, who I trust and is someone who knows how sensitive I am to meds, and he suggested trying the Ami first to see if I could get it under control with just one drug). Okay, now so Friday I decided to try a small amount of Cymbalta…10 mg to the mix. So far ok…didn’t sleep great last night and took some Klonopin to get rid of the willies I get in the morning, but that’s been happeneing anyway. I will stay on 10 mg (with no problems I hope) and titrate up to 20 to see if that helps. In my minds eye, that is the number I think I should try. Which matches what Colleen is doing. 60 sounds crazy to me, but who knows…
I will keep you posted and thanks for the insight.
Rockysmom…
aka
Kelley
ps
Can you imagine how glorious it would be to not think about MAV every minute of every day? I don’t know if any of you saw Grey’s Anatomy last week, but there was a quote that sticks in my head. “Instead of feeling fear…feel inspired”…that is what I am trying to do. Concentrate on the “maybe this will work” instead of the OMG I hope I don’t feel terrible on yet another drug!! Trying to stay positive.
Colleen - thanks for the response. This illness certainly triggers much anxiety and depression. I am very depressed at this point. you must be thrilled to have your life back, and thanks for filling us in - it gives us hope
Rockysmom - you’re right. I wish I could be more optimistic. Am working on it. It is so difficult when you are so very ill, but it is really important to have hope. I am glad that you are seeing someone familiar with MAV. From what i heard, you are still on such a low dose of ami - so don’t despair if it isn’t helping yet. I wish you the best. Please keep us posted.
MAV Lisa…can you try any natural supplements while being pregnant? 5HTP or St. John’s wart? You’re really between a rock and a hard place and I feel for you. What about acupuncture? I’ve done it and it gives me some temporary relief. I wish I had a bit of magic for you, but I’m still trying to figure this out over here as well. At least know that people are here that care about you, and can probably relate better than most…and it’s temporary…take it a day (sometimes an hour) at a time.
Colleen,
I am starting to get the anxious revved up feeling on cymbalta after 4 days at 10mg. Did you jump right into 20 and stay there or titrate?
At least I know what and why I’m feeling this way, and i just hope with some patience and time (and Klonapin!) that I can stay on it long enough to give it a fair shot. I really believe my anxiety took over and caused an exacerbation of my problems.
Strangely, I take the Cymbalta in the early morning and start getting the anxiousness at bedtime. I remember Hain telling me to take Effexor at night (I thought he was nuts) because it takes a while for it to kick in…now I think I get it. But I’m still reluctant to try it at night since that is when I take the Ami…which doesn’t make me that tired or sleep so great…better than without for sure.
Rockysmom - thanks for the input. Before pregnancy I had tried every natural supplement that was supposed to help m igraines, and nothing helped. I also tried acupuncture without success. I have until Feb 10, and then i just hope that I end up taking the right med for me.
— Begin quote from “colleen77”
Hi Timeless,
Haven’t posted in awhile, but I do try to check in regulary. I’ll be happy to answer your questions about Cymbalta.
What dose are you or were you on?
My doctor started me at 20mg and that is what I am still taking. There hasn’t been a need to go any highter…so far.
What were the side effects? How long did they last?
At first I felt very shaky and jittery, constipation was also a slight problem. The side effects lasted about two weeks, but were managable.
How long have you or were you on it?
I started taking it in March of 2009…so about 9 months.
What symptoms did it best address?
I have to say, I am pretty much 100% back to myself. The only time I feel a little dizzy is after I exercise. It helped with everything and really helped a great deal with my anxiety. I wrote in the Success Stories thread right when I started to feel better and I think I was more descriptive in the symptoms and how they started getting better.
What were or are the drawbacks?
Honestly, this drug was a miracle for me. I am very sensitive to meds, as most of us are, and I tolerated this very well and it really made a huge difference. I feel like I have my life back! I rarely think about MAV anymore. The drawback for me at this point is that if I plan on having another baby (which I would like to in the near future) I would have to stop taking it b/c it is a Category C drug.
I wish you the best with whatever you decide!!
Colleen
— End quote
Collen thank you for that information…the doctor was going to give me 30 and I called back yesterday and told her to give me 20. I am very nervous about starting it but I need to do something…did the jitters last the two weeks and what about your sleep do you take it in the mornings or at night?
best of luck starting the med, Timeless
Timeless,
The jitters went away in a week or two. I started taking the medication in the morning at first but now I take it at night with no problem…I sleep just fine. Good luck. I am very very sensitive to meds and did very well from the start with this. Really hoping this helps you
Take Care!
Colleen
— Begin quote from “colleen77”
Timeless,
The jitters went away in a week or two. I started taking the medication in the morning at first but now I take it at night with no problem…I sleep just fine. Good luck. I am very very sensitive to meds and did very well from the start with this. Really hoping this helps you
Take Care!
Colleen
— End quote
Thank you so much Collen do you take it with food…or does it matter.
Timeless,
I take it right before I go to bed…just with water. I’ve had no stomach issues with it (nausea, etc.).
Best,
Colleen
— Begin quote from “colleen77”
Timeless,
I take it right before I go to bed…just with water. I’ve had no stomach issues with it (nausea, etc.).
Best,
Colleen
— End quote
Thank you I have it now…just to get the nerve to try it…
Timeless
Im on day 6 and it’s not been bad. Yesterday was quite good actually as I felt my dizziness easing. Today, not as much. But I think it’s too earlyl to tell. I get some jitters and take a little Klonapin for that (I cut my .5 pill in 4th’s and take 1/4) I am takikng the Ami at night at 20mg and that is allowing sleep. I will keep you posted. I started at 10 and worked up to 15 and will titrate up to 20 within the week. No weird stuff going on. Effexor was making me goofy already by this point.
Kelley
— Begin quote from “rockyksmom”
Timeless
Im on day 6 and it’s not been bad. Yesterday was quite good actually as I felt my dizziness easing. Today, not as much. But I think it’s too earlyl to tell. I get some jitters and take a little Klonapin for that (I cut my .5 pill in 4th’s and take 1/4) I am takikng the Ami at night at 20mg and that is allowing sleep. I will keep you posted. I started at 10 and worked up to 15 and will titrate up to 20 within the week. No weird stuff going on. Effexor was making me goofy already by this point.
Kelley
— End quote
Kelly how did you start at such a low dose? They told me the lowest was 20mg. I would start lower if I could…
Timeless:
I just opened up the sample pack from Doc and separated it into 3rds…probably not the best way, but it’s all I had.
I am getting an RX for 20 mg and will start that tomorrow as I go into week two. sadly, I had a couple of good days this week after beginning Cymbalta, and my dizziness really decreased. Just about the time I got my hopes up, the last two days have been more dizzy. So I don’t know…but I will give it a full trial…why not right? I feel like crap when I am on nothing, bo it’s worth a shot. Plus, I am on Ami still and that has been amking me dizzy. A part of me feels like I will get the Cymbalta up where it’s working and th en titrate OFF Ami if at all possible. I’m not happy about the polymedication game…but we gotta do what we gotta do!
Let me know what you decide and how you are?
The most common side effect of Cymbalta was nausea. Anyone considering the use of Cymbalta or any other antidepressant in a child, youth or young adult must balance this risk with clinical need. Cymbalta is used to treat moderate to severe depression and general anxiety.