Cymbalta symptoms and conditions

My third day taking lowest dose of Lamictal. Have been taking Adderall and Cymbalta with no negative effects. I expressed to my doctor, that I am still sleeping a lot and sometimes don't even feel like getting up to taking my meds. When I do take them, I'm pretty great for about 6 hours, then right back to the couch.....
My doctor told me to stop the Cymbalta and start taking Lamictal. The first day I was my usual self, second day: dizzy, cloudy head with bad headache in temples. Weird throbbing in head. If I turn my head to fast, it feels like I need a extra second for the rest of me to catch up. I've been in bed, lifeless for the past two days. Don't feel that I can do much with my head like this. My hip bones and lower back ache.
My main concern is "Will these side effects subside?" I'm not Bipolar. I suffer from long term Depression/Anxiety triggered by abuse and trauma.
Please if anyone out there has felt similar effects from this drug, let me know. I want to give the drug a chance, but also would like to hear other's experiences.

I'm trying to determine some sort of pattern based on each woman's experience with different brands (estrogen/progestin levels) of birth control... Recently my gyn prescribed Loestrin 24, I have yet to begin a cycle but am trying to gauge possible side effects.
Generic Ortho-tricyclen: AWFUL!!! Reeked havoc on my emotional stability. Bitchy, moody, impatient, weepy (constantly), and weight gain. I did not notice any sexual side effects though.
Yaz: Better than Ortho... Random periods (heavy one month, non existent the next). Emotionally and sexually I feel fine, but hard to measure after taking Ortho and Cymbalta.

Please share thoughts and experiences

Wow, who should I believe? Placebo controlled studies which suggest Avelox is a perfectly safe drug or a bunch of crazy people who like to TYPE every OTHER word IN all CAPS who are probably all middle aged women with psychological problems and/or fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or other made up diagnoses.

Here's a hint morons: The reason why every drug in existence now lists every possible side effect is because of crazies like you. This way, the drug company can protect themselves from litigious idiots like the poster below who wants to join a class action lawsuit. This only compounds the problem, though, because then more crazies look at the side effect profile and when they see that "Oh my gosh, it says right here it causes x, y, and z" it just validates in there mind that this is somehow a dangerous drug.

I swear, if all of the pampered babies in this country were put to work in a rice field in Cambodia, there would be a lot less nonsense in the world. You would see what true pain and suffering is about.

I'm sitting here in tears reading all of your posts because I've also been on prednisone and have horrible side effects. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my lungs in June of 2002 and, after starting at 60 mg/day then, I have been on 20 mg/day for years now. The very first posting that I read mentioned problems with the femur bone. Besides all of the other problems associated with this devastating drug, in December, 2007, I broke a bone in my left foot with no known cause for it. Then I started experiencing pain standing or walking in my left leg and was diagnosed with a fractured femur bone and after several months of trying to get it to heal (including an ultrasonic bone healing system), it just kept getting worse until an orthopedic surgeon recommended that I have a 16 inch rod put into my leg which I did and it ended up to be one of the worst decisions that I have ever made. After experiencing all of the prednisone side effects for almost seven years including depression, severe fatigue, weight gain, moon face, thin skin, cataract surgery on both eyes, hump on my back, mood swings, etc., the pain and suffering that were caused by that operation brought me to seriously consider suicide. I was also diagnosed with chemical neuropathy in both of my legs also which makes my legs so weak that I have to crawl up any steps and have trouble just standing. I actually have an appointment for this evening to have an x-ray done to see what is wrong with my knees and did not realize that this also is yet another side effect. I never make it through the night without waking up in pain and getting a pain pill and then getting up in the morning is almost unbearable with that "burning" pain. I am now on Cymbalta for depression, Xanax for anxiety, Percocet for pain, and of course 20 mg of Prednisone. I was told that I would have to remain on Prednisone for the rest of my life because of the lung scarring and COPD. After reading all of your comments, I have decided that I would rather put up with any breathing problems (and I don't even know how slight they may be at this point) than to remain on the Prednisone. I have tried weaning off several times but get so fatigued that I can't move and that's dropping one mg every week. I'm affected by the decrease but it gets out of hand when I get to 14 mg and I get so frustrated and depressed at not being able to do anything that I just go back up to the 20 mg/day. If you have been able to wean off of it, would you please let me know how you did it and what you had to go through? I'm 65 years old now but I have two wonderful granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) who I can't do any normal "Grammy" things with anymore at this point and I have to change this condition for them and for me. Obviously, the doctors don't recognize the severity of the drug because they just keep prescribing it and out of a regular doctor, an oncologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist, they can't seem to get together to come up with a solution. I have to say that I haven't considered suicide lately but I do wish that I would just die and be out of this pain. My family and definitely my granddaughters and wanting to see them grow up are the only things that keep me going. There are probably things that I'm forgetting but I'm sure that one of you have covered it in our posting. Although my family is so supportive, no one and I really mean not one of them, realizes knows what we all go through because of this drug. How could they know that something that is supposed to help you could cause these problems? My life is a living hell, all because a pulmonary doctor prescribed prednisone seven years ago and I trusted him to only do what was right without informing me of what was to come. I more than sympathasize with all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time that you took to post to this site and so thankful to know now that this knee pain is not something new that I have but another side effect of the prednisone. I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for this site because I'd be willing to bet that after I would have had this x-ray done, one of my doctors would have just prescribed another medication to take. Please feel free to contact me directly with any comments or especially any help that you can give me. I know that all of you are going through the same thing so if I can do anything for you, even just listen and understand, please contact me also. Sometimes that's the only thing that people can do is to listen and someone who is in the same situation can always understand. I'm here for anyone who needs a hug for the day.

