Posts by Kenneth Scott41

I wonder if anyone here has any actual experience using Cymbalta?

Robin Myers91 said:Has anyone here tried that new schizophrenia med that hit the US market about two months ago?
I finally managed to get my psychiatrist to prescribe it—had to fight tooth and nail because Zyprexa, Everbio, Risperdal, and Seroquel made me pack on over 90 pounds.
So far, I haven't noticed any side effects other than some mild drowsiness (which I don't even really feel), though apparently, people with heart conditions should stay away from it.
It doesn't cause weight gain at all; in fact, it actually kills my appetite so much that I’ve already dropped 11 pounds in just seven days. I'm still taking Zeldox 120 mg on the side.

I'm on Zeldox myself, and it seems to work quite well.

I feel like I really need to get this off my chest. So, there I was, just sitting there waiting for my turn to be called in, when finally I stood up and reached for the door handle. Just as I’m about to step inside, I see some woman coming in through another entrance, and the doctor immediately tells me, "Hold on a second, I have a pharmaceutical rep here."
Ugh, so I ended up sitting back down outside, just sitting there wondering how much of a waste of time this was going to be while she stood in there pitching products from Pfizer, Merck, or Johnson & Johnson—who knows which big pharma giant was visiting today. About twenty minutes passed before I finally got ushered into the office... and as soon as I sat down, I couldn't help myself; I sort of casually asked, "So, what did the sales reps have to say?" She didn't even look at me, let alone give me an answer; she just immediately pivoted to a completely different topic. 🤣

Nicole Barrett76 said:Well, someone has to hold a job. It is simply impossible for every single person on this planet to operate as their own independent corporation.

Can you even begin to imagine if there were seven billion separate companies out there???!!!

Oh, wow. Maybe you're looking for a job offer—you know, a little salvation?

driftinggull21 said:😁
Cymbalta is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly USA.
That facility is likely just a manufacturing plant located in Spain. The drug itself comes from Eli Lilly USA, which is an American pharmaceutical company.

I have read the medication instructions.😁I am well aware of when Eli Lilly USA held the presentation for Cymbalta.

aha, so you work for them? 😁

driftinggull21 said:Where exactly does it say that?😕
Cymbalta is produced by Eli Lilly, so they're Americans.😁

It’s right there in the medication pamphlet, which I suspect you might have skipped over.😁

Well, here I am again, posting about yet another new prescription. 😁 I've been switched over to Cymbalta now; apparently, it’s some newer medication coming out of Spain, which I suppose explains why they're charging me such an arm and a leg $13 per box!
This is genuinely the last time, though—the absolute final time I'm going to trial a new medication. If this doesn't actually do the trick, I'm just going back to my old stuff, even if it leaves me feeling completely asexual. 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:I mean, that's pretty much common knowledge regarding Wellbutrin. Any psychiatrist worth their salt should be well aware of that side effect profile.

It feels like my psychiatrist was actually trying to put me on some sort of diet plan, hoping I’d lose weight from the Wellbutrin 🙂

I mean, I guess... why even prescribe it if she knew it mostly just kicks you into gear physically without actually providing much psychological relief in the true sense of the word? 🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:Yeah, that's spot on. For the longest time, I was taking Prozac and Paxil together, and frankly, that combo was my saving grace. Usually, Wellbutrin is also prescribed alongside an SSRI. See, the thing about Wellbutrin is that it isn't exactly a "cure" for depression on its own; it's more like it masks the symptoms by boosting your drive—basically giving you back your motivation—so it's most often used as an add-on medication.

What you mentioned about Wellbutrin is exactly what I experience. It just speeds me up and forces me to be productive, but I don't actually feel any better emotionally.

I suppose I’ve started doubling up on antidepressants on my own initiative. I find myself needing something to take the edge off at night, so I’ll reach for some Effexor. My current routine involves taking Wellbutrin in the morning and then following it up with Effexor when evening rolls around. I happened to read somewhere that this specific combination is actually quite effective and even standard practice here in the States. I can't help but wonder what my psychiatrist is going to have to say about that 😁

wiredmason56 said:Oh, I forgot to mention Fluoxetine. I was on that last summer, but honestly, it felt like nothing happened. Even my current psychiatrist mentioned it—he actually got it prescribed by my previous doctor. He said Fluoxetine is usually given to older ladies dealing with very mild depression, almost like they're just taking something just to say they're taking something.😂 In other words, it’s a pretty weak antidepressant. I wanted to ask, how was the Lexapro for you? I've never tried it, but I've heard it's actually a really solid option.

