Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cymbalta

Ack, I'm a teenage! (Cymbalta=acne?)

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:16:23 -0800

Anyone taking Cymbalta notice an increase in facial acne? I've been taking Cymbalta (60mg) for about 3 months now, it has worked wonders. However, for the last 6 weeks or so, I've had breakout after breakout of "whitehead" acne around my mouth/lips.

I've never had problems with acne my entire life (nearly 40), so this is wierd.

No changes to diet, but life is stressful (working 4 jobs - usually I only work 2 at a time).

Kicking the 'Balta- help!

I_Love_Bananas — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:55:18 -0800

One week off Cymbalta cold turkey. Will it get better, and how soon? Dose was 60 mg/day. This has been a pretty bad week. I tell myself that if this is the worst, and I survived it, then I will be OK.

I am using Rescue Remedy, taking vitamins and fish oil and occasionally dramamine when I get particularly nauseated (but that makes me sleepy).

Can anyone else weigh in with their experiences and possible solutions?

(please, no Qs about why I stopped taking it or the reason it was originally prescribed. Thanks!)

My medications are making my sleep lest restful. Help?

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:03:57 -0800

My medications are making my sleep lest restful. Help? I'm currently on 4 medications: Atarax (10mg), Seasonique, Cymbalta (30mg), and an antibiotic. Some background: I have interstitial cystitis, so the Atarax is meant as one part of treatment for that, and the antibiotic is meant as a preventative (as I am getting bladder instillations for the IC). I started taking the Seasonique about 3 weeks ago, and the rest of the medications later that week - so about 2.5 weeks ago.

Since starting the latter group of medications, I've noticed some sleep disturbances. I am waking up in the morning (my guess would be about 5 or 6am, though I've never been coherent enough to check my alarm clock), and then dozing until my alarm goes off (usually between 7 or 7:30). While dozing, I tend to have very vivid, active dreams. They tend to feel mentally tiring, and they are also often mildly stressful.

My sleep hygiene is fairly good, I think - I take my medications at about 10:30, read or play around on the computer for awhile, and I am usually asleep by midnight. I don't have any trouble falling asleep. I usually wake between 7 and 7:30 during the week, and I find the latest I usually sleep in on the weekends is about 9:30.

A few other pieces of information that may be useful:

(1) Last Monday, I had a late shift at work (this is very unusual). I didn't take my medications until about 12:45am that evening. I didn't notice any sleep disturbances for the next few days - they "came back" yesterday morning.

(2) I have talked about this with my doctor. (Rather, I had someone at the office put a note in my file. I don't see him again until January, and no, I can't see him earlier than that.)

(3) I have read some of the other threads about Cymbalta and sleep issues; it seems like Cymbalta's the most likely culprit, though I think the Atarax is a possibility, also.

It seems the most reasonable thing for me to do would be to try taking Cymbalta in the morning, instead. However, I have a concern about this - I'm notoriously bad at remembering to take my medications. I've been very good about taking my medications recently because I'm taking the 4 of them at the same time every evening. I'm concerned that if I had to move 1 of them to the morning, I might start forgetting to take that medication. (Can't take the Atarax in the morning, as it's got a sedative effect.)

So, what I'm looking for is:

(1) Advice on how to remember to take my meds (if you think changing the medication timing is the thing to do).

(2) Advice on something I could do with regard to my sleep habits - set my alarm for earlier? Set an alarm for peaceful music at that time? Learn lucid dreaming? Something like that.

(3) Any other relevant advice. :)

If you have any follow-up questions, you can send them to anonymeta [at] gmail.com. Thanks in advance!

Effects of duloxetine

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:42:51 -0800

Information about starting to take duloxetine (Cymbalta, Yentreve). I find it difficult to talk to my doctor about my depression. This is not about my particular doctor - I've tried others in the practice. I've been on 40mg citalopram (this was me a year ago) but side effects of dizziness and blurred vision, and a feeling that it wasn't helping - both of which I did discuss with my doctor - led me to cut down to 10mg every other day about two months ago. I wrote to my doctor six weeks ago about feelings of depression and suicidal thoughts asking whether there were other anti-depressants it would be worth trying, and I've just heard back from him with a prescription for 60 mg duloxetine.

If you have taken duloxetine, what side effects did you experience? Am I likely to need time off work whilst I become habituated to it? Should I continue taking my low dose of citalopram whilst taking duloxetine?

I am planning to go to see my doctor when I have been taking duloxetine for a month, but would like more information on what I can expect before then. Thanks for reading/commenting.

Insurance and Mental Health

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:23:46 -0800

Please help us navigate the treacherous waters of insurance coverage! I hope I can boil this all down:

- About two years ago, Mr. A develops severe foot pain after spraining an ankle. After seeing numerous specialists, physical therapists, etc..., one of them declares it to be something called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, CRPS for short.