I'm 51 and in good shape. I ran 60+ miles in Dec, a PR 5K and then started Lisinopril in late January. Since then I have been fatigued and wiped out after running - no longer get the runner's high at all. Two weeks ago I ran 6 miles and couldn't get out of bed for two days. Family doc said quit the stuff. That was 6 days ago - ran 3 today and was pretty wiped - also seen a pick up in anxiety. Any advice? How long does this stuff take to clear your system? When can expect my stamina to return? Thanks.

Lexapro is the only antidepressant I have been able to take without significant nausea. I tried zoloft, wellbutrin, cymbalta -- all with a lot of nausea that did not subside over time. With Lexapro I have no nausea. My sex drive is a little lower, but is right back to normal if I skip a pill. Of course, I don't skip more than one day in a row because of the Head Zaps. As others have noted on this site, the Head Zaps from withdrawal are crazy.
Any time I've gone off Lexapro I've eventually decided to go back on, because it works for me. Yes, my emotions are mildly muted, but not much and without Lexapro I'm a reactive basket case! Lexapro also takes care of my irritability. I have to say, my quality of life is much better with this drug -- it has a positive impact on my relationships, work-life, parenting, self-image, mood, anxiety, irritability. I also take Adderall -- this is the second time I've been on an ADD med -- the first was Concerta and I got off of that as soon as I could -- it definitely made my life much more manageable but I couldn't tolerate the "speediness": racing heart, hyper. Adderall has been MUCH better, positive effects without the drawbacks, and works well with my Lexapro.

I have been doing a trial and error thing w/ all my meds and I suspect that Singulair may be the culprit in my insomnia. Since I went down on Cymbalta, it has helped but last night I did not sleep a wink. I took xanax even and was up all night. Finally got up at 4.

Singulair has some ingredients that are the same as anti-histamines which have always affected my sleep but I have copd and am afraid to not take it.It is supposed to open your airways and I use Advair which has a steroid in it and I have no appetite. I still gain weight even though I'm not eating much.Dont know what to do. jo

i was on celexa for about 2 months i worked good for about the first week then i started having anger problems then the just kept getting worse so i changed to cymbalta

I was on Avelox in December for a sinus infection. I had some pain and also had anxiety and bad dreams, etc. But I just finished taking 10 days of Levaquin 500 mg for another sinus infection and I feel like my life has turned into a real nightmare!!! I have severe joint and tendon pain, swelling, had several nights of terrible nightmares and for the past few days have had a hard time walking and getting up and down is very painful and difficult! I've had pain in my kidneys for a few days, bloating, etc. At first I thought my fibromyalgia had the worst flareup ever! Now I am really concerned as to what long-term effects I may have from this medication!

I had terrible side effects last year when my doctor had me on Cymbalta for my fibromyalgia. I went off of it on September 26, 2008 and had a mild heart attack on October 17, 2008. I thought it was the worst drug nightmare I would ever live through but now I wonder if the Avelox/Levaquin situation will be!

If anyone knows anything that can help reverse the consequences of being given this terrible medication, please share them! I would rather have lived with my sinus infections than contend with the agony I am now enduring!

