Cymbalta (Duloxetene) is an antidepressant of the SNRI class. SNRI stands for seronontin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and it is sometimes referred to as SSNRI. It is prescribed for major clinical depression as well as neuropathy arising from diabetes-related conditions. As an SNRI, it inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain, instead of just serotonin as in the more popular SSRI class of antidepressants. This allows Cymbalta to positively affect clinical depression as well as chronic pain. However, Cymbalta is only FDA approved to treat major depression and the pain related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or DPN. Cymbalta is also being used to treat less severe adult ADHD as well as stress-related urinary incontinence, although it is not FDA approved for either treatment.
Cymbalta has side effects on par with most antidepressants of the SSRI class. The additional effect on the brain's norepinephrine levels appears to have added few side effects. Common side effects include high blood pressure, drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, fatigue, changes in appetite, and increased sweating. These side effects may occur when you first begin to take Cymbalta and may persist for up to a month. If they persist longer than a month, then you may wish to contact your doctor to consider taking another antidepressant. More serious risks include mania, high blood pressure, seizures, liver damage, and an increased risk of suicide. If you are suffering from these symptoms, alert a health professional. It is important to be monitored by a health professional or loved one to prevent suicide attempts during the first month of taking Cymbalta, as it has been shown that antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide in the first month, especially among adolescents. In a clinical trial testing the efficacy of Cymbalta for treating women with stress-related urinary incontinence, some of the participants attempted suicide or reported suicidal thought despite showing no prior signs of willingness to commit suicide. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor all persons taking antidepressants even if they are using them for purposes other than treating depression.
Cymbalta shares the severe withdrawal symptoms that plague many other SSRI class antidepressants, even though it is an SNRI. If you suddenly stop taking Cymbalta after having been taking it for a while, you may experience a feeling of electric shocks running through your body, mania, wild mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of incredible sadness. These symptoms may persist for a few weeks to a few months after you suddenly stop taking Cymbalta. If you wish to stop taking Cymbalta, you must contact your doctor and get your dosage gradually lowered in order to prevent these withdrawal symptoms, as they are not pleasant.
Cymbalta is a useful drug for treating depression and neuropathy that may accompany it. All drugs carry a risk of side effects, and Cymbalta is no different, so you must keep in mind that side effects may occur when you start taking Cymbalta.
It can be very hard to treat depression because there are so many variables.
First of all you must recognize that there is even an issue to address and then you must be willing to get professional help to help treat the condition.
Then not only must you recognize the problem, and seek treatment but you must be willing to stick with the treatment for the long term. Treating depression is not a quick solution.
One of the ways in which you may treat depression is with an antidepressant medication. This group of medications works on the neurotransmitters, known as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, which have an affect on your feelings of happiness, well being and overall emotion.
Another treatment for depression typically used in conjunction with medication is counseling.
This method is aimed at getting to the root of the cause of depression so that it too can be dealt with in hopes of a long term solution to depression.
The challenge of treating depression with counseling is that many times you may decide that medications are enough for you and that talking with a complete stranger about what is bothering you is simply just out of the question.
Easy to understand but those who deal with treating depression with both medication and counseling are thought to have a higher success rate.
Counseling can help to give you alternatives for managing your feelings and suggestions for managing stressful situations.
Finally depression that is not being well controlled with outpatient methods may require hospitalization. This typically occurs in the most serious circumstances, and generally happens after there have been warning signs that you are deteriorating and that you might make a choice to harm yourself or those around you.
Hospitalization to deal with depression may also happen when you are suffering with drug or alcohol induced psychosis that is impeding logical thinking.
The good news is that when you seek treatment for depression and you stick with the program most people will experience a high success rate with the treatment of depression. The outcome of a good treatment plan for attacking depression results in a healthier and happier life.
Success at the treatment of depression depends on the overall involvement you have in your care.
Most often you will find that medication alone will not successfully and completely treat depression, but rather a combination of medications and counseling in which you are an active participant can have a better success rate at treating depression in the long run.
Sticking with the plan even when you begin to fill better is also very important since stopping counseling or your medication as soon as you being to feel better is a mistake and can cause a more serious relapse.
Overall, when you choose to actively participate, then successfully treating depression can be achieved. Antidepressants are often for short term use only while a longer run of counseling can help to really address the root of the depressive episode.
Both Sean Cash & Jeff Foster are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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