- Mr. A's GP, when informed of this, says that Lyrica is an option, but through questions about Mr. A's weight and emotional state, prescribes Cymbalta instead.

- Mr. A was informed that Cymbalta is mainly prescribed as an anti-depressant, but when he brought up side effects to the GP (ex. sexual dysfunction, severe emotional responses) he was basically ignored, and asked "Is the foot pain better? OK then, keep taking it."

- Mr. A taking Cymbalta up until the present time. Left his former position, where he had Anthem insurance, in order to move to a larger city and attend school. Applied to the "Lilly Cares" program to obtain Cymbalta for free, as the short-term health insurance he has now (6 months) does not have full prescription coverage.

Now we come to the interesting part.

- About a week ago, he was prescribed Percocet for an unrelated medical issue. After he took the first one, he was amazed at how his mood changed - he said it felt like he was a different person. Not spaced out, really, but all of the daily feelings like severe depression and anxiety were lessened. They were still there, but he said it was like he realized for the first time in a long time that they were manageable, not crushing. He'd mentioned before that his moods seemed to even out after he started Cymbalta, but when he did get upset, it was over the top. He also felt that his creativity took a huge hit around the same time, which was very frustrating for him. He was able to talk to me about how scared and sad he is a lot of the time, and how he wonders if everyone feels that way. Heartbreaking.

So...IANAD. I don't know if Percocet interferes with Cymbalta, and I don't know how Cymbalta actually affects him, since I met him after he started taking it. What I do know is that reading about Heather's (Dooce) battle with depression through her husband Jon's eyes, is that it's ok to take medication for it, and you need to find someone who will help you find the right one(s), since everyone's chemistry is different. Ideally, we would like to find both a good GP and a psychiatrist, so he can work with them on what's effective for both his physical and mental health.

What we're worried about is this:

1. His current health coverage has a cap of $550 for psychiatric visits, and like I mentioned, prescription coverage is not good.

2. He needs help now, but we're afraid that if we go ahead and open up this can of worms while he's on the short term plan, he'll be turned down when it comes time to apply for more permanent insurance.

Should we:

- Just get him help now and worry about the permanent insurance later?

- Apply for permanent insurance immediately, and then get help?

Or some other option we're not thinking of? We're not asking for advice on how to commit fraud, but how best to handle this.

I would have posted this under my regular username, but we figured it was probably better as anon - so any questions can be directed to my throwaway gmail, insurancewoes@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance, everyone...

Help Me Break the Cymbalta Cycle

misha — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:21:08 -0800

Hellacious Cymbalta withdrawal (I'm two weeks in). The side effects are beginning to overwhelm me. What can I do to make this withdrawal process easier? A little background: I was on 60mg Cymbalta for about a year and a half, prescribed by my therapist. When it was determined that my sluggish thyroid played a huge part in my depression and my Synthroid dosage was upped significantly recently, my therapist and I decided I could taper off the Cymbalta (I am still on Wellbutrin). He gave me a week's worth of 30 mg, so I went from the 60 to the week's worth of 30, to nothing. I have been completely off of all Cymbalta now for two weeks and have experienced: nausea, digestive problems, insomnia, mood swings at the drop of the hat (crying jags, increased irritability, even rage for the slightest offenses), confusion, brain zaps, lack of concentration to the point of not being able to remember simple words or conversations that just took place (just writing this question was laborious), hot flashes and sweating followed by chills and sneezing fits, and now headaches that go right down into my teeth and jaw and just. won't. stop.

So, Mefites, any advice to help minimize the effects of withdrawal? Keep in mind that I have asked my therapist and he is at a loss other than, "Well, we could put you back on the Cymbalta and taper you off slowly over a period of weeks," which I am just not willing to do; these last two weeks have been so difficult (I've never had this kind of withdrawal from any other drug, and have taken Prozac and Serzone in the past) that I don't want to have anything to do with Cymbalta ever again. I have also on a few occasions resorted to an over-the-counter sleep aid for the insomnia but don't want to become dependent on it.

I know YANMD, etc. Please do not direct me to the Elli Lily website, insist that the side effects are minor or that it is all in my head, etc. All constructive advice is appreciated!

after breaking up will he change his mind?

theobromine_ady — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:56:10 -0800

Can any of you men out there help me translate this situation and maybe give me some guidance as to how to go forward? I was dumped by my boyfriend of a year-and-a-half without warning and his reason was this: "I don't want a relationship of any kind. I just want to be in my own space and spend my time with my son and my dogs." But then he added that I am his best friend, he thinks I'm fabulous, respects me more than any other human, thinks I'm beautiful and wants me to stay his friend because "we are excellent at being friends."
I am devistated and heartbroken. He can give me no reason other than wanting his space back.