I suppose Lexapro or Elise are in the same boat as Wellbutrin, really just meant for those milder cases of depression. Personally, I find them quite effective, though.

I’m curious to hear about everyone's experiences with antidepressants. Which ones have you actually tried? Which ones worked well for you, and which ones were just a total waste of time? I'd really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this.🙂😁

I've cycled through quite a few myself—Prozac, Effexor, Lexapro, Luvox, Zoloft, though I won't go through an exhaustive list... but if I had to say, my best experiences were definitely with Lexapro and then Effexor.

wiredmason56 said:Yeah, I was on Xanax about two years ago. I wasn't taking it every single day, but I could tell pretty quickly that I needed higher doses just to get that same sense of relaxation I felt at first. And man, when I started the Effexor, it felt almost like I was on some weird kind of speed... my pupils were totally dilated.😁 How did Effexor feel for you compared to Wellbutrin? Which one ended up being better?

It’s funny you say that, because that’s exactly how Wellbutrin feels for me. It’s like I’m constantly being driven to go somewhere or do something; I just can't seem to settle down... it really is just like you described, feeling like I'm on speed. That stays with me all day until the evening hits, and then the depression and loneliness just start creeping back in.
Personally, I think Effexor works better for me because it doesn't turn me into some sort of hyperactive marathon runner; instead, it settles me down a bit and keeps the depression at bay, which seems to suit my temperament better than Wellbutrin does.
But which one works better for you? I also have to factor in that I have to pay extra out-of-pocket for Wellbutrin despite having supplemental insurance, so I'm genuinely torn. I used Effexor and it helped, but because of the side effects—it absolutely tanks my libido—my therapist suggested switching to Wellbutrin. I'm just not sure if I should go back to Effexor or not.🙂

It feels like it’s been an absolute eternity since anyone has dropped a new post in here........

wiredmason56 said:Just checking in after a bit of a hiatus. I finally made it to my follow-up appointment this morning, though it’s been pushed back twice now—first because the doctor was on vacation, and then because I caught a nasty virus. Honestly, I’m still dealing with the tail end of the flu, plus some bronchitis, so I’ve been chugging those massive Clavulin pills. Ugh, they seriously make me feel nauseous.🤮My doctor decided to switch up my regimen. Instead of Effexor, I’m moving to Wellbutrin XR 150 in the morning, then Tegretol 200 in the evening, along with Lexapro 3 x0.5. He also mentioned that if the Lexapro doesn't sit right with me, I can go back to taking Lorazepam 3 x2.5 instead. I was just wondering if anyone here is on a similar setup, or if you've tried any of these before? Did it actually help? Also, I've heard people can get hooked on Lexapro pretty quickly, which is a bit worrying.🤷

My psychiatrist actually switched me over to Wellbutrin 150 XR from Effexor as well, so I'm curious to see how you adjust to it.😁

Lexapro is definitely habit-forming, much like Xanax; they really are cut from the same cloth.

Peter Wilson2 said:Yeah, I read somewhere that taking it on an empty stomach is better, but honestly, it doesn't matter because I feel like garbage. This nausea is unreal. I've never dealt with anything like this before. I tried calling my doctor, but of course, I can't get through to anyone. It’s like I have to drive two hours just to get to his office, only for him to scribble something down and tell me to come back in a month. It's absolutely infuriating.

