Posted by KaraS on August 4, 2004, at 18:39:51
In reply to Re: Cymbalta/Duloxetine--Something's Up...YES!, posted by caraher on August 4, 2004, at 17:42:59
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> > Actually Cymbalta (duloxetine) is just another SSRI anti-depressant that also acts on nor-epinephrine (nor-adrenalin). It is comparable to Effexor (venlafaxine). Thus this new "miracle drug" offers potentially just as many horrendous side-effects that people already experienced on the other SSRIs.... and these people are definitely not so happy!
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> That's basically my understanding, that it's kinda like Effexor in terms of the neurotransmitters it acts on, but with different kinetics and possibly other differences I'm not competent to speak to, being neither a chemist nor a neurobiologist.
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> Certainly Cymbalta is solidly in the "marketing hype" phase of its use as an antidepressant. Certainly there are people who will react badly to it, just like pretty much every other drug. I think the truth for most patients, as always, will lie somewhere in between Lilly's claims and the tales of horror so readily cataloged on the web.
It's supposed to be different from Effexor in that it is more balanced in terms of the reuptake inhibition of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin. Effexor only mildly inhibits NE reuptake and then only at higher dosages. This extra NE inhibition could make it quite different, and more powerful, than any of the SSRIs or Effexor. Unfortunately, it's short half-life does predispose it to withdrawal effects when going off of it but "no pain, no gain" I guess. I prefer to take more natural treatments but I'm in favor of anything that can help. Too many people are suffering way too much IMHO and I don't want to shut the door to any potential help.I agree with you completely that the truth of it's impact will lie somewhere between the hype and the horror stories.
Good luck with the rest of your trial. Please let us know how it turns out in the end (when will that be by the way?)
Kara
poster:KaraS
thread:208072
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040730/msgs/374130.html