Mental Health Doctor gave me Cymbalta...

[Sugene]

Today my doctor gave me Cymbalta for social anxiety, starting at 30mg going up to 60 mg after one week. I'm feeling hesitant to start it because of my experience with Paxil last year. Paxil seemed to make me feel more content with myself, but I didn't notice any social improvement. I abruptly stopped taking it 6 months after starting because it made me enraged, destructive, and I also had many suicidal thoughts. I've also read online that cymbalta is effective for GAD and depression, which I feel isn't the problem I'm dealing with. I want to find a way to treat my social anxiety, without spending years trying out different antidepressants. I've also been on Vyvanse for the past 4 years, and my current dose is 30mg twice a day. What do you think I should do? Have any of you had experience with cymbalta? Please share!

 

[spork]

Cymbalta was the one anti-depressant that I've been on that I felt worked at least somewhat for me. I was on it mainly for my depression though. The best thing for my social anxiety has been talk therapy and working through it that way.

 

[Morphling]

It's actually pretty good stuff, I think it's worth a try!

 

[n3ophy7e]

I'm on Cymbalta too, for depression and GAD. It has literally been a lifesaver for me (as in, I wouldn't still be alive if it weren't for Cymbalta). Initially it made my anxiety worse, for the first 4 days. But then on the 5th day I had NO anxiety at all. I haven't had any other side effects either.

I would say to at least give it a try, and you can stop it and try something else if you need to.

 

[Jabberwocky]

i used to be on Lexapro and then switched to Cymbalta, the brain fog got reduced and I've been feeling a lot more energised taking Cymbalta then when I was on Lexapro.

 

[cj]

I didn't like Cymbalta. It felt really speedy and nasty to me. Plus the withdrawals are really nasty. Personally I found that anti-depressants did fuck all for my anxiety they are just easy drugs for doctors to prescribe when they don't think you are trust worthy enough for benzos that actually work

 

[xbloodwhipx]

Fuck dude, i hate doctors. I mean they give you a bunch of BULLSHIT ssris and mood stabilizers. Ive been trying to get a benzo for my crippling anxiety for the past year and a half. Ive used every fucking ssri, they dont work IME, right now im on lamictal. The worst thing is that they act like im lying when i say all of these medications havent worked.

Anyway, IME none of the ssris work and you HAVE to spend years trying all of them just to get a benzo.

 

[Skydog Furious]

i know more people in a world of pain because of benzos. im not saying they cant be helpful -- i know they can. but exhaust all other options first? just a suggestion.