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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by KB on November 29, 2004, at 0:11:40
Does anybody know if/how Cymbalta affects blood sugar or metabolism?
I've been at 60 mg since 11/12 and I find myself needing to eat frequently - every 2-3 hours. If I don't, I get a terrible headache and rapidly become overwhelming sleepy and grouchy, which makes me think my blood sugar must be dropping. I'm not gaining weight - in fact, I'm losing since coming off Paxil.
Posted by Racer on November 29, 2004, at 9:08:52
In reply to Cymbalta blood sugar question, posted by KB on November 29, 2004, at 0:11:40
One of the side effects of Effexor which wasn't documented until a couple of years ago was blood sugar disturbances. I haven't heard anything about Cymbalta doing the same thing, though.
As for what it's doing to you, you can go down to your local pharmacy and buy a blood sugar test kit -- glucometer, lancet, strips -- and find out. While we can speculate about whether it's your blood sugar that's out of whack, testing is the only thing that will really tell you if that's it.
For what it's worth, I've been feeling pretty sleepy and lethargic on Cymbalta, too.
Posted by Wildflower on November 30, 2004, at 12:39:30
In reply to Cymbalta blood sugar question, posted by KB on November 29, 2004, at 0:11:40
I'm not sure if cymbalta affects either one of those. Cymbalta is very similar to effexor so I wouldn't be surprised if the SEs were similar.
For me, cymbalta has increased my appetite but it takes less food to satisfy the hunger. I can eat very small meals and feel fine but then I get hungry in a few hours.
Posted by Racer on November 30, 2004, at 13:30:15
In reply to Re: Cymbalta blood sugar question, posted by Wildflower on November 30, 2004, at 12:39:30
The EFFECTS of Cymbalta and Effexor are similar, but their chemical composition is not. That's a distinction that really needs to be made, I think, when discussing side effects.
(I'm passing on something that was pointed out to me when I started Cymbalta -- dragged into it kicking and screaming because I wanted nothing whatsoever to do with Effexor again...)
But I stand by what I wrote before: test. Test. Test. Only way to be sure...
This is the end of the thread.
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