Experience with Cymbalta?

PibblesRun

Not sure if im posting this in the right category but here goes!

Ive been on cymbalta for about 3 weeks now 30 mg. The first 2 weeks it actually decreased my appetite. But now im craving everything. im NOT giving in to my cravings at all however this last weigh in i gained a pound. Even with being under calories and exercising. Could cymbalta cause weight gain even though you didnt change anything about your eating??? I was under the impression if I didnt change eating habits I wouldnt gain. So just curious if that could be why I gained.

Also...I have another issue with it that has me wanting to stop taking it. Its making me EXTREMLEY tired! And I mean zonked out tired! I have a 6 month old and I cannot be tired like this. Whats the point in being in a good mood if your too tired to do anything? I take naps when she does during the day and im still too tired to function. Anyone else have this issue? I want to stop taking it, like right now! But my dr cant even see me till late next week. I cant go on like this for one more day! So is 3 weeks long enough to have withdraw symptoms if I just stop cold turkey anyway?

Thanks for any help!

awerewka

I have been on Cymbalta now for 3 yrs. 30 mg. It made me feel tired too at first and it did increase my appetite.

I would say wait to see your Dr. but its ultimately up to you. I would not stop cold turkey. Take one every other day for a week, then every 3 days for a week, then every 4 days for a week and so on.

I had weened off of it a couple of years ago and the side effects were minimal doing it this way.

GCanha

I was on Cymbalta for a week and then told my doctor I couldn't take it anymore! It caused sleeplessness- made me restless in my sleep- so I couldn't sleep well (which of course made me feel tired all the time). I also noticed that I wasn't hungry at all and had to remember to eat.

It worked wonders on the rest of my fibro symptons- but unfortunatly Cymbalta was just not a good match for me.

Speak to your doctor and let him know the side affects you're experiencing- they might recommend a different prescription.

Good Luck!

miranda_mom

I took it a few years ago. I went off of it for three reasons - I was very restless, I was sweating all the time you would would not believe. And, uh, there's some sexual side effects you can get too. Not pleasant.

To answer your question about going off, I would call the doctor and ask. I know I wasn't on for long and they said cold turkey was fine. But they will know whether you need to wean off of it or just stop taking it. Good luck!

Cavaliersmom

I have been on Cymbalta for several years. Yes, at first no appetite and then after a few weeks, seemed I craved more carbs. Had no choice but to stay on the Cymbalta and my doc added a second med to counter those effects, (all but the wt gain and cravings!)
It depends on the severity of what you are taking it for, the wt gain has been frustrating to me, but my depression without is unmanagable. After a few months, the effects of the cravings, etc.do disappear as your body gets used to it. I will not lie, the wt seems harder to lose. For me, my depression made me exhausted but as the depression improved, my motivation was better.

I am just getting started with my wt management again and am feeling the same struggles, for me looking at one day at a time, Genuinely not looking back or ahead, but focusing on getting my exercise in daily and keeping on track with my food is important. That is much easier said than done! I do not feel that my wt gain has been solely the cymbalta. I haven't exercised nor kept track of my food, so that is a no brainer. The reasons for being undisciplined are too vast, but I do believe that for me, the exercise is the key....to both my wt issues and depression.

Good luck, be sensible and hang in there. I remember those days of little one and the hectic life that goes with it - this too shall pass!

Akimajuktuq

Please don't be offended... but I would get off all pharmaceuticals period. These drugs are NOT safe and most are inadequately tested imo. I really hope that you have read the drug insert and done some of your own research.

What we eat has huge impacts on health and illness can be treated through diet. All of my health issues have been resolved by eating a certain way: depression, anxiety, obesity (still working on it), indigestion, acid reflux, aches/pains, colds, flus, pre-diabetes, fatigue, allergies, craving, binging, etc.

I live in Canada where direct to consumer drug marketing is illegal, however, many of my television stations are based in the US so I see lots of the ads. Scary. Many of them, even some that are for relatively minor ailments, have the side effect of death (even if they just call it heart attack, stroke, infection, etc). Natural treatments exist for just about everything and food is a big part; it's worth doing research and having an open mind. Just because it's made by humans and we are told it's "safe" by our doctors, doesn't mean it is good for our bodies. Nothing out there is tested for synergistic reactions with all the contaminants that we are exposed to on a daily basis in our food, in our homes, or in the environment. I would argue that most drugs are tested inadequately period. There's big money involved and pharmaceutical companies wield a lot of power over governments, marketing, medical training, etc.

icimani

Please don't be offended... but I would get off all pharmaceuticals period. These drugs are NOT safe and most are inadequately tested imo. I really hope that you have read the drug insert and done some of your own research.

What we eat has huge impacts on health and illness can be treated through diet. All of my health issues have been resolved by eating a certain way: depression, anxiety, obesity (still working on it), indigestion, acid reflux, aches/pains, colds, flus, pre-diabetes, fatigue, allergies, craving, binging, etc.

I agree that what we eat can greatly effect our overall health, including our mental health. BUT - sometimes meds are necessary.

Talk to you doctor before about the best way to come off of it - psych meds are nothing to screw around with! Cymbalta can be hard to go off of, but if you go off slow like one of the poster's mentioned you should be ok, especially since 30mgs is a fairly low dosage. I'm just starting the proccess of weaning off of a 30mg dosage (under Dr supervision) but I didn't have the hunger/craving side effects like some do.

PibblesRun

Thanks everyone for responses! I cant get an appt with my doc till late next week, shes on vacation! Figures when i need her! lol...I didnt take the cymbalta today, and im ok so far. NO withdraws yet and im not tired! I know the tiredness is due to the cymbalta...it was very very extreme! And YESSS...the sweating!!! OMG...I have been sweating like crazy even just sitting on my butt! that I was willing to live with, but I cant live with the tiredness even for one more day. I decided to just quit now before my drs appt. I have a baby and I cant function its that bad. I also dont want ot risk taking it for another week and making side effect withdraws worse. So im stoping now...I cant have this extreme tiredness and fatigue for one more day, my childs suffering at the expense of it! I can hardly play with her im so cripling tired.

csplatt

I switched from Celexa to Cymbalta a few months back... I don't necessarily like it better. I did not have appetite change, but I ave had night restlessness. No sweating. And I'm going to say from experience that diet does mot control my anxiety. I am happier and a better mom/wife thanks to anti anxiety meds.