Anybody here take Cymbalta for depression?

[potone]

I was taking Lexapro and Wellbutrin for depression with good results. As a result of chronic back pain, I am starting the generic version of Cymbalta in the hope that it will help with the pain as well as the depression. I had to go off of the Lexapro and am going off the Wellbutrin tomorrow. In both cases I have gradually reduced the dosage before stopping.

I am not yet up to a therapeutic dosage of Cymbalta, but I will increase the dosage to 60 mg.s tomorrow. For the last few days of taking it, I feel shaky emotionally. That is probably just my reaction to withdrawing from my previous medications, but I would like to hear from those with experience of Cymbalta how it has affected you.

I thank you in advance for your replies.

[TexasTowelie]

1. I did take it at one point about a decade ago,

the circumstances were pretty similar to yours (on Lexapro and Wellbutrin previously). I had poor results on Cymbalta (suicidal ideation) and was prescribed Paxil afterwards.

[Ilsa]

3. please see my post below (#2).

I'm just curious about changes, side effects, etc.

[potone]

5. Thank you for your reply.

I have never tried Paxil. Is it used for pain relief as well as depression?

[gvstn]

8. It is odd because Paxil made me want to kill myself.

I hated that drug but am glad it is helping you. I haven't heard much about it for several years and was hoping it was off the market but if it actually helps some people then it was just me that had a bad reaction to it.

[Ilsa]

2. I'm curious as to why you are going off Wellbutrin.

Did you have side effects? Is it contraindicated for you for some mddical reason? Or did it just not help?

I'm asking out of curiosity.

[potone]

4. My doctor told me that I should.

She said that it is dangerous to take Wellbutrin and Cymbalta together, although sometimes people do take both if they can't handle going off Wellbutrin. I have found Wellbutrin helpful, and am not happy about going off it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

10. I took them together for years

But now I'm on Wellbutrin and Celexa.

[momto3]

6. I take cymbalta and welbutrin.

I have been diagnosed with clinical depression, fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy and lupus - I take a lot of pills! The depression was diagnosed first and I started the welbutrin. I currently take 450 mg a day. I started the cymbalta for the fibromyalgia pain and it does seem to help. I also noticed that I had less anxiety issues after I started cymbalta. I had almost all of the symptoms listed in the pamphlet when I started, but they all went away within 2 weeks. However, I have never been able to get higher that 30mg twice a day. Higher doses made me so sleepy I could not work. I have not had any problems taking welbutrin and cymbalta together. I also take plaquenil, Imuran and gabapentin for my other issues which often times makes it hard for me to figure out what drug is causing what problem. I do know that, despite some of the side effects, I am much better off when I take them.

Good luck.

[potone]

7. Thank you for your reply.

I have just increased my dosage to 60 mg.s a day and it is too soon to know if it will help me. I am feeling emotionally wobbly since I stopped my other medications, and I know it will take time to see if it will work. It is encouraging that you had good results within two weeks. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. If it doesn't help my pain I will go back to Lexapro and Wellbutrin.

I am sorry that you are battling so many health conditions. It must be difficult.

[mopinko]

9. cymbalta has really helped me.

i have fibro, too. the pain level has been better, and the depression has really settled down. i have my days, but i dont end up in the bottom of the well.
i still take lyrica, and have pain troubles from time to time. have some nerve damage that crops up and causes trouble. right now having trouble w my rotator cuff. will do a round of trigger point pain injections, but if they dont help will look at what is starting the trouble.

mostly, tho, the pain level has been low, and mood has been stable.