Posted by banga on December 6, 2004, at 11:24:20
In reply to Re: 2 Month Cymbalta Update, posted by becksA on December 6, 2004, at 10:12:29
I have given up on cymbalta, it is not for me. I am happy for those it helps. Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) like effexor; but there are definitely differences. I took 225 mg of effexor--not good effects, no side effects save for horrid constipation. On just 40 mg of cymbalta, I had constipation, and awful anxiety--although my new pdoc suggested that it was not anxiety per se but akasthisia--agitation and muscle tension exascerbating my anxiety. It got worse when I tried 60 mg. And coming off, I have had bad withdrawal symptoms, which have not been much of an issue for me on other drugs, even the more notorious ones (effexor, paxil). So I guess it truly does not agree with me.
Shows just how different we all are. I would not rule out tricyclic antidepressants as an alternative. Anafranil was my baby when it worked--no side effects except some weight gain, help with depression and anxiety WITHOUT development of that flat anhedonic feeling with SSRIs. But again, others report bad side effects with anafranil.
poster:banga
thread:425183
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20041206/msgs/425245.html