Cymbalta

[ericaboo]

I started randomly falling down while walking!

This happened to me really bad on Effexor XL, but I already have a low blood pressure problem (positional hypotension), and I think the Effexor just took me to where the problem was untenable.

Now I will be starting Cymbalta next week, which is supposed to be similar to Effexor, but not as strong. I'm hoping for the best because Effexor worked so well on my depression and anxiety, but I may end up with the same problem again... :banghead:

 

[Britt.f7]

I had that falling down or my legs buckling on, I believe, Cymbalta. Ended up seeing a neurologist and the minute he saw I suffered from mental illness (depression) he turned into a jerk and gave me a half-a**ed exam.

You could tell he thought it was all in my head. The minute I left I burst into tears. I'm the one who actually read the side effects of the med I was on to find out that, at higher doses, it can have that effect. My normal doc lowered it and all was fine.

All I kept thinking about the neuro doc, other then really horrible things, was that I shouldn't of had to do his job. He should have looked into the meds or at least known what meds cause neurological adverse behavior. Idiot, to put it nicely.

 

[99Phoenix99]

I was given Cymbalta when I was 16 despite the warnings of not giving it to a teen. It was bad for me. It agitated me and made me into the harbinger of anger, nastiness, and doom in my household. Within a week in a half that med was taken away.

Although, I've actually just been put on Cymbalta today. I'm hopeful it won't turn out like last time since I'm older now.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

99Phoenix99,

Keep an eye on your actions, thoughts and feelings. Hopefully it will turn out alright this time and help you but be prepared to ask for help if it doesn't.

Best wishes. :)

 

[Bilby]

Good luck, Phoenix. Cymbalta can certainly make people agitated and angry - not just in teens. Having said that, it can affect us in different ways, at different times. Hopefully this time, it will be much better for you :)

B x

 

[anni]

I just thought I'd add what was the case for Dad. Of course everyone is different, this med seems to be wonderful for some people. Threads like these tend to show up in search engines when people Google the topic also, so it's hugely helpful to enter experiences, bottom line.

I won't try it- the neuro suggested it and I said, er, better not. Dad was on it for one day, got up and asked directions to the bathroom. Mom and I looked at each other, then at Dad- he was completely sincere. Never flushed 100 bucks 'worth' ( meaning I have a big, BIG problem understanding why the h*ll ANY med is so expensive. Research, my backside. ) of medication down the toilet so quickly ever in my life.

 

[ericaboo]

I had that falling down or my legs buckling on, I believe, Cymbalta.

I have gone up to 40mg and still no falling down like I had on Effexor. In 2 weeks I go up to 60 - hoping for the best...

 

[99Phoenix99]

Well so far I'm at 20mg per day. And I think it's helping. I'm not on the verge of crying all the time anymore. Certainly I cry at night when I'm overwhelmed, but in daily conversation? Not so much anymore. It's ... it's very relieving.

In a week or two the dose is going to get bumped up a bit. So I'm hoping it'll only help.

 

[Britt.f7]

I'm not on the verge of crying all the time anymore

That's a nice feeling isn't it? We just upped my abilify because I was starting to be all teary eyed again. Only been two days, but today is the first day my eyes didn't water up.

I think if the Cymbalta is starting to help you, it can only help you more by going up slightly. I did very well on cymbalta for a number of years. In fact that was the only med I was on until it stopped working and now I'm on several different ones. Probably not Cymbalta's fault it stopped working. My body went absolutely haywire the year my mother died. Just now starting to calm down.

Glad it is starting to work for you!

 

[99Phoenix99]

Thanks Britt!

It is a relief that this seems to be helping :D I'm glad things are working out well for you now as well!

 

[Bilby]

Great news, Phoenix :)

I'm on 90mg of it. The therapeutic dose is different for everyone - sometimes, believe it or not, lowering a dose can be beneficial... not just increasing it. I only mention this as I've had this conversation with my psychiatrist before. It can be a tricky business!

 

[Britt.f7]

Bilby, when adjusting my meds they went back and forth on them. You are right it definitely can be a tricky business. When I was starting to decline, my nurse practioner for psychiatry asked me which one did I think was helping the most. Like I could tell.