That’s just how the healthcare system works here in the States, I suppose. If the new medication they assigned you isn't sitting right, you can't just see your doctor; you're stuck waiting a month for your next appointment.🙂 But if you're feeling really awful or you're just unsure of what to do, maybe you should head to the ER. They can refer you to the psychiatric ward, and you can just explain what's going on to the doctor on duty there.

nimbleowl6 said:Hey everyone 🙂
There’s actually a pretty cool trick regarding Wellbutrin. Basically, back in the day, it was actually a competitor to Pfizer, and it turned out to have some specific advantages—like being a much healthier option for dealing with sexual dysfunction.
But, well, the pharmaceutical lobby backing Pfizer was just way more powerful.
Anyway, here in the States, it's actually pretty standard practice for doctors to prescribe Wellbutrin for erectile dysfunction or female orgasmic issues.🙂
Another funny thing—which goes for the US, England, and everywhere else—is that Wellbutrin is also sold under the name Zyban, which is prescribed to help people quit smoking.
At its core, we're talking about the exact same medication.🙂
The only catch in the US is that your insurance will cover Wellbutrin, but they won't touch Zyban—because, you know, they figure it's your own fault for smoking in the first place.
A lot of my colleagues here in America just bypass that whole administrative headache by prescribing Wellbutrin to people trying to kick the habit instead—just at the 150 mg dose.
So yeah.
Just thought you guys might find this stuff interesting.🙂

So, does that mean it isn't actually intended for depression?🙂
I’ve read about Zyban myself, and now I’m left wondering what exactly I’m taking. For one thing, I smoke and have no intention of stopping. It seems like the better route might be taking Effexor and using USA as an add-on to help with libido. Now, I suppose the question is, is it actually safe to combine those two?

fadedbear92 said:Did you seriously just start taking it yesterday and you're already feeling this much of an effect?😲

Yeah, honestly, it reminds me of a medication I used to take... gosh, that was ages ago... back when I was put on Suboxone following a stint in rehab. It feels similar because both of them provide such a massive boost; my brain starts racing at a hundred miles an hour, and I feel sharper than ever. Even my parents and my girlfriend have noticed that I seem different, though I suppose they mean it in a positive way. But, there’s always a "but," isn't there? I can't help feeling like it isn't really me. By nature, I'm just not that upbeat, sunny kind of person, so being under the influence of something that artificially lifts me up feels a bit unsettling. It’s a strange sensation.🙂
I just want to be my actual self again... much like how I felt on Effexor, except that one always caused issues with my libido. Now, I'm stuck in this position where I'm hesitant to go back to the old reliable Effexor, yet I'm also unsure if I should give Wellbutrin more time to settle in.

Larry Lewis said:Honestly, I’ve lost track—I have cycled through so many different medications in such a short span of time that my brain feels completely fried. Everything seems fine for most of the day, but then, right around 5 or 6 PM, I just hit a wall. It’s baffling how I can feel perfectly steady and then suddenly crash like that.

Have you ever looked into Effexor or Alventa? I was on one of those previously and it actually helped me quite a bit, though I eventually had to switch over to a different antidepressant because, well, the lack of motivation and the total loss of libido just became too much to deal with.

Larry Lewis said:Honestly, that Wellbutrin was a total bust for me—just didn't do the trick—and now this Faverin isn't exactly hitting the mark either. It feels like I'm just wandering through a fog, unable to find an antidepressant that actually works.

Personally, I’ve found Wellbutrin to be quite effective so far. It feels fundamentally different from any other antidepressant I have experimented with in the past.
The main distinction, I suppose, is that Wellbutrin provides this massive surge of energy. I feel constantly alert and driven to get things done, whereas my previous medications tended to leave me feeling somewhat dull or even a bit sedated... I used to be very calm, perhaps too withdrawn, but this Wellbutrin seems to have a certain kind of momentum to it... I am not entirely sure how to articulate it properly. It simply wakes me up, making me feel as though I could run a full marathon😁,and, perhaps most importantly, it hasn't caused those issues with libido or erectile function; I am actually enjoying intimacy again, much like I used to! 🙂
I should probably mention as well that I have been losing weight since starting Wellbutrin. My appetite just isn't what it used to be.👍 (which is likely everyone's favorite side effect, I imagine). I have been searching through various forums for people sharing their experiences with Wellbutrin, but there seems to be remarkably little information out there... it strikes me as odd that so few people seem to be using it... though perhaps it is just because it tends to be more expensive.