When to take Cymbalta..A.M or P.M.?

I'm just starting Cymbalta. I tried Lexapro several months ago and was unable to sleep and felt manic. I'm now starting 30mg Cymbalta once a day and my doc suggests that I take it at dinner since it is likely to make me sleepy.

Are there many out there getting insomnia from Cymbalta? I'm very afriad of not being able to sleep again - it's not a problem I have when I'm not on a med and I find it extremely distressing.

Kelly

I don't take and never have taken Cymbalta but I was having a problem with insomnia and Zoloft. My doctor actually suggested the opposite of yours and told me to take mine in the morning and it helped. Are you taking any other meds or have any other illnesses that may possibly be interfering with your sleep?

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No, I'm not having trouble sleeping now.. but just today the doctor gave me samples of Cymbalta and said to start taking it today at dinner. And just the thought of not sleeping has me second guessing her advice even before I start taking the meds. I was just curious if anyone had a problem with Cymbalta and sleep. The only other antidepressant I've ever taken was the Lexapro and I had such a strange reaction to it. I was told it was common for people to feel sleepy on that as well and yet it was like speed to me. I guess I'm just being a bit obsessive about it - I'll just give it a shot and see what happens.

Thanks,
Kelly

My daughter was put on 20 mg cymbalta twice a day, a week ago. Her side effects were nausea (first 3 days), heart beating fast (eating followed by walking up stairs--twice), and waking 4 times in the night (reported for two nights). She has never been on any sort of prescription or other drugs--not even aspirin.

There are some posts, here and on other sites, about taking the 30mg cymbalta. Some people said it made them sleepy, but that was the minority in the posts I saw. More people said it keeps them awake at night, and they switched to morning.

Those and other side effects, seems to vary a great deal.

bev

Thanks, Bev.

I had some trouble last night.. woke up a couple of times, once I stayed up for almost 2 hours. But it might be due partly to the fact that I took a nap yesterday and was feeling anxious about trying to sleep. I'm going to take them in the a.m. and stick it out for at least a week, unless I have severe problems sleeping.

I hope your daughter is doing welll now with cymbalta.

Kelly

She is doing beautifully on cymbalta. 

I tried Lexapro first as well... didn't work. I am on Cymbalta (60mg) and I feel so much better. I take Cymbalta in the morning and I do find that I am more fatigued than I was when I was on other meds, but if I get enough sleep I am okay. I have always had problems sleeping, but they have improved lately. I had been taken ambien frequently, but now I only need it 2 or 3 times a month.

PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WITH CYMBALTA. MY 22 YEAR OLD COUSIN COMMITTED SUICIDE 5 DAYS AGO. SHE WAS TAKING IT TO COUNTERACT A CHEMICAL REACTION FROM ULCER MEDICATION. SHE HAD BEEN ON IT FOR about 6 WEEKS, AND WAS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE I KNEW, ALTHOUGH FAR FROM PROBLEM FREE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS MEDICINE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND I AM POSTING ON EVERY SITE I CAN. 13 PERFECTLY HEALTHY PEOPLE, BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, COMMITTED SUICIDE DURING CLINICAL TRIALS. MANY OTHERS HAD THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE OR MADE ATTEMPTS. PLEASE TYPE IN CYMBALTA SUICIDE RISK IN YOUR SEARCH ENGINE BEFORE TRUSTING THIS MEDICATION.

Hi,
I have just started taking Cymbalta 60 mg for anxiety & depression. I haven't been sleeping the last 4 nights unless I take a sleeping pill. But I still wake up at 2 am, not being able to get back to sleep. It's very frustrating because i have been an insomniac all my life, and this is part of the problem. I take the drug in the am, and by 3 pm i am soooo tired, but also feel "buzzed out" like I am smoking pot - this is what it feels like. My head is foggy, strange....
I am not sure if I can continue this med, even for another day - but I will see how the day looks. I am very tried, even though i feel like I'm in a pretty uplifted mood. Even after taking it for 4 days, my downer moods have lifted, and I am feeling a bit better about things.

Sammy,

Welcome to HealingWell. I take Cymbalta 60mg every night at bedtime.  I also take Trazodone 100mg with it.  It works well for me as I had a huge issue with sleeping.

Perhaps you could take the med at night. Do not hesitate to see your physician if you meds just don't work.

Kitt

Hi Kitt,
Thanks for replying. I am gonna try to take Cymbalta tonight and see what happens. My doctor told me about trazadone, but I have to know - do you feel like a zombie the next day? I mean, i have only been taking Cymbalta for 4 days, and I feel like I am in a fog most of the afternoon. Will trazadone make it even worse? I really need my sleep. Thanks again.

Hi Sammyb,

Welcome to the HealingWell depression forum. I think that once you start taking the cymbalta at night, that things are going to go better for you. It seems to me that most people's doctors tell them to take it at night. I am suprised yours didn't.

