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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FaithT on September 30, 2004, at 11:23:48
If any of you out there have been on Effexor, and decided to switch to this new drug Cymbalta..Can you let me know if you like it better?
"Supposedly", Cymbalta is not supposed to cause weight gain or have sexual side effects. I gained 15 lbs. on Effexor and had a very low sex drive. Going off of Effexor was a complete nightmare.
I know Cymbalta is new, but I was wondering if anyone could offer their opinions on it, versus Effexor. It sounds very similar in it's make up, and I'm wondering what , if any difference there is.
Thank you!
Faith~
Posted by Racer on September 30, 2004, at 11:54:18
In reply to Cymbalta Versus Effexor, posted by FaithT on September 30, 2004, at 11:23:48
I took Effexor years ago, and am now taking Cymbalta. So far, the two are similar in some ways in their effects, but quite different in others. The most noticeable similarity so far, unfortunately, is that I'm still depressed. With Effexor, significant improvement was apparent only with the addition of a low dose of Prozac. We'll have to see what it takes with Cymbalta.
Differences are mostly in the side effects: there has been a little additional GI upset with Cymbalta, but that seems to have passed after a couple of weeks. (Three weeks after starting, two weeks after titrating up to 60mg. Also, the doctor recommended eating before taking it, rather than right after, which I had been doing. That may have stopped it right there.) There doesn't seem to be the same problem with constipation on Cymbalta, which is also helping physical pain from arthritis. It hasn't increased my appetite, and I've lost weight since starting it. That's something that may change, of course, but that's also a separate issue for me. (Comorbid eating disorder. If it works, I will gain weight, which is one goal of treatment for me right now. It's just not something I want. Which, of course, is why I need treatment. Clear as mud?)
I had the "Effexor brain zaps" -- felt as if there was so much static built up in my head, around the front of my hairline up across the top of my head, as though bringing your hand close to my hair would cause it all to stand on end. With Cymbalta, there was an adjustment period when the same general area felt as if it was packed in cotton wool, but that's gone away. Similar sort of sensation, but much, much milder. And, as I said, it went away very quickly.
With the Cymbalta so far, no insomnia, no weird feeling of unreality, much smoother titration period, some vivid dreams (again, my situation is such that that's probably par for the course, and the dreams' thematic content is consistent with that situation, rather than my standard "anxiety dream" content) -- really, aside from the GI stuff, there really isn't any down side to report. Except, of course, that it doesn't seem to be working for me. Then again, as I said, neither did Effexor.
I hope that helps.
Posted by Racer on September 30, 2004, at 13:19:16
In reply to Cymbalta Versus Effexor, posted by FaithT on September 30, 2004, at 11:23:48
Yes, I've been experiencing anorgasmia with the Cymbalta, but it seems to be intermittent, and the times I've experienced it have also coincided with periods when I was not really "into it" anyway. (This, by the way, is solo. Haven't tried it with my husband.)
For anorgasmia on Effexor, though, cyproheptidine fixed the problem for me. I'd take one about half an hour before we -- you know -- and no problem with orgasm, and a good night's sleep after. Who could ask for anything more?
This is the end of the thread.
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