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4days on Cymbalta

Hi Angel, Most of the people on this board take antidepressants, but I can't take them. But I have tried, and when I did, my doctor said that they take anywhere from one, to two weeks, before you can tell a difference. So just be patient, and wait a few more days.

Luke

(((HUGS))) HI Angel.Hang in there. Some people take longer then others on the same med.Im on cymbalta.I felt a diffrence after 2 days. They started me out on 30 mg for a week to make sure Id be ok on it & when I was It went to 60 mgs.Hopefully it'll start kivking in soon for you.

TOM

Good morning Angel and Luke. I started cymbalta a month or so ago and it took at least a good week to notice a twinge of difference. Dr. said a month for full effects.. I only have had what it seems like deep muscle like aches that I havent even mentioned to anyone cause its probably just me and I feel sssssssssoooooooooooooo much better (depression) its worth it. Good luck ~Julie

Hi There,I to take Cymbalta and have for 3 years now.I remenber it took about 10 days before I started feeling very subtle effects.That is one of the thing I most like about it is it is so subtle.Headaches were commen as well but no longer an issue,and I have always been a vivid dreamer so can't really judge a difference there.It's so hard to be patient while we wait for these meds to work.In our deppression/anxiety states it is just plain torture. Just know that we're in it with you.We have all been there at one time or another and it's only uphill from here for you.Be well and Regards,Minky

Thank you all for responding, it helps me a lot. I know I have to be patient. I'm anxious because if this drug doesn't work, my options are running out- I've been on so many that didn't work. The only thing that ever worked for me was Paxil but after a few years of being on it, it wore off. This board is helping me and my goal is to respond to the posts that I feel I can be helpful to... God knows I can at least relate to everyone here in one way or another!!! Luke, I'm interseted to know (if you don't mind) what anti-depp. you've tried and why you can't take them. I've noticed that ever since I was diagnosed with thyroid disease and take thyroid hormone drugs that anti-depp. don't click with me... I can't even take cold medicine now because it makes me hallucinate!!Angel

Luke here, I have tried at least 5 different kind. Some made me see things out the corner of my eyes, some made me shake so bad, that I had to go to the ER, and all of them made me suicidal. I wish I could take them.

Luke

I wish there was something you could take too. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't try something that might help me. I recently got out of the hospital (Feb. 16th) and feeling suicidal, well, we don't want to go there, right? Do you read at all? Angel

I'm fine, I just don't leave my house. I am an avid reader!

Luke

I don't leave my house much because it seems like living is too painful, demanding, overwhelming and exhausting... I don't always feel that way, just lately. I find being awake at night is more bareable, less demanding, quieter. I was an English major in college and I love novels about the human condition; Goethe, Dostoevsky, Thomas Mann, I won't list all, but I find dark and depressing fiction very comforting. Strange I know. Angel

Angel, at least you know why you don't leave your house. Me, I haven't a clue. I don't get anxious, or scared, I just can't go outside. My reading is more Steven King, Ian Fleming, and Robert Ludlum. Sorry about my spelling, I can read, I just can't spell. I never could.

Luke

I'm reading Lisey's story right now--LOVE Stephen King. I live in Maine and I've seen him in person. I'm glad your a reader, it's a great escape. Sorry your at where your at with depression, wish I could cure all of us. I've got to go now until my 3 boys go to sleep tonight. They are screaming for me. Take care, Angel

Hi Everyone, luke, by any chance were you on Serzone when you were seeing things? This happened to me when they gave me a high dose of this drug, can't remember what it was called, possibly visual tracking?? This happened to me 8yrs ago, I think serzone is no longer prescribed .

Roben

Hi Roben, Angel here... I know you asked Luke, but thought you might be interested to know that I hallucinated in 1989 when I was put on Imiprimine (Tofranil) and that was long before I ever had a thyroid problem.

Hi Angel, I wrote a few weeks ago that I had attended a seminar on Cymbalta(at work-I'm a nurse) It supposedly works well and has the advantage of being able to be taken in the am or pm. I have been on Elavil in the past(saved my life 8yrs ago) I recently started feeling really bad again, and asked for a prescription. I haven't started it as of yet. Even though I took it for almost 3yrs, I dread side-effects. How are you feeling tonight?

