Cymbalta

I began taking Cymbalta (to replace Lexapro) this past Monday. Since then I've had no appetite (which I appreciate), though I get ravenous at night; I've barely slept, leading to disorientation; and often I feel sick, though my pdoc told me that should pass after a week. I've been shaky (maybe due to waking up at 3am after 2 hours of sleep).

Does anyone else take Cymbalta? Are you having/have you had these symptoms?

I'm going to give it a shot anyway. I've learned to let things even out before writing off a new prescription. But I want to know if the sleeplessness and sickness will stop...

I took Cymbalta for years and I never experienced those kinds of side effects in the beginning or ever. I would give it a week and and then I think I would consider trying something else. What you are describing is a lot to deal with. Maybe you are on too strong a dose. I hope things get better.

Ask your pdoc, if possible, about the timeframe of how long it takes for the drug to actually be effective. I know from past experience that antidepressants can take weeks to actually start working. But as always, just talk with your pdoc, they know best and so do you.

I took cymbalta for a long time. I gained 50 pounds and was constipated the whole time.
The weight gain was probably because I was full of poo. The $#%^ word will get me a reprimand so saying poo like I was a 5 year old is much better.

skilsaw wrote:I took cymbalta for a long time. I gained 50 pounds and was constipated the whole time.
The weight gain was probably because I was full of poo. The $#%^ word will get me a reprimand so saying poo like I was a 5 year old is much better.

I understand the constipation part, TMI or not!

My sleep has gotten better. I'm still not as hungry as I should be.

I've started tensing my jaw and grinding my teeth, leading to some bad toothache. It's happened before on different medication, I just wasn't expecting it so it took me a while to notice it.

Pairou wrote:I've started tensing my jaw and grinding my teeth, leading to some bad toothache. It's happened before on different medication, I just wasn't expecting it so it took me a while to notice it.

Talk to your psychiatrist about the problems with your mouth. I told my dentist first. He sent me to a specialist who proposed rebuilding my upper jaw. No kidding! *mod edit* Then I told my psychiatrist. He changed my meds and the jaw problems went away. That was over 25 years ago.

I'll let my pdoc know next time I see him.

Hi Pairou,
I am experiencing something that seems similar, started Cymbalta about 2 weeks ago- new doc says Major Depression & I am on this forum because I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago w Bipolar II and on cymbalta + topamax+ low dose seroquel for sleep but I dismissed the diagnosis as I thought my symptoms were situational r/t unhealthy environments (work & relationship).
Stayed on the meds but lost health insurance about 8 months ago and stopped everything except low doses of Cymbalta to ward off withdrawl symptoms. So this new dr started me on 60 mg Cymbalta- last Tues I left work early and haven't been back since. I couldn't focus or sit still. Sleep was <= 5 hrs/ night until Sunday I was awake all night and not tired with racing thoughts and talking way more and fast. My bf who has been wonderful almost took me to the hospital because I was having thoughts about death also. But it was more like images and not actually wanting to do something about it.
I see my dr today. I'm so anxious. I googled and these sound like Bipolar symptoms. I called my Mom and she said "maybe it's the medication causing it" but wouldn't someone have to have a predisposition to bipolar to trigger this?
???
How are you doing? What did your doctor say?
Thank you!