Posted by lemon68 on September 26, 2004, at 20:35:55
Hi all -
I am in the midst of switching from Effexor XR ( 225 mg per day) to Cymbalta ( currently, 30 mg per day). I started Cymbalta Wed. the 22nd.
No major change thus far, which is expected. I feel a bit more sedate, less anxiety ( effxr didn't help anxiety - rather , made it worse). I tapered 225 mg effexr to 150mg, so far no with drawal symptoms to speak of. I am going to reduce 75 mg per week until I'm at 0 - we'll see if the last 75 mg are a bear.
In terms of sexual dysfunction, I don't feel much of a diff., but it's hard to say, as I don't really have a gal to make the sex with right now ( that's why I'm going thru a mean depression and decided to switch meds - my girl dumped me - boo hoo).
Sleep seems to be about the same. I have found 50mg of trazodone absolutely necessary to fall asleep the 4 years I have been on effexor, sometimes an additional 25 mg if I wake up early. Trazodone has definitely helped for a long time, and I don't really notice it other than during the time I take it to crash out.
I had been taking Risperdal for a few months, but I have tapered off of it because of the ugly SE profile, and also because I want to pay attention to the interction between me, Cymbalta, and Effexor. My doc also gave me a script for Klonopin for sleep, but I'm a bit apprehensive of the possibility of K. induced depression, and I also don't want to med to the mix ( and wouldn't it be nice to only have to take one med, instead of 5?).
I hope this helps anyone considering the same med-switch... and please feel free to axe me any questions. I'll update when I feel changes....
cheers
poster:lemon68
thread:395485
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040921/msgs/395485.html