M. K. B.

To make a long story short (I think). Taking Celexa (20 mg) for more than 4 years definitely caused decreased sexual sensations (numbed nerves), though it did change my life. In October Switched to Wellbutrin XL. Withdrawal from Celexa was not easy but Libido is definitely back. Problem is I am angry ALL the time at my husband. In fact, I've been angry almost from the get go from switching to Wellbutrin. I have also been puzzled by slight hair loss in the back of my head at the hairline. I have of late experienced abrupt halts in thought processes and my periods, though I am 45, have suddenly become irregularly. Frankly I didn't realize that Wellbutrin could likely be the cause of these symptoms until I read some of these posts. I really would like to wean off of this drug (was prescribed 300 mg but have taken 150 mg due to feelings of being 'wigged' out on higher dosage - did up the ante for just over a week to see if that would help but didn't seem to matter)...Nevertheless, I really think Wellbutrin is causing me to feel deep resentment toward my husband. This is not a usual emotion for me and it pretty well started immediately after I began taking Wellbutrin. I really could use your opinions(s). IS THE WELLBUTRIN causing the anger??? Did the Celexa simply MASK existing problems??? Is it a combination of both. Is this depression again or am I in the process of slipping back in??? (anger was not a previous symptom of my depression though black clouds, low esteem, doom and gloom and sadness were) Also, aside from anger and sheer resentment, I feel as if I'm spinning my wheels, that I'm in rut and that no matter how I try to move forward, I can't - I really feel lost and am so angry at my husband and see him in such a different way that it is almost to the point of being ridiculous). THANK-YOU so much for your replies.

After reading all the comments that have been posted, I feel compelled to add my story. I have been on advair for approximately two years. One of the first comments I read a week or so ago was about the person that had horrible foot pain for over two years and felt it could have been from the Advair as well.

I have had severe foot pain for over 2 years. I had plantar faciitis in both feet and had surgery on both to fix that. Several months after surgery I still wasn't healed as much as I thought I should be and my doctor felt the same way. I then began a series of more cortizone shots, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy plus an on going slew of blood tests to rule out everything we could. I even went to a Neurologist and had an EMG done. Newest diagnosis is tarsal tunnel syndrome, so I was put on yet another drug (Cymbalta) I wouldn't recommend that one either. And still the pain exists. In fact the pain went from the heals to the tops of my feet. It feels more skeletal than nerve related. I have had stress fractures in both feet and ironically the same exact bone approximately 6 weeks apart. Is all of this coincidence, or linked to being on Advair?

I also have gone through most of the symptoms that others have posted; fatigue, insomnia, blurred vision, sore muscles, headaches, water retention, weight gain (40 pounds in 2 years), slow healing, bad scaring, easy bruising and many more I'm sure I've forgotten.

The day after being on this site and reading everyone's comments, I went and threw my Advair away. I don't have asthma, just bad allergies, and right now my breathing has been fine being off of the Advair. I still use my inhaler though as needed. The one comment that scared me the most was the side effect that several posted about rotting teeth and jaw problems. That's one side effect I haven't had and that's the main reason I stopped using the Advair. I have perfect teeth and don't want to ruin them.

I don't have any answers either, but just know that we as patients have to take control of our health. Don't feel bad if you disagree with your doctor or ask for a second opinion. We as a society have become quick to fix our ailments with drugs that have yet to be "proven" as safe over a long period of time.

Im in the process of weaning my self off of two other drugs that I was taking besides the Advair. I'm doing more on-line research regarding natural remedies for some of my ailments. I still have some side effects but that could be due to the detoxifying process. This is a process that takes a few weeks. Make sure you consult with your physician first before trying any of this.

Have been on Cymbalta 30mg daily for a year. Started on Wellbutrin 50mg daily about 6 weeks ago to help with attention deficit. About 4 weeks or so ago I started having occasional muscle cramping in hands and feet. Yesterday I started with twitching of left eye. Last time I had the eye twitching it was the beginning of an allergic reaction to Prozac. I'm thinking even the low dose Wellbutrin may be too much. anyone else had this experience? I'm also starting to notice an increase in anxiety. Not sure if it's due to worrying about the cramping and twitching or the Wellbutrin itself. Any thoughts?