Roben

Hi Roben, Sorry I couldn't reply last night. And sorry your feeling bad lately too. Hope the elavil works for you, hate side effects though!!! I don't feel anything yet from Cymbalta, too soon. I do have a pretty bad headache though and wild crazy dreams. I'm willing to live with that, chances are that will wear off anyway. Hope to hear from you again, Angel

Hi Angel, The pills that made me see things were on a blue card board, that you push out. They were all over the news, about people taking it committed suicide. I can't remember the name. The others were Cymbalta, Effexor, Adavan, I can't remember all the names. Just that they all made me worse. I had terrible nightmares with Effexor.

Luke

First day on this message board and thrilled I found it. I have also just started Cymbalta at 30 mg. This is th 4th med I have been put on. Unfortunatly, I am classified as "major" in depression and anxiety but am determined to beat this. I have been fighting this for just over a year now officially. As most of us know, it doesn't start suddenly and won't be beat suddenly. It is a long process. Anyway, I have not been on Cymbalta long enough yet to feel much. My docs tell me it should take about two weeks to start feeling anything and 5 to 6 weeks to feel the full effects. I will be moving to 60 mg a day very soon. If there is one thing I have learned it's never give in to the depression and have PATIENTS. Also, don't set yourself up for failure by believing the meds will "cure" you! We have to dot that ourselves. The meds are there simply to bring us to a point where we can stand and fight. That's it for now, good luck all!

Hi hubbymax! I'm so glad you replied since you too are just starting Cymbalta. Since last weekend I've been taking it in the morning but I'm still doing my dreadful habit of sleeping all afternoon (or wanting to). I feel my depression worse during the hours 11 a.m. to about 5p.m. In the evening I feel like there are less demands on me. I wake at 4-5 am everyday and feel really good until the rest of the world wakes up and "life" starts happening. So today I decided to start taking the Cymbalta at night, to see if I would feel different during the day. I do have a headache from it and vivd dreams but I can live with that if the stuff will eventually work... patience,patience... How are you feeling? Angel

Hi booklovermom. Yep, the afternoon blaas are kind of normal. I get them too and also tend to take a short nap. Do yourself a favor and don't wait for the outside worlds "life" to start you decide to get going. I tend to dot his too but do my best to run my own life and start "life" each day when I feel well enough to do so. It's hard to remember that we do still have our own lives and wether or not the depression wants us to, we can still run it now and then. I was recently in a therapy session when I blurted out that depression was down right depressing! I also said that it was very important for me to remember that this current "depression" about being depressed is NOT part of my depression problem. It is a normal feeling to have when progress is so slow. I have no idea how or why this entered my mind. When I am talking or writting, as now, I seem to be able to make it all work somehow. Get me back to my "normal" world and I lost like everyone else. You know, working on ourselves is the hardest thing we will ever do in life. It is clear that we have not done a very good job of making ourselfves happy and content. My theropist ask me to tell him one thing I liked about myself. I couldn't give him an answer! OH well, lets just keep fighting!!!

WELCOME Glad you found us.Were a pretty close family here.Here we care & support all.Some times it takes a bit for me to answer back.With my messed up back I cant sit for long periods of time.I was on prozac for about a year.But with my cronic pain,Depression,& anixty I was put on cymbalta. I started like you on 30mg for 1 week.After that up to 60mg.So far its really helped.But I was also just given about a month ago Ambein for sleep.What a great med.Im sleeping again. Hope the cymbalta works for you.

TOM

Hi Max, Well Said.Having taken many antidepressants Cymbalta has been the one I have come to reley on.It's pain relieving properties are a much appreciated added bonus. I have at times foolishly thought"Oh'I'm good"and stopped taking it and where-as the withdrawls did not compare with that of the others I immiediately felt subtle muscle aches return.I have been able to remain on 30mgs. for 3yrs.now even though my Dr. has tried to increase to 60mgs. My anxiety and insomnia just ramps way up on that amount there for I remain at 30.I hope every day it countinues to do its job as I would be ambivalent to try anything new. I am so impatient with the whole process of "waiting" for it to work.I really like what you said Max about "not giving in to the depression".That really is the bottom line.For myself I just start my day with a 2-3 mi. walk at the local park.It really gets the "ol seratonin flowing and clears my mind for the day ahead.Now I will be saying while I am walking "don't give in,don't give in". Thank you. Regards,Minky