Stress Center Peer Support

Okay so for 3 years I took only Xanax and once tried to take Lexapro but it was bad bad bad. Stayed on the Xanax and my new doc just switched me to Valium. I was just in his office and he really doesn't want me on the valium because of the addiction factor.

He wants me to take Cymbalta but I am scared to. He says it's the lowest dose possible and I can even start out taking 1/2 of the lowest dose if I want to. But he also said that the next time I see him, he's going to lower my dosage for my valium on my prescription, so I had better get started on the Cymbalta right away so I can be weaning off the valium.

I'm so scared of taking stuff that I've had a bottle of Bach Rescue Remedy in my purse for 3 months and have never touched it. Does anyone have any advice that will help to alleviate my fears about starting this new medicine? I'm afraid of how it will change my personality, or of the side affects. My doctor says it will help me to feel "normal".

Also another thing he said that bothered me is when I asked him about eventually weaning off the cymbalta, he said that he doubts I will ever be able to not be on some sort of med. That kind of made me mad. I told him I'm in therapy and on this program and my hopes were to someday be off drugs totally. He said if that happened it would be great but he'd be surprised.

Need your advice!!!

Sandina

You know, when I started reading your post I thought, okay, she has a pretty good doctor, he cares, maybe the antidepressant is what she needs to really get off the other meds...etc. etc. BUT, the last part got ME so mad too! Don't believe him. I think you should work with your therapy and program to really try and get to a place so you are not so afraid to take stuff-that is soooo common. If getting off meds is eventually your goal (and I think its a great goal), finding an antidepressant would be good b/c I think (am not a doctor, don't know for sure) that would help you when you wean off the valium like he said. I really wish you luck with this and I know that you can prove him wrong. It will just take time and possibly a 'nicer' doctor. My doctor (who I am not crazy about either) once said when I was on an antidepressant that she said I would be able to get off (which I have) but people who have had serious trauma don't. ??????? I think people are more capable than doctors want to admit. Stay focused and don't be afraid to try something that will eventually be a thing of the past -keep believing that.

Dear Sandina -

We seem to have a lot in common as I too am afraid of meds. I have been on Lexapro for 6 years and it "pooped out". I also take Xanax as needed - 1/2 a .5 mg about 2-3 times per day. My doctor just switched me to Cymbalta on Friday. I did okay till Monday when I started feeling the side effects - it wasn't easy but I feel so much better today, just 3 days later. Rely on your support group and US! We will help you through!

terbear,

What were your side affects like? I think if I know what I might expect I won't be so anxious about it.

Thanks,
Sandina

I, too, have been thinking about taking Cymbalta. In the past I have tried several anti-depressants and have horrible side effects and have to stop. Lexapro gave me nosebleeds,
Zoloft had me bouncing off the walls and in the bathroom, 24/7. I have a bottle of liquid prozac under my bathroom counter that I've been staring at for months. I've had bad side effects from almost every a/d I've tried.
Trazodone made me clench my teeth and made me even more anxious during the day, leaving me with a withdrawal syndrome that lasted for months.

I've heard good things about Cymbalta. I'm hoping it works out for others and I won't be so afraid to try it.

I would love to hear about experiences with Cymbalta. I'm about to start taking it. I've been on prozac for a while but the sexual side effects are pretty bad. I'm about to get married and asked my doctor what I could to do to reduce the side effects. She started me immidiately on Wellbutin XL 150 I felt a little weird at first like my personality was switching, like i was a different person, and then my anxiety and my obsessive thoughts began to escalate into panic attacks. She took me immediately off the wellbutrin and suggested I switch from Prozac to Cymbalta. She knows I suffer from obsessive thoughts as I've been seeing her for over 5 years + now so I'm assuming she know's what she's doing. I'm going to start the switch gradually with a little bit of Lamictal added in until I complete the full switch. I'm always scared when trying a new med. Hopefully this one works for me!