Cymbalta for depression?

Hi all -- I have a call in to my WLS surgeon about this and am waiting for an answer -- my regular doc wants to switch me to Cymbalta and I'm wondering if it is ok for WLS patients? Thanks for sharing your good/bad experiences. -BJ

sorry i have no experience with it, but i did ask my pcp about it when i got on anti-depressants. he did not want me to try cymbalta because he said one of the side effects is anorexia. so i am now taking celexa. hugs~mary jo

I changed from Wellbutrin to Cymbalta two months ago. My doctor felt the Cymbalta has a better anti-anxiety component. I have had great result with it. I haven't had any negative side effect and have found it to be helpful. I don't know about the anorexia side effect mentioned, but everything in that respect seems normal for me. I did notice a slight decrease in my appetite, but I also experienced that when I went on Wellbutrin. I started taking it at bedtime, but because I felt some tiredness during the day I switched to taking it in the morning and that seemed to do the trick. Patty

I was combatting several very stressing situations all at once and -- at my request, after doing a lot of research and speaking with several post-ops -- my endo put me on 20mg of Cymbalta/day. It has helped me deal with mild depression, mild anxiety, and mild body aches. To me, I am the Cymbalta poster child and thank all on the boards who led me there. Initially my appetite was essentially cut in half (for about 2-3 weeks) but that helped knock me off a stall point. I am much thirstier than before I started taking it but that helps me keep my liquid intake at about a gallon/day. I have NO complaints about Cymbalta and consider these issues to be no big deal. I take it before I go to sleep and the other common side effect of nausea seems to be virtually nonexistent. With the approval of my doctor, when faced with a particularly stressful day (like a day in court due to a bogus lawsuit DH and I had been facing and we eventually won ... thank God), I may double my dose to 40mg but I never do this more than once a week. The doubling helps me deal with pretty much everything that comes my way. Since I started taking Cymbalta in May, I have been able to drive again after being too stressed/afraid to drive for over three years. I am able to deal with general BS in a very hectic, fast-moving NYC on a far more regular basis than I was initially post-op (as a pre-op I was essentially a bedridden recluse). Check out my profile ... I flew to Vegas in June and am headed out on a 9-day cruise at the end of this month. The best thing is that it doesn't mummify me or keep me from enjoying life or being who I am ... It just keeps the stressful and aggravating stuff less intense so that I can get thru it without overtaxing my mind, body or spirit. Yep ... uh-huh ... This great day brought to you by Cymbalta!

Okay, so I won't be a grad until 2 weeks from now; but I can speak about Cymbalta. I have fibromyalgia and depression. Which led to what, I don't know. Cymbalta changed my life nearly as much as the WLS did. Cymbalta is little pellets inside. They are designed to dissolve in your stomach. Our pouches can accommodate this action. I had a few challenges with it until I was on foods and off purees. If you are recently postop you have to swallow the little pellets all at once in a spoonful of something. They also make them in 20 mg caps, which are really small. The pain relief component of Cymbalta is a lifesaver! I'm sure my depression was corrected by many things and having no pain is one of them. Losing 110 pounds is another. I will most likely be on Cymbalta for a very long time. I have no side-effects and feel great. Email me privately if you have any more questions. Cheryl Fobi Pouch 10/3/05 (almost a grad) 240/140/129 (11 pounds below goal)