The relationship, from the very get-go, was easy and comfortable and romantic and full of sparks and sex and laughter. We never had an argument or disagreement about anything. Our children (each have one) love each other and each of us.

It was a pretty casual relationship and we didn't see each other every day. When we were together we were close physically, holding hands, hugging, smooching, always smiling and laughing. The sex was great, too. Really great. Neither of us want to get married again and the road we were on together seemed just the right one.

We were very protective of the kids and only had overnights if there weren't any around. We each believed we were a gift to the other from the universe for some great deed performed in a different life. "all that and a bag of chips" if you will.

So after a fabulous weekend together he called me Thursday to say he needed to "air some things out." We had a deal that neither would require the other to guess the thoughts and he said he needed to talk because he was having some thoughts he didn't want me to guess.

Bomb dropped after dinner. Break up. Stop it cold. No discussion. His own space. No relationship of any kind, with anyone. No reason. No incident. No other person. No nothing just KABLAM! Over. But would I be his best friend.

Two things have happened in the last few months. One is that he switched, very slowly and under doctor supervision, from Zoloft to Cymbalta. He says that on the Cymbalta he feels better than he has ever felt, his back doesn't hurt (he had a paralyzing back injury 10 years ago, rehabbed back to full function but has had chronic, horrible back pain since the accident) for the first time in 10 years and now he wants to be alone. I truly believe this isolation is a side-effect from the meds but he doesn't and it's not my place to say. He didnt' tell his doctor that we broke up. Just tells him he "feels great". The other thing was that a few months ago I left for a two week job training out-of-state. I missed him terribly. He told me he missed me. Our reuinion was sweet and passionate. But on D-day he told me that while I was gone he realized I was much more into his "space" than he wanted me to be and now he wants it back.

I am not a smotherer. Yes, I enjoyed his company greatly. I have my own life, am independent (sometimes to a fault), am a single mother, have a great (and demanding) job, two actually. But he was so fabulous that I rearranged some priorities to spend more time with him.

I asked him to change his mind. To try this with a pull-back plan and not spend so much time together. He said "no".

Help me! I have tried to stay his friend but it is too painful to be in his company and pretend that I don't want to be close. When we are together it feels exactly the same: easy, fun, full of laughter and smiles, comfortable, close, smart but without the hand-holding and kissing.

We are in our 40s, both divorced, both had given up on finding someone and this was so right, so good, so fabulous. Why, then, would a smart, passionate, compassionate, loving man throw this away without any reason other than wanting to be alone?

Is he just that damaged and broken from his horrible ex?
Is he protecting me from something so therefore not telling me some horrible thing I did wrong or didn't do?

He said he doesn't have a single mean thing to say to me or about me. He still finds me attractive and sexy but doesn't want to have sex. He's a real gentleman and a casual sexual relationship, in his mind, is disrespectful and so therefore not an option. And I'm not going to demean myself by asking for one anyway.

He emails me a dozen times a day. If I'm late to reply he sends "where are you? are you okay? messages."
Help. Translate this for me. I don't speak boy!

Our paths are going to cross a lot. Our kids go to the same school. We swim at the same pool. We walk our dogs the same places. We live in the same neighborhood. Do I just stay away and let my fire fizzle? Is there hope that he'll realize he threw away something so very fabulous and beg for it back? Do I chalk this up to another broken heart that didn't kill me? Anyone familiar with Cymbalta and will the isolation necessity wane and he'll realize he doesn't want to be alone?

Thanks.

Overcoming Cymbalta Related Sexual Disfunction

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 09:14:01 -0800

I have been taking Cymbalta for about a month now for treatment for depression. I started on 30mg for 2 weeks and am now at 60mg. I am experiencing a lowered libido and difficulty maintaining an erection. Both may be in my head, since the literature says few people suffer from this (or I am just in the unlucky percentage). Everything will be going fine, then I start to have anxiety it won't last, and then it doesn't. It doesn't matter if I am with my partner or going solo. I had this same difficulty when I was on Prozac, but at the time had no partner, so obviously this is now important.

It has been about 2 years since I've been on antidepressants, so this is a new medication.

In this thread someone suggested taking Wellbutrin in combination with Cymbalta to resolve this. Is this the best option? Or do I have other choices?

I also have a question on a missed dose. Do I just make this up the next day? Or do I skip? Obviously, I'll not try to miss any. I am just wondering what should be done if I do.

I know these are better better questions for my doctor, but I won't be seeing him again for a month.

Cymbalta & Insomnia

snap_dragon — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 18:45:33 -0800

I am more than curious to know if any Mefites prescribed Cymbalta (antidepressant) are dealing with intense insomnia. If so, what works for you? Doc throws three different sleep meds my way. None working. Thanks for your input.