Cymbalta And Weight Gain
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I gained 68 lbs while on Abilify. Now four years later my weight is still 30 lbs over my normal. I still have some depression and very severe anxiety so my doc wants me to try cymbalta 20mg once a day. I would rather be depressed than severely overweight. Anyone know if cymbalta tends to cause weight gain or loss?

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I was on cymbalta years ago! Gained some weight. Always consult with your doctor!! I drink green tea for weight loss/ control. For me, i drink a green tea w/ blueberry acai, once a week! If i want sweetner in it i use organic honey- local! Read your labels for safety sake! Good luck!

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hi been on cymbals for 8 years have had night time aura pins and needles through my body also have a heavy feeling through my body and face twitching.It last for 5 min or so usually happens early in the morning would love to here from anyone else having this.Doctors are trying to work out what it maybe have had CT MRI EEG blood test nothing been found.the were think silent migraines.thanks for any help Vicki.

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Re: Dawn (# 9)

Horrible withdrawals! Can take some people as long as a year to get off this horrible drug. I’ve been taking it for a long time, every time I try to stop , no matter how slowly, I feel like I’m doing acid or visual problems. Dizziness, nausea, depression, anxiety, insomnia, suicidal thoughts. It’s horrible. Good luck! Marilyn

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Re: Amy (# 14)

Try taking it in the mornings !? Good luck . Im having to stop taking it because insurance won’t pay anymore and all i do all day n night is cry my eyes out !! Can’t stop and not even sure if i kniw why ? Just so sad ! I loved cymbalta !!

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Re: thistlelips (# 6)

I gained 60 pounds on Cymbalata. I tapered off it but I am not losing weight. Not sure what to do

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Been on Cymbalta for a year WITH Adderall combined, so no.... I have not gained weight. I have very severe nerve pain due to many broken bones from being crushed by a horse falling on top of me after he reared up and fell backwards....... the Adderall helps with a lifelong problem with ADD....BUT,,, doctors are now experimenting with low doses of it combined with pain management to get the benefits of the adrenaline which helps so so much when your in pain and you can hardly move or get out of bed....

Here's the MOST IMPORTANT THING though, your going to get a 50/50 mix about Cymbalta, what works for one is horrible for another...it depends on how badly you hurt or are depressed or whatever.......if your just willing to give it a try. Sometimes it's not the best idea to even research or ask questions about medications (other than with your doctor) because the mind is such a powerful thing. You can literally make or break something that might be great for you, if your mind has been thinking all across the board.

For me personally, I have been pain free since about after a month of starting it. It was the first time in five years that my pain management doctor didn't have to write refills for everything !!!!! And that was HUGE to me, also keep in mind there are side effects for EVERY SINGLE THING you take, your not going to get "something for nothing" as I like to put it.

From what I am understanding, you are going to use this medicine for depression and anxiety ?

After my accident I had panick attacks and very bad anxiety.....my doctor had me take Paxil, and I did really really well on that, "for me" the panick attacks stopped and my anxiety decreased, but I had to be willing to put some work in too..... learn to meditate, I take TaiChi, go walk or do a low impact workout, attend therapy, journal, it was and still is a REALLY tough work in progress. Unfortunately a pill alone isn't going to get the whole job done.... I look at it as, "I need my medications to help me get up, be able to walk,and leave my house ...so that I can implement the other things that are necessary in my recovery, and man.....not only does it suck sometimes, it's also really hard.

Sharon, what have you got to lose by trying it for a week or two and seeing how you do ? Remain positive and open minded, very important to (at the same time) taper down on one med and taper up on the other !!!!!!

I can't stress the importance of that enough. I am no medical doctor by any means BUT...I do know that I have lived through multiple medicine changes in my life and my doctors probably HAVE NOT taken or tried a good percentage of the medicines I have....so when the doctors try to tell me, " Oh, just stop this and take this." Or whatever,,,,,,I'm like "Whoa" lets go slow and taper both , and I've never gone wrong with myself. But, you have to know yourself well also and what you think is going to be best for you. The doctors are there to suggest....you are the one making the ultimate decisions.....being a big advocate in your own healthcare.....discuss something like Paxil...or why Cymbalta and not Effexor ? Ask those questions to get a better idea why the doctor recommended this particular medicine for you ?
I'm so sorry that your anxiety is bad, I don't know which is worse....sad or scared...and then to feel both is just tough. I've been there and may one day be there again ? Who knows, right ? It's a day to day process, for us complicated humans ??

My prayers are with you.......

