Ok so I started Cymbalta "the miracle pill" out this morning, and it hasn't turned out as much of a miracle pill for me at all. I tolerated it throughout the day with minor anxiety, but it is now 4 :20AM (central time) and I don't know if I'm having a panic attack or if I'm having an allergic reaction or dying or what. I feel horrible, not to much sick just feel like I'm going to die basically because of the hardcore burning sensation in my chest and the warm sensations all over my body and face. It's like my body can't decide whether it wants to be cold or hot, it's miserable. I feel as if when I close my eyes that I'm going to lose control and go crazy and pass out. It's really hard to explain. Anyone have any of these symptoms from anxiety. I took a couple of tums also thinking it was heartburn, but they definitely are not working,. Is this the medicine? Should I continue it? Please help.
-scottie

Hey Anders,
Sorry you are having such a rough time of it. I took Cymbalta for 2 weeks. The first week was 30 mgs and I felt okay. The 2nd week the dose was doubled and I could not take it. My side effects were severe headaches, smells would set off nausea, insomnia and my anxiety increased. I went straight from Paxil to the Cymbalta. The Paxil worked very well for anxiety so if that's why you are taking the Cymbalta, I would suggest Paxil. Sometimes, if you read the side affects of drugs, you may think you are having every one of them (anxiety). Now, I take the meds and if I suspect a side affect, I look them up online. Currently taking Lexapro for depression and not experiencing any side effects but it's not helping a whole lot. Seeing the dr on Monday and will probably increase dose.
Best wishes,
JB

I find that I am also very shaky today. Like very nervous and can't keep them under control. I'm going to keep taking them though and see if maybe they go away, last nights were almost unbearable though I just hope I don't have another night like that. I'm soo sick of this anxiety and depression somethings gotta give! Thanks for the reply, I also see my Physc on Monday .

Scottie, I have been wondering how you were doing. I remember you saying in one of your posts that you would be starting Cymbalta during the Thanksgiving Holidays. Trust me, I know how hard this struggle is that you are going through! I pray that you get some relief soon.
You have your whole life ahead of you. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. I care! Shelby

I'm proly at my lowest point. But i'm gettin there. today wasn't as bad with the Cymbalta on top of the Xanax. Anyone have the horrible warm sensation in which you feel like it will result in nothing but a heart attack? It's definitely overwhelming, but I'm hangin in there and feel as if I'm making some sort of improvements with my negative mindstate.
-Scottie

Just hang in there. I started Paxil on Tuesday and I pretty much talked myself into a horrible anxiety attack that night because one of my phobias is medication. You just have to keep in mind that the med is there to help but you still have to think positive. I got myself straightened out with my fear of the med and I am actually feeling a whole lot better. I hope it calms down for you. Take care~

Well today I went to practice and almost passed out, right now I'm in the middle of a bad spell. My legs are numb, I feel as if I got fluid in my head (weird I know) my heart is hurting. Keep in mind I have a heart monitor at one of the best hospitals in the Midwest and all they seen was 1 PVC which is normal, then I went to Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis and got an EKG. Everything turned out fine. I also got a ct scan which looked fine. Please help I'm in horrible need, is this normal? The Drs. keep tellin me I'm fine but each time I start a new Anti Depressant it gets worse. It seems as if the Cymbalta isn't doing to bad but I get real sick in the morning then take my Xanax and get better. Only thing is I'm shaky. I'm just nervous I have some underlying disease that they can't find out.

Anders,

I haven't been been on Cymbalta, but I think the SSRI's have alot of the same side effects, when I was on Paxil, I would get a sudden warmness radiating in my chest, it was different from my regular panic attacks, thus making me more concerned, but it did subside, especially with the help of the anti-anxiety meds to get me through the initial starting stage.

Scottie, believe me, I know what you are going through! Unfortunately AD
medicines are trial and error. We all have to find out what works for us....as we are all different. It will probably take 4 to 6 weeks before you will know
if Cymbalta will work for you. As with all AD meds...they have to have time to reach a therapudic (sp?) level in your brain.

