Gave In To Meds

[PainX2]

I didn't want to go on medication. I didn't want to feel false moods. After my visit to my family doctor and T last week, I decided that if they felt that I should be taking them, then I would. I am afraid that I'll be a zombie. I don't know really what to expect in terms of how I will feel on them. I've been prescribed Cymbalta. 30 mgs for the first week, 60 mgs thereafter. I'm already experiencing alot of nausea ALL THE TIME. Also, I am headachy and dizzy. My husband isn't letting me drive now because of the dizziness. He's told me that if I drive while dizzy he will call the police on me for impairment. That makes me smile but be frustrated at the same time. I know he is doing it because he cares about me but I don't want to put him out all the time having to drive me around.

Does Cymbalta put you in that zombie-ish state? Will the side effects go away eventually? If they're this bad at the lower dose, I'm not looking forward to next week...

 

[Deleted member 541]

Ok, when I started on Cymbalta, I too had the same symptoms. I called my Dr and she had me take it at night, so I wouldn't be sick all day long. I LOVED being on Cymbalta, but after 3 years being on it, and the cost of it, I had to come off of it. My insurance wouldn't pay for it, and still don't so......

I would suggest that you take it at bedtime... I only needed 30mgs when I was on it. I tried to take 60, but I (sorry to be graphic) could NOT go to the bathroom. I was so constipated from it I thought I was gonna die......So went back down to 30, took it at bedtime, and never had another problem.. Till I came off of it....That was a LIVING ****ING NIGHTMARE!!!!! But, another story all together....

Good luck!!!!!

 

[Cynthiatoo]

It's hard to believe and a pain in the butt, but most meds give strange side effects for at least the first week. My advice is to do whatever you need to do to manage those side effects and tell yourself you will look at how you feel in a week and then in one more week. It helps me to write down my physical symptoms in a book and date it. Then I can check back later. I have never felt that I have false mood on medication, though I used to fear this dreadfully. Now I know that for me, it just keeps the serotonin in my body longer. I am still me. Hope this helps.

 

[kers]

It's hard to believe and a pain in the butt, but most meds give strange side effects for at least the first week.

This has been my experience as well. I had a lot of side effects the first two weeks of my antidepressant, and they all faded between the 2nd and 4th week. Your body is getting used to a new medication, and it will take some time to settle down.

 

[PainX2]

With all this nausea, I guess one good side effect is loss of appetite. I was depression, bored, emotional eating and destroying my hard work of losing 60 lbs. I might actually be able to get back there sooner at this rate.

Thanks for the heads up She Cat on the constipation. I do have mini wheats every day so hopefully that will help. I take it at lunch time right now. I don't know how much taking it at a different time would help since I'm just as nauseous in the morning as the afternoon before?

 

[2quilt]

Tell your doctor today about how you feel. Cymbalta may not be the drug for your particular brain.
My brain loves it, but your mileage may vary.
By this time, if you feel that bad, change drugs. It won't get better.


2quilt, Cymbalta user 4 plus years

 

[2quilt]

I also want to tell you that if and when the antidepressant works for you, you will not have any "false moods"--
instead, you will feel at peace, calm, clear headed, genuinely happy, and you will enjoy life. That is not to say that you will have sad days, angry hours, and life will not throw something shitty at you every once in a while, but when it does, you will deal with it in a more healthy way.

What you dont want is internal feelings of vibrating, agitation, anxiety all day long, not sleeping, or sleeping all the time, suicidal thoughts, obsessive behavior like focusing on your own fingernails for hours at a time, internal talk that you know is off-the-deep-end-of-strange, or just a feeling of zombieness.

 

[This Ends Now]

Keep track of your symptoms, side effect, and overall mood. 2quilt is right that the correct medication will not turn you into a zombie or give you a fake reality. Ideally the medication will restore your brain to normal function. Remember that PTSD is a neurological injury and many Psych diagnosis (such as depression) can be the result of a neurological birth defect. Thinking of things in this way has helped me feel less like a stigma and more like any other sick or injured person trying to get well. Each brain is different so unfortunately we have to rely on trial and error and educated guesses. The best advice I can give is research everything, document everything, and keep the lines of communication open with your doctor and those who care for you.

 

[PainX2]

Thanks everyone. The nausea has finally subsided. I'm still having problems sleeping and my doctor has confirmed that taking Zopiclone every day or every couple days will not be addictive or habit forming so it helps until the meds have a chance to do what they're supposed to. I'm still having headaches but all the rest of the side effects have abated. I'm going to give this some time to see if it changes my mood. I've been on it now 2 weeks.