Hello everyone.. I am so sad..Would you like to know why? I believe it is because the mirena I got put in after my second child. I talked all things over with my doctor and he strongly suggested I go the "Mirena" way. Keep in mind I'm 22years old. Good Health, never had a serious illness or anything out of the ordinary ever happen with my health. Well 2 weeks after mirena was incerted into me I began feeling very tired, lack of motivation, irritable, and the best part of it all is I have extreme anxiety now. I never had ths in my whole life, until Mirena was implanted. So I immediately go to obgyn and ask why??? He said it had absolutely nothing to do with mirena, that mirena has no side effects like that . So he put me on an anti depressant. Well that did not help at all. Let me tell you about panic attacks in case you don't know what they are. They are episodes of extreme panic, dysphoria, nausea, chest pain, muscle stiffness, near fainting, you down right feel like you are going to DIE.... No Joke, There is nothing you can do. But take meds that damn near knock you out. Now, panic attacks will not kill you. They just feel like you are dieing. I going through this for two years now.!!!! From med to med, doc to doc . No Body seems to know why??? So I got the Mirena removed. They magically went away for two months.. I was thanking GOD, it was a miracle..Just two weeks ago I began having them again. So I go back to my doctor. She puts me on busprone and ativan...To stop the attacks. But the meds don't work and she wont listen. Im just so sad because, this has cost me my marriage, My husband left me, we have a two year old beautiful daughter named destiny. She has suffered all this, she doesn't understand why?Why mommy has panic attacks, or why mommy is crying, and having to rush to the doctors or hospitals. I just feel like Mirena has ruined my life. A life I can never get back. To anyone reading this who hasn't gotten the mirena yet....Stop right now and do something else.... My husband and I would still be together if it wasn't for this mirena.Though, I pray it never happens to another soal..It could happen to you too.

I have been on Lamictal for 3 months after being on Paxil first and then Cymbalta for many years. I thought I might be bi-polar due to family history but after spending 2 hours with a psychiatrist who really knew his medications determined I was just clinically depressed. He started me on the 5 week starter pack and my max dose is 100mg/day. I am a early riser and take the medication about 5am every morning. I have had no experience with dreams, shortness of breath, etc. I have however developed a rash (under the skin) dry but not itchy, red splotches about 3 weeks ago. I thought might be the Lamictal but realized my dentist gave me a very expensive toothpaste for whitening and dry mouth to use. "Fluoridex", when I looked for side effects of the toothpast, it was rash and dry splotches to the face.

Lamictal has saved my life. I have had 8 brain surgeries in 4 years and had lost the will to live. I feel alive again and started feeling that way when I was midway thru the starter pack at 50mg/day. I think in everything, you have to have the right doctor and they have to know their medications. I have never felt so good in my entire life. My sex drive has increased after 32 years of marriage (husband is very happy) I work out in gym 5 days/week and have lost 20 pounds and have no desire for sweets or diet sodas, losing the desire to smoke (yeah).

I have read alot of the post that are negative about Lamictal. Please see your doctor and either have him decrease the dose or change the medication. You owe this to yourself.

I cannot describe how happy I am to have found this webpage. I have been on NR for almost 6 months and have begun to think i am going crazy. I have always been an upbeat person with a lot of energy and a pretty great sex drive. For the past 2 months I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I wake up nervous and have difficulty falling asleep at night. I have chest pain, headaches, loss of appetite, acne (which i thought birth control was supposed to make better), pain in my legs, frequent crying episodes for no reason and absolutely no desire to have sex. I was starting to think I was going a little insane and was wondering what could make me have such anxiety and other symptoms. After reading all of your posts, i realize that it is most likely my NR since I have never had issues like this in the past. I am going to take it out in a few days and see how it goes. Hopefully it is just the drugs and not me going completely insane! I'll let you know how it goes and if anyone else has had these symptoms which have been relieved by taking the NR out, i would love to hear from you!

I've been on Cymbalta now for about 2 months to treat terrible PMS and aches and pains from Fibromayagia, I am on 60 now and I must say it has made a HUGE difference, I am feeling much better and not as sore or moody. I had the Mirena removed because of it's terrible side effects and found that my migraines have lessoned and with the help of Cymbalta, I feel soooo much better and more myself.

Hi,

To the first poster: bbk I had the same problem. I've been on Adderall-the regular kind, not XR-since my ADD diagnosis in June.

Whenever I start an SSRI: Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Lexapro, my Adderall stops working. I get exhausted, brain fog, and I also get an insane appetite.

I've done some research and the explanations I've found are that SSRIs tend to increase your insulin and lower dopamine. Adderall is supposed to increase dopamine. Basically, the SSRI interferes with the Adderall.

In one appointment with my doctor (while I was on Prozac) he actually admitted that most SSRIs raise insulin, Prozac being worse than others. Guess that explains why my blood sugar was always in the 60s and I felt horrible no matter what I ate or did.

If you're already overweight and insulin resistant it will screw you up more than other people.

I'm currently trying to find an anti-depressant that works well with Adderall.

