Posted by Racer on April 9, 2008, at 8:14:20
In reply to Cymbalta causes rise in blood sugar:(, posted by Jay_Bravest_Face on April 6, 2008, at 22:59:12
I'm not surprised, really. Effexor was known to cause increases in blood glucose levels, and with a similar profile, I'd have expected Cymbalta to do the same.
Here in the US, we measure blood glucose by mg/dL -- milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. Normal is generally recognized as about 70 -- 110 mg/dL. While on Effexor, not only did I gain a considerable amount of weight -- they say you gain more if you're underweight to begin with -- but my blood sugar got nutty. I am not diabetic, but at times my husband would test me and find my readings totally out of whack -- at one point, 180 mg/dL, which I believe if nearly high enough to be diagnostic. That's about when I did the research that showed the increased blood sugar is a known side effect with Effexor.
My current pdoc, who is very, very good, and generally knows more than any three doctors out there -- I've got a sort of iatraphobia, so the fact that I like him so much might indicate that he's really that good -- and when I brought it up with him, he wasn't aware. He said that it often normalized blood sugar. I figure if even he isn't aware of it, most other doctors probably aren't, either.
My advice for any diabetic out there -- if you see a separate psychopharmacologist, try to find one who will work with your endocrinologist. Try to find one who already knows something about diabetes, blood glucose regulation, etc, and how psychotropics interact with them.
I'm sorry you had this trouble, Jay. Good luck in future.
poster:Racer
thread:821968
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080330/msgs/822343.html