Comments on: Bipolar Disorder Medication Spotlight: Cymbalta (Duloxetine)

By: Kelli

Kelli — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:30:18 +0000

It’s interesting to see so many varied responses. If you do your research, you’ll find that because “they” still aren’t entirely sure how the brain works, they will prescribe what they think best suits your condition/symptoms. Diagnosed BPD nearly 20 years ago, I was accustomed to being lightly manic nearly constantly. I thought I was in bad shape because it did contribute to my promiscuity. After I got married, I began to become depressed and suicidal. Having 3 kids in 6 years, I rarely slept. I was also married to a TV/movie junkie. Depakote and Lithium did nothing. Effexor was awesome but my doctor was afraid of it causing mania. I got wellbutrin off the street and it worked great-until I had seizures and a rash. A psych put my on Cymbalta and Lamictal. Within a month, I was having multiple affairs and worse. Out of control! Ten years of faithful, committed marriage down the drain. I suspect that my sluggishness and depression is due to an elevated cortisol level, but because it’s within the norm, they refuse to recognize that the level might be a little too high for me, personally. I’m going in for another battery of tests, and to beg for the Effexor again. Good luck everyone!

By: Gary Spicer

Gary Spicer — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:45:49 +0000

ook Cymbalta for about two years. Started at 60mg per day and the last year was taking 120mgper day. During the last year I startred having hypomnia. I ran up alot of credit card debt, tried contacting an old girlfriend viua social websites, did’nt take care of or care about my personal daily business. I’ve been off cymbalta now for almost a year and I’m back to my baseline self. Be careful with this drug!

By: Maryann

Maryann — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:42:56 +0000

Wow, this is all kind of scary to me … as I was recently prescribed Cymbalta. I’ve been on Topamax, Xanax, Cytomel, & Prozac for approx. 10 yrs. The Prozac just hasn’t worked at all. Seems as though my “mania” has mostly resolved itself, but the depression is huge. Now, not so sure what to do. I already self-medicate with alcohol … knowing better. Not sure whether to take it or not?

By: Sherry Hensley

Sherry Hensley — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:08:14 +0000

I am bipolar with schizo/hallucinations at its worst with childhood PTSD (anietypanic attacks). Over the years I have taken everything you can imagaine before being diagnosed bipolar the antidepressants ascerbated either the mania or depressive episodes. Years of self-medicating..ie alcohol during unbearable mania… methamphetamine during debilitating depression and any nerve pill for anxiety. I have paid $10 for an ambien just to sleep. My miracle cocktail is now 30mg of Cymbalta 12 hours a part (2x daily but must be 12 hours apart) 150 mg of Wellbutrin 2x daily. 10 mg xanax 1 hour before bed and 10 mg of ambien 15 minutes before bed. OCCASIONALLY during intense PTSD moments (I was nearly beaten to death and raped) I may need Klonipin 2mg every 4-6 hours to get me to be able to drive alone at night if necessary) talk therapy has been making this easier over the last 3 years. so LONG STORY SHORT…. the first 8-10 days on Cymbalta were not easy… it required a little klonipin to deal with the abnormal mania. but then one morning I woke up anxiety free and with a smile and my life has been more joy than misery than it ever has that I can ever remeber.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:20:07 +0000

I am on my fourth week of cymbalta, its my first antidepressant drug. I feel so much better now than i did before. I am scared of the withdrawals. Im planning to stay on this medication, perhaps forever. Im trying to enjoy the releif and not dwell on the withdrawals. I have noticed slight mania, never thought of it as mania until now. I am obsessed with what my boyfriend is doing, i feel like im constantly putting too much thought into every detail of his life. i dig and dig and dig into everything. Hopefully it goes away. But i feel Cymbalta works for people who are truely depressed, which i was during and after my pregnancy.

By: Caley

Caley — Mon, 02 May 2011 03:17:23 +0000

I have been taking Cymbalta for about 6 months now. It seemed to work for me within the first 3 months, but it has gone down hill since then. Starting the med made me sick for a little over 2 weeks, and now if I forget to take it, I am dealing with similar side effects from withdrawel. It doesn’t take much to withdraw either…one missed day and I feel horrible.
What seemed to be mild mania before (it went unnoticed because I didn’t know the many forms that mania could take) is now severe mania all the time. I feel as thought the Cymbalta is causing me to have more serious mood spikes. I go from severely depressed to severely manic almost every day. The red flag for me was when I started looking elsewhere for relief…spending sprees, unfaithfullness, alcohol abuse, etc.
My life has turned upsidedown and I don’t feel like myself…I have to say I think I am worse off than I was before I took this drug. This is the only antidepressant I have ever been on, and I feel like it is time to try something new.

I just want to have my sanity and energy back again…..

By: Jackie

Jackie — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:47:13 +0000

I’ve been dx’d with Dysthymia, and before taking Cymbalta I tried Wellbutrim, Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, and Lexapro. Cymbalta was the only medication that helped me with my depression, but after 3 months on it, I too started craving,and drinking, more than usual. At first I wasn’t that worried about it, because normally when I would drink too much I would have a killer hangover. For whatever reason while taking Cymbalta I was able to drink much more than I normally would, and feel fine the next day. Looking back, it doesn’t make sense to me at that time why I would feel better, but would want to drink more than ever.
I was on it for a 1 1/2 years, and stopped taking it because gradually it stopped helping my depression, even after increasing my dosage. Coming off it was not fun!
I have been battling alcohol cravings since then, along with my depression. Out of all the A.D.’s I’ve tried, the only one that worked (for a short time) seems to have flipped this switch in my brain in regards to alcohol cravings, and now I’m leery of trying anything else to help my depression.
I understand that medicine will affect people in
different ways and that theres no ‘magic pill’, but I am so frustrated that when I even hint at a link between taking Cymbalta and my increased use/tolerance/craving for alcohol I am laughed at and told to either go to AA or that I’m just using Cymbalta as an excuse. Its like I’m asking for help but I get treated like I’m all “Yeah, being depressed isn’t fun enough, so hey, I know, I’ll be an alcoholic too!!” *sigh*

By: carrie

carrie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:31:41 +0000

can you get pregnant when u take cymbalta

By: carrie

carrie — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:30:26 +0000

can i get paranet on cymbalta i feel all i have got is fat so far

By: Alicia

Alicia — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:58:30 +0000

I’m very thankful for the stories everyone has shared. I am another one who has horrible experiences with Cymbalta–especially with alcohol. I, too, did not drink but on occasion. Now it makes me crave it and I do crazy things and truly do not remember them. I’ve tried weaning myself off it, but the side effects are so awful. Have a doc appt. this week for help. I’ve hurt my boyfriend (whom I adore) and my kids. What a hell on earth…I’ve never felt more suicidal in my life and I get more angry than words can say…I truly act like a devil….yes, use caution! Even when I don’t drink I feel such a level of anxiousness and experience insomnia….it’s awful.