Cymbalta

[KissMeImBiPolar]

Good morning everyone.  I have a question (I searched and searched the meds forum to see about Cymbalta but didn't see any posts...sooooooooo...)...

is anyone on Cymbalta or have been on Cymbalta and what do you think of it?

My sister is on it and swears by it.

I'm on Geodon right now but am going to the pdoc tomorrow and am going to ask to take me off of it and put me on Cymbalta to try.  I know each drug works differently for everyone, but I'm finding out that antipsychotics are NOT working well for me...I get nasty side effects that are unbearable for me, not to mention...I don't know why they put me on them when I'm more of the "depressive" side than "manic"...I didn't become "manic" until I went on Geodon!

So, with that said...for those of you who are on Cymbalta...which side effects do you have?  Do you have sexual side effects?  Inability to achieve orgasm? I'm finding out that some reports have shown just that.  But like I said, I know everyone is different.  My sister doesn't have an active sex life so she wouldn't be able to tell me the answer to that question.

Thanks all!

Hugs and love and light....
*Chelbie*

[Phyllis]

I've never been on Cymbalta, but I have side affects that you speak of due to my antidepressant (Welbutrin). I am on 2 antipsychotics and I am BP II (more depressive than manic) They keep the racing thoughts and anger at bay.

[clayton]

I dont take Cymbalta, but I dont like antipsychotics, either--and I dont have confidence in them because a few years ago I went psychotic despitee taking an antipsychotic. I am thinking  more and more that this controlling the mind by drugging the brain doesnt work--
mind is not IN brain!

Clayton

[high maintenence]

Phyllis gave the same response that I would give.

[elwood]

Hello Everyone,

I took Cymbalta in September 2004 through November 2005.  I then tried to switch back to Cymbalta August 2008. 

The good news is that the medication worked excellent at keeping depression away and spirits up.  In 2004 I switched from Paxil to Cymbalta.  As far as the sexual side affects it was not as bad as Paxil.  If you have problems reaching orgasm I usually get my pdoc to prescribe Wellbutrin.

Now the bad side.  I got to be very volatile  during that time period.  Sometime the littlest things would make me very angry.  Now moving to just before I tried the Cymbalta again in 2008, I had no problem with anger on Effexor.  While transitioning from Effexor to Cymbalta I was about 50/50 and all of a sudden I lost it like I hadn't in years.  I immediately stopped the Cymbalta and went back to Effexor. 

I dislike Effexor but at least I stay out of trouble.

If you want more information feel free to ask.

Elwood

[KissMeImBiPolar]

Thank you one and all for the comments; however, my pdoc kept me on Geodon.  He feels that since this is the best medicine that I've been on "mentally" so far; that he wants to keep me at the lowest dosage possible and also keep me on Xanax for a little while longer and slowly wean me off of it.  I don't mind being on Geodon now after talking to my Pdoc...especially since if the only major side effect I'm having is sleepiness, then I can handle that (knock on wood) rather than what I went through the other day with the withdrawal.  He told me that Geodon causes drowsiness, Xanax causes drowsiness, so the two together are going to make me very very drowsy.  So, what we decided to do is have me take my Geodon at no later than 9:00 in the morning and then 5:00 p.m. at night ...and .25 mg. XANAX at 9:00 a.m., .25 mg. XANAX at 2:30-3:00 p.m., and then .50 mg of XANAX at 9:00 p.m. to get a good night sleep...and it's worked WONDERS!!! The last 3 nights (knock on wood) I've slept STRAIGHT THROUGH for 7 hours at the minimum and that's ODD for me...I ALWAYS am up in the middle of the night....

So, right now...I'm just trusting my pdoc and it's all I can do.  He told me what was normal and that I looked alot better than I did when I was there the last time...and he wants to keep me on this. 

As for taking drugs for the mind...I agree, I would LOVE to be off of medication...I would LOVE to believe in the "mind over matter" business...but at this stage...I've tried and tried and it doesn't work for me.  Who knows...maybe somewhere down the line...it will.  But for now...I just have to trust the meds I'm taking...and keep saying to myself (as a friend on my myspace page told me to say) ..."I DESIRE PERFECT HEALTH!" 50 times a day...he's also bipolar and has been on many meds over years and years...and he's doing much better.  But he's been helping me as well.

Love and light,
*Chelbie*