Please try to pull some bit of positivity out of the deepest place it may be....take a chance,ask lots of questions to your doctor....don't let them rush you !!!

Ahhhhhhh, it's a hard road to walk,,,,,but...when you happen to find the right combo ( and it may only work for a year or two) when you do find the right thing,,,,you get your life back for the time it lasts ....and that feels good.??

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On the first 6 months of cymbalta (for peripheral neuropathy) I lost maybe 10lbs without trying. I had no interest in eating-- the thought actually made me feel sick to my stomach. Again, I only actually lost 10lbs, but I looked super thin. I think it was because I seemed to have lost a lot of fat mass -- to the point where you could see my bones. Not cute. Then all of a sudden after the 6 month mark I gained a about 30 lbs-- more than I have ever weighed. After 1 year I had my doctor taken me off cymbalta and put me on my old medicine-- amitryptaline. I'm still overweight and it's harder to lose weight more than ever now. While cymbalta worked for the neuropathy, I never plan to take it again. The weight gain is not worth it. I have never beenthis heavy in my life!!!

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Are you taking your Cymbalta in the A.M. Or P.M. ?

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I will be starting back on cymbalta. I now take wellbutrin and I have taken these simultaneously in the past--- the reason is because cymbalta can cause sexual side effects and the wellbutrin counteracts it. Additionally, the cymbalta made me nauseated and no appetite for about a month- I lost about 10 lbs. initially but my body got used to it. It's a wonder-drug for fibromyalgia.

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I've been on cymbalta for about a fortnight after coming off Lexapro as I have fibromyalgia.
I'm currently experiencing shakes like low blood sugar
I have diabetes too when I tested I was 12.9
is shakes like that common??

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I was on Cymbalta for less than 3 months.I gained about 12pounds.I was very upset about it so I tapered from, 60 to 30mg for a few weeks then stopped taking it.I had successfully lost 60 plus pounds on weight watchers before hand and successfully kept it off for two yrs.I feltlike a zombie on Cymbalta.I work outt 4-5 times a week and am struging to lose the weight I gained while on Cymbalta.I have been off it for over 2 months.This
is a HORRIBLE drug and should be taken off the market!!!!

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I have been on duloxetine for 2 months and put on 5lbs in weight. Not happy at all.

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I'm sorry to hear that....it seems 50/50 on the weight loss/gain. My weight is still down but stable. I haven't lost in a few months. The sweating was out of control at night, so now I take it right when I go to bed. That way if the obnoxious amount of sweating starts, it's usually time to wake up. I'm battling the worst constipation now. On my fourth med for that! But my pain is still considerably better, so I'm dealing with side effects.

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im on cymbalta and am gaining weight , effexor did the same , i gained 3 dress sizes yet i barely eat

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Amy-this is what's called an activating drug and so most people take it in the early morning. Ask your doc. It should be fine.

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I have just been prescribed Duloxetine Dr 20mg twice daily for pain control. Only on day 3... CANT SLEEP!!! Does this go away? It hasn't helped my pain yet... does it take awhile? I'm really scared to continue and do not want adverse side affects???

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I have been on duloxetine/cymbalta for 15 months. Since them I have gained and an
insatiable appetite. I feel breathless when I walk now. I have pain in my leg and arm muscles. I cant sleep properly. My dosage is 30mg. I am now 14 stones 2 pounds. I was at the beginning of these tablets 11 stones 6 pounds.

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Ive been on Cymbalta for about a year and a half now and lost 45 pounds which is without a doubt due to the Cymbalta. Unfortunately I just found out I don't qualify for the patient assistance program anymore and I certainly cant afford it on my own at a hefty price of about $500 a month. :(

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I am on Cymbalta for chronic pain...at three months now. I basically have been bed ridden for the last year, they think its a muscle tear. Anyhow, I originally was on neurontin, and my weight dipped very low. I looked skeletal. And it made me so confused. I guess it's similar to Cymbalta, maybe try it? I've gained back a few pounds on Cymbalta, and although I'm hungry, I'm an extremely disciplined eater ( I worked for weight watchers for a few years and I come from an obese family). I'm surprised at all of the weight gain stories on this med...

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I have been on 60 mg of Cymbalta for about a year and then decided I needed a higher dose. After about a month on 90 mg, I have been able to stop eating out of frustration and just eat healthy without a lot of internal fighting. I've been trying to lose this weight for 20 years. I think it is the lessening of anxiety that is making it possible. I hope I lose it before the drug stops working as they all have over the past 25 years.

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