Tuesday 26 April 2011

Cymbalta how I hate thee, let me count the ways (contest details in red)



I have been suffering from many physical problems lately, which I find annoying, overwhelming and downright inconvenient. For some irrational reason I decided to see if one or two of these inconveniences may be a side effect of Cymbalta, the current antidepressant/fibromyalgia drug I have been taking. The fact that this winter I continued to have unmanageable depression had nothing to do with my disillusionment with it :/. What I found blew my mind! The fact that I suffer some of these ailments with my fibro does not negate the fact that the frequency, intensity and duration has increased in the last 6-12 months, or that the amount of problems actually related to the drug were staggering! I feel these findings are significant and so with a great deal of thought decided that now, it being spring, would be an optimal time to go off the cymbalta  and see what results. My side effects from going off the Cymbalta are full body electro shock therapy, general malaise, increased fatigue and nausea. For me the duration that I experience this, is important; a long period but not as intense as I wean myself off of it, or a short but intense time as I go cold turkey. I prefer short! However as I sat through the last episode of Star Trek that has been made to date, with tears streaming down my face, I wonder if this is wise or if I am a serious trek fanatic!
Here is the list of side effects, can you guess how many I have? The winner gets chocolate! and a Star Trek poster!! ( Oh and of that number there are a few side effects that are new and not simply fibro symptoms exacerbated by the cymbalta )



Common Side Effects of Cymbalta
Cymbalta has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials in which the side effects of a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to another group not taking the drug
As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common side effects of Cymbalta included: (I did not note any effects pertaining to men)

  1. Nausea -- occurring in up to 25%
  2. Dry mouth -- in up to 15%
  3. Headaches -- in up to 14%
  4. Drowsiness -- in up to 12%
  5. Fatigue -- in up to 11%
  6. Dizziness -- in up to 10%
  7. Insomnia -- in up to 10% 
  8. Constipation -- in up to 10%
  9. Diarrhea -- in up to 10%
  10. Loss of appetite -- in up to 9%
  11. Sweating -- in up to 7 %
  12. Abdominal pain -- in up to 6 %
Other common Cymbalta side effects (occurring in 2 to 5 %of people) included:
  1. Vomiting
  2. Sore throat or runny nose
  3. A decreased sex drive
  4. Upper respiratory tract infection
  5. Coughing
  6. Shakiness (tremors)
  7. Muscle pain
  8. Sexual side effects, including a decreased sex drive (libido), and orgasm problems
  9. Blurred vision
  10. Anxiety or agitation
  11. Weight loss or weight gain
  12.  Hot flashes
  13. Yawning
  14. Indigestion or heartburn
  15. Muscle spasms
  16. The flu
  17. Abnormal dreams

Cymbalta Side Effects to Report

There are a number of possible side effects with Cymbalta that you should report to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:

  1. Suicidal thoughts or behavior
  2. Anxiety, agitation, or panic attacks
  3. Hostility or aggressiveness
  4. Engaging in unusual or dangerous activities
  5. Restlessness or inability to sit still
  6. Extreme elation or feelings of happiness that may switch back and forth with a depressed or sad mood
  7. Other unusual changes in behavior
  8. Signs of serotonin syndrome (a rare but dangerous problem associated with certain medications) such as:
    1. Confusion or other mental changes
    2. A rapid heart rate
    3. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
    4. Hallucinations
    5. Blood pressure changes
    6. An irregular heart rhythm
    7. Overactive reflexes
    8. Fever, sweating, or shivering
    9. Shakiness
    10. Agitation
    11. Seizures
    12. Coma
  1. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  2. Chest palpitations
  3. Difficulty passing urine
  4. Signs of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.

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