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.
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)
- Nausea -- occurring in up to 25%
- Dry mouth -- in up to 15%
- Headaches -- in up to 14%
- Drowsiness -- in up to 12%
- Fatigue -- in up to 11%
- Dizziness -- in up to 10%
- Insomnia -- in up to 10%
- Constipation -- in up to 10%
- Diarrhea -- in up to 10%
- Loss of appetite -- in up to 9%
- Sweating -- in up to 7 %
- Abdominal pain -- in up to 6 %
Other common Cymbalta side effects (occurring in
2 to 5 %of people) included:
- Vomiting
- Sore throat or
runny nose
- A decreased sex drive
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Coughing
- Shakiness (tremors)
- Muscle pain
- Sexual side
effects, including a decreased sex drive (libido), and orgasm problems
- Blurred vision
- Anxiety or agitation
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Hot flashes
- Yawning
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Muscle spasms
- The flu
- 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:
- Suicidal
thoughts or behavior
- Anxiety,
agitation, or panic attacks
- Hostility
or aggressiveness
- Engaging
in unusual or dangerous activities
- Restlessness
or inability to sit still
- Extreme
elation or feelings of happiness that may switch back and forth with a
depressed or sad mood
- Other
unusual changes in behavior
- Signs
of serotonin syndrome (a rare but dangerous problem associated with
certain medications) such as:
- Confusion or other mental changes
- A rapid heart rate
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- Hallucinations
- Blood pressure changes
- An irregular heart rhythm
- Overactive reflexes
- Fever, sweating, or shivering
- Shakiness
- Agitation
- Seizures
- Coma
- Low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Chest
palpitations
- Difficulty
passing urine
- Signs
of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained rash, hives, itching,
unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Please talk to your head Dr. before going off Cymbalta.
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