Anyway, I hope that it continues working for you. And as always, keep posting. We are all here for you.

Hugs, Karen

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  Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia

Hi Karen, THANKS!
When you say take it at night, do you mean before bed, or around supper time? I really appreciate your advice, this is this first time I have used these forums. Please let me know! I really want to try to continue with this drugs, but insomnia can be sooo frustrating.

Cheers,
Sam

Good Morning,

I take it at bedtime.  As you have not been on it long enough, I would give it the 4 weeks and if you still have trouble sleeping, then ask your physician to consider the Trazodone. I do not remember having any bad side effects.

I know we have other members on the board that take Trazodone to help with sleep.

I should have mentioned, I have a high tolerance for drugs so low doses don't cause me any problems.

Take care
Kitt

Hi Sam,

Just wondering how it is going. I hope that the cymbalta works well for you.

Keep posting, you are doing good on the forum.

Hugs, Karen

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  Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia

Hi Karen,
Last night was the first time I took cymbalta at night...I feel asleep, but woke up alot through the night and am very tired this am. This is still only day 6, so I guess I will keep trying. I might call my doctor also to discuss with him...I am only getting about 1 good night of sleep per week. Should I expect any better?

Thanks for responding!

Hey Sam,

I think that the doctor knows best in this situation, but I have heard that most people take the cymbalta at night. It may take a while to get the full benefits of it. But it seems to me that it works faster than a lot of other meds. You need your rest, so I would talk to him about a sleep aid. There are many different kinds, so if one doesn't work, another might.

I hope that you are having a wonderful day today. Keep in touch.

Hugs, Karen

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  Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia

I've been on Cymbalta (with wonderful results) for almost a year. Makes me hyper (bouncing knee syndrome ). Take it in AM after breakfast. If I happen to forget and take it after 12 -- forget it, up all night!Also, depends on how much caffeine I have in my system too. So...say I take my Cymbalta around 10am & have 1 cuppa jo then, and another cup or 2 mid-afternoon...hyper city, can't sleep or else restless sleep, wild dreams and wake up really unrested. Agreed, work with your Doc and I hope that Cymbalta works for you as good as it has for me. And, also, it took the Cymbalta over 6 weeks to kick in for me, fwiw.

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[2}Dx: Post Spinal Fusion chronic pain since 1984;Polyneuropathy;Meniere's Disease, Left ear deafness & severe tinnitus on Left; Major Depressive Disorder (DX);
Hx,Meds: obtuselyoblique1.wordpress.com/

dealin my hubby is taking 60mg of this right now. He takes his in morning. He says he does okay as long as he is moving but he gets sleepy if he is still for too long. He may have a night every now and then that he doesn't sleep good but he usually is fine. Of course everyone is different. You are right you have got to get some good sleep. If you are still taking it at night then try it in the morning. Good luck

Hey Kelly

I hope u and the other members don't mind my jumping in here. I"m usually on the MS forum, but i take Cymbalta and often read this and other forums pertaining to my own health issues.

I first used 30mg's Cymbalta for a week and then my dosage went up to 60mg's. I found that on the 30 i was having some probs sleeping for the first few nights, then it leveled off and i was fine. Once i upped the dose i again had probs sleeping which also leveled off after a few nights. I stopped taking this med and recently had to go back to it. I"m only on the 30mg's now, but upon restarting it i had the same sleep issues, but they, again, have leveled off and all is back to normal in my sleep patterns. I did as one other member mentioned....stayed up for two hours at a time during the adjustment time, but if u can hold out, it's well worth it.

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rhonda

Hi All, I know I mentioned this before but Cymbalta and Trazodone work great for me at bedtime and I have a really hard time finding a combo that works.

You may want to ask you Physician re this if you continue to have problems sleeping.

good luck
Kitt

So, i tried taking cymbalta at night, but i couldn't sleep. I did this for a week. I switched back to the am, and yes, i get sleepy in the afternoon, but as days go by it is more & more manageable. I have always taken sleep meds due to insomnia. But I am still a bad sleeper..and i always wake up at the crack of dawn. I used to love to sleep in on the weekends...those days are over.

I have been on 60mg of Cymbalta since June of 08.  It did wonderful at first but for the last couple of months I have had the worst bought of insomnia.  I have tried taking it in the morning and night with no difference.  I feel very sleep deprived now and still can not sleep.

HI Snowdreamer,

Welcome to the forum. Do you think you should ask your doctor for something to sleep with? It might help.

Hugs, Karen

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  Moderator-Depression and fibromyalgia

they actually gave me lunesta which has not helped.  I have actually called my doctor to see what she recommends.  I will definately let you know of the decision.  Thank you for the warm welcome!!!!