My wife had 2 shots in Nov and Dec of 2007 and has all of the side effects listed here. She has seen 3 neurologist, 1 hematologist, 1 pain management doctor, and has an appointment with a Rheumatologist. No medical treatments seems to help (Cymbalta, Lyrica, Topamax, fentanyl for pain) the symptoms continue to get worse. Has anyone found anything to be helpful?

I just started Cymbalta yesterday...after having the Mirena in for two months, removed last week thankfully, I was then diagnosed with Fibromayagia. The Mirena made my migraines worse, I had terrible mood swings, irritated very easily, etc. I'm a 38 year old mom of 3 kids and I cannot keep living with mood swings and aches and pains constantly. I heard good things about Cymbalta and hope it works for me...last night I felt nausea and developed a bad headache, stayed up most of the night. Today, just very tired, feeling ok, a little calmer...I have NO appetite what so ever..I feel full actually. I am going to give it a fair shot and then write back...I know my system just needs to adjust..starting out at 30, after 2 weeks, moving up to 60. We'll take it one day at a time I guess. I find it amazing reading all of these blogs..everyone reactions are so alike and different at the same time! Good luck All!

I took Wellbutrin 300 mg for two years before to quit smoking and for mild depression. After the initial (weeks 2-4) side effects of nausea, dizziness and headaches - I felt great. Not drugged and not overly emotional. I had been crying all the time and felt hopeless. I felt much better (and didn't want to smoke at all). I quit it for about 2 years and now I am back on Wellbutrin for the last 7 months. I started with Cymbalta - but hated the loss of sex drive (not able to orgasm - so who wants to have sex, right?) and felt drugged. So Wellbutrin was a welcome "old friend" I didn't have bad side effects with switching and have been pretty happy. EXCEPT for the one very scary side effect that I have experienced just a handful of times - but I really am curious if anyone else has had this HEAD TRIP WHILE DRIVING: It has happened when I'm on the interstate and/or bridge when I am driving at fast speeds, and my head feels whoozie all of the sudden and my brain seems to shift sideways - like on a roller-coaster, up and down, sideways - and I am amazed that my hands don't go with it and drive me into the wall! It takes intense concentration and wheel gripping to get myself where I can pull off the road. What the?? I don't want to ever experience this again - but it is so OCCASIONAL. The only variable I can think of is that I have not been faithfully taking the WB at the same time everyday (I'm more and more forgetful) and have skipped a day. Has ANYONE ELSE had a similar experience???

I have been on Cymbalta for close to 2 years for the last several months I have been forgetting more and more.. more frequently! My doctor increased my dosage from 90mg to 120mg. Now, I have had a nervous breakdown/anxiety attack was admitted to the hospital's outpatient treatment program and have lowered it back to 60mg. It is very hard to ween off of. The hospital doctor has prescribed Lamictal and Trazadone and my gastroenternogist has put me on Amitryptiline. Gee I feel like a Pharmacist now. This sucks! All for Clinical Depression and Fibromyalgia and IBS, Does anyone else have memory problems while on Cymbalta??? email me ******to talk.

I have just been started on Advair as of today and now I am concerned.

I have been ill for a month with a upper respiratory bug and my doctor is trying to help ease the breathlessness I have been experiencing with it.
But, after reading all these posts of the side effects, I wonder if there are alternatives I should ask my doctor about?

I don't need the weight gain, dealing with that thanks to Cymbalta (which I am off of now) and the other symptoms don't sound fun either.

The only thing I am having from today is a dry mouth and sore throat.
I say, that's enough!

I work at a computer all day. I have just begun taking Wellbutrin and I have noticed that my eyes seem to be getting more and more sensitive to the light on my screen. A couple days ago, I was looking at a paper and then back at the screen while I typed and, my eyes just went out of focus. It was like I was looking cross-eyed. There were two of everything and it made me really dizzy. I have had inner ear problems in the past and I don't know if the Wellbutrin is triggering them or what. I am not using alcohol or other medications other that Benadryl at night. Has anyone else experienced this? This is scary.

Hello . . . why do we continue to take medications that cause us such physical and mental anguish . . . we hope for a life . . . I am one of those who takes a cocktail containing . . . Lithium, Lamictal, Cymbalta, Sequel, Topamax and other medications for high blood pressure, low thyroid and osteoporosis . . . down four medications . . . because I have a good doctor . . . it is impossible to distinguish which one or the synergism of the medications . . . which do what . . . what I want to say . . . there are more medications now . . . more doctors . . . change doctors . . . change medications . . . you might not feel great . . . but you will feel better about taking control . . . it has happened to me . . . M.