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sodamnlost posted 8/29/2013 15:34 PM

I've struggled with depression/anxiety for years off and on. 12 years ago after a nightmare surgery where the anesthesia disnt fully take and I felt the whole surgery - PTSD was diagnosed. Some time after Dday symptoms came back. Off and on for past year.

3 panic attacks that didnt feel like PTSD sent me to my Doc. Having tried a bunch and always getting stuck with horrible sexual side effects - she decided to try Cymbalta. Anyone ever tried it? Thoughts?

GabyBaby posted 8/29/2013 15:42 PM

My husband was on Cymbalta for a couple of years. It worked really well on his depression, anxiety, and body aches.
Unfortunately, his blood pressure started to rise, so he was switched to Zoloft (which does not work nearly as well for him).
He wants to go back onto Cymbalta, but his doctors are taking some convincing.

Good luck.

click4it posted 8/29/2013 15:47 PM

I worked with a client who was on cymbalta for a while and she loved it. It took away her aches and pains and helped with the depression. Then her liver tests started to show up abnormal and she had to switch to something else. Its a pretty powerful drug and I don't think it can really be taken long term.

I used zoloft way back in the day and it also helped me a lot - but I also put o a ton of weight, couldn't cry anymore and I was spacy. So, its good for about 1-2 years then after that..not as effective.

sodamnlost posted 8/29/2013 15:53 PM

So, its good for about 1-2 years then after that..not as effective.

I just made an appointment next week with a PTSD/trauma specialist to look into EMDR. Ideally I'd only need meds while therapy did it's thing. I hate taking meds ;(

whatdoto posted 8/29/2013 16:02 PM

I am currently on Cymbalta. I love it. Keeps me sane and definitely relieves my depression. I'm taking the 30mg capsule. I only take it every other day and only take 3/4 of it. If I take the whole capsule I wake up feeling nauseated.

Good luck!

Mama_of_3_Kids posted 8/29/2013 21:42 PM

It worked well for me, after the passing of my grandparents, but it was super expensive and I was forced to wean myself off of it about nine months after I started taking it (b/c I couldn't afford $130/mo) and the withdrawals were HORRIBLE If you decide to go the Cymbalta route, make sure you discuss all of the potential side effects and withdrawal effects (once you stop taking it).

ThoughtIKnewYa posted 8/29/2013 21:48 PM

It worked great for me- I felt great- until I had a bad allergic reaction right at 30 days. I would still take it, if it hadn't been for that.

purplejacket4 posted 8/29/2013 23:35 PM

Cymbalta is an SNRI (selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) as opposed to Zoloft or Prozac that are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). So while the SSRIs all work on serotonin ( kind of a calm down, whatever affect) the SNRIs also work somewhat on the serotonin site but mostly on the norepinephrine (increase your energy) receptors.

Most people with depression do well with either class. Since the SSRIs are all generic and cheap we start with them. Studies also show people with chronic pain syndromes are better with an SNRI.

As an aside if you add a low dose tricyclic (like amitriptyline) to an SSRI you have made "the poor man's cymbalta". I use that combo with my patients when they lose insurance coverage.

[This message edited by purplejacket4 at 11:36 PM, August 29th (Thursday)]

sodamnlost posted 8/29/2013 23:52 PM

I hadn't even thought about if WH and I do divorce (that's the plan as of now) I won't have insurance ;( Maybe starting an expensive drug is a bad idea? Anyone with EMDR experience know how long it takes to see results?