I have felt like I will pass out....many times. I have also felt like my legs will fall out from underneath me...which DID happen one time.....this past August....inside my home. It's all very scary. Makes you afraid to go anywhere. I feel dizzy all the time.

Scottie, I want you to start believing in your Doctors. You have had a lot of tests, they are all fine, you have been told that. You have to convince yourself that you are NOT dying....because you are NOT dying. You need to accept that in order to try and get better. I know it's hard to believe because you don't feel good and all these weird things are happening to you.
Anxiety and panic CAN cause ALL these terrible symptoms you are feeling.

Believe me, there was a time I was convinced I was dying......even though I had ALL kinds of tests done to me....and there are many. I mean, how could I NOT be dying when I felt so bad....the Doctors must be missing SOMETHING,
right? Well, I'm still here, seventeen years later, I'm not dead, and I'm talking to you.

I feel real bad again and I started a new AD on 10-30-07. Sar far not much help. I use to take Zoloft for several years (50mg) but it quit working for me.

It seems this Chemical Imbalance, which is what I have that causes all this,
can happen to anyone for no particular reason, is my understanding. I have a very easy life, no stress, a wonderful family, a good childhood, I couldn't possibly want for a thing nor need a thing....but I have this C.I. that makes me feel so sick. But I know there are many with much worse problems. We only have one life and I am going to appreciate and enjoy it the best I can despite how bad I feel. I will still take this life that I have (with the C.I.) over no life at all.

I'm here for you! God Bless! Shelby

I don't know what dose you're on but you may want to think about the 20 mg. pill. I started on that because I was prone to anxiety and then after a month worked up to the 30 mg. I loved Cymbalta and am only off now because I am pregnant. I did also take the Xanax XR during the first month and it helped. Start low...

Cymbalta was definately not for me, Cymbalta increased my anxiety to where i felt my heart pounding out my chest and back. It was horrible. Not everyone reacts the same to these meds. I immediately got away from the Cymbalta. In place of Cymbalta doc prescribed Celexa. I take Celexa along with xanax throughout the day. Been on xanax for 24 years.
If your having this bad of chest pain and pounding, may be best to see doc again real soon. Keep in mind Cymbalta is not for everyone.


BeHappy2

Well it's 1:43 (central time) and I'm anxious. NOt an anxiety attack though, my legs hurt as if they feel like there going to collapse and I feel out of it. I just feel like I get so sick sometimes that there's no way this is anxiety. I'm 0 for 4 on anti depressants because I goto school and can't take them because they make me sick for the first 2 weeks but I am going to try and tough this one out. I just can't hardly practice at basketball and that's what's going to get me into college and I don't know what to do. Is all of this normal. I feel like my heart is about to burst. thanks for all the replies it helps a ton to know I'm definitely not alone. Just scared

Scottie, did you start on a small dosage with Cymbalta? Because if you didn't that could be part of the problem. What do your parents think of all this?
Do you have a good support system at home? Shelby

Yes I am on 30mg. My parents are very supportive although they don't quite understand everything I go through. It's hard but I have a great supporting cast. I'm in the middle of an episode and feel horrible. I'm weak and exhausted and I shouldn't be as I am very active. I feel like I'm going to pass out at any second and die. Immature as it sounds, it seems to become reality but never does. Anxiety is unbelievable.

I've been on Cymbalta for about 8 weeks (lexapro for about 2 years) and i've had no side effects with it..but everybodys different

I've gotten side effects from all of the Anti depressants I've taken, hopefully they will subside though.

Try taking the Cymbalta at night I was taking it for 3 months felt pretty good and calm on it but my blood pressure was way high and I gained 10lbs.

Dear Anders 15,
I have been on Cymbalta for a year, and it has done wonders for me. I do not take any other anxiety or depression medication with it. This does not work overnight. It is a slow process but it really, really has made a huge difference in my life. I hope you will try it for at least 3 to 6 months before you give up on it--expect a gradual change.

Dear Anders 15,
Try taking the Cymbalta with a meal. I took it at first with my lunch every day. Now I take it a couple of hours before I go to bed, not necessarily with a meal. The worst side effect I had was constipation. I have that controlled now by taking a stool softener every day. I also slept most of the first week that I took it.