114 replies to this topic

[viola639]

@frog i totally am the same, but i have been sensitive now for 2.5 years since that . I tolerate weak coffee (watered down) better now (1-1.5 cups a day), but benadryl, nyquil, even strong green tea (like more than 1 cup) makes me go wonkers. 

 

Also, used to be a licensed sky diver (out of personal love for it), but now i can't even dive into a swimming pool ). 

[fishinghat]

Viola, I didn't see anything in the Nordic Natural that concerned me. Nordic Natural has a pretty good reputation too.

 

I hate to bad mouth another country but myself I do not respect a lot of medicine/health products coming out of China or India. As you said, Quality control and too many cases of contaminants have made me gun shy from these countries. I believe it was the Teva brand of Cymbalta (India) that was shut down from US sales at least once due to poor quality. Don't quote me on that though.  lol

 

It really sounds like you are going through that supersensitive period like frog said. Very common but it will fade.

 

Skydiving!!??   Gee, just thinking about that makes me nervous.

[viola639]

@fishinghat that is totally true. The lack of proper quality control and local politics do make it hard for medicines manufactured in india to be of proper quality, but i have seen that the export quality for those medicines is usually better. They leave out the bad ones for locals . 

 

I just feel a bit better on the US based generics. I was surprised on how much of the ups/downs i was experiencing day-to-day was actually because of the indian brand. 

[invalidusername]

I believe it was the Teva brand of Cymbalta (India) that was shut down from US sales at least once due to poor quality. Don't quote me on that though. 

 

"According to the FDA's weekly Enforcement Report for the week of April 9, Teva is voluntarily recalling a total of 19 lots of the extended-release version of duloxetine including 20-mg capsules in 60-unit bottles as well as 30-mg and 60-mg versions in 30-unit bottles. The report said that the drugs were all manufactured in Israel and were being recalled because of a customer complaint about capsule breakage. The total recall added up to 1,050,266 bottles.

 

In a statement emailed to FiercePharmaManufacturing, the company said: "The safety and efficacy of our medicines is one of Teva's top priorities. We recalled all impacted lots (19) and have identified and remediated the root cause of this recall. This has no material impact on the company."

 

Yes Hat - questionable quality-control from TEVA

[invalidusername]

Also, used to be a licensed sky diver (out of personal love for it), but now i can't even dive into a swimming pool ). 

 

Me too!! I racked up 12 jumps in total! 4 Fixed line and 8 Freefall. Good times, but can't see me doing it again. Bucket list item, but they were good times.

 

How you doing now Viola? Any updates? 

 

As the other said, sensitivity will be serving you on and off during this period, so difficult to pay it no mind, but the more you can, the quicker you will notice it abating.

 

Here for you, whatever, whenever.

 

IUN

[viola639]

@IUN nice to have someone who also sky dives . I hope we can do this together one day, when we are both feeling better . 

The first drop is settling down slowly. The first 3 days had some weird symptoms like excessive salivation, slight head shaking, a feeling of general anxiety. Considering i was put on this due to pcos anxiety related migraines, i understand the head symptoms, i don't understand the saliva issue and eye issues that seem to be cropping up . 

 

The other thing that started with years of using this drug is heavy insulin resistance and weight gain. I went on metformin to combat this. I never felt the metformin working before to reduce fasting blood sugar readings along with indian version of duloxetine. But with the US version of duloxetine, i actually don't get high blood sugar readings at all (Almost as if my prediabetes never existed). This is strange to me or could it be the reduced duloxetine dose. I also dropped 5 pounds in this week alone. 

 

All new things to me.

[invalidusername]

I expect I could be coaxed into diving again one day. It doesn't worry me at all. I know just how much fun it is. I remember my last jump was mid december - very cold, but it was from 12,000ft at sunset out of a Cessna. It was so beautiful. Just a few whispy clouds and a lovely blue purple hue. You totally forget the madness you are going through!!

 

Very interesting about the different in brands that you bring up there. VERY interesting. Says a lot.

 

But regarding the excessive salivation, I had just that and you will find plenty of eye issues with a quick search of the site. Quite common.

 

Worry ye not buttercup.

[viola639]

@IUN it is so much fun to feel the air rushing at u , so relieving. 

 

Yes i'm seeing this difference markedly in my blood sugar numbers. Met with my homeopath, who suggested taking Kali phos 6x (3 capules/twice a day) to reduce anxiety symptoms. I told her i was really sensitive and i would have to see if this would not cause issues with my tapering. 

 

After you said, i went through the forums and i do see a lot of people having eye issues. I always thought it was because of hypoglycemia. 

[fishinghat]

FYI

 

Kali phos 6x.

 

Used in buffers (determination of pH, pharmaceutical production, urinary acidifier, paper processing, baking powder, and food), nutrient solutions, yeast foods, special liquid fertilizers, sonar systems and other electronic applications; Used as a nutritional supplement in foods, a nonlinear optical material for laser use, and in wastewater treatment, cosmetics, buffers pH to acidity, fertilizers, used in the building process, such as flooring, insulation, caulk, tile, wood, glass, etc., ceramic products, disinfectants and much more.

 

Take separate from antacids. Magnesium, calcium, or aluminum antacids may reduce the absorption of phosphate in K-phos.

 

Has been linked to lowering of serum calcium, iron and magnesium levels.

 

Take with food. Take K-Phos tablets at bedtime and with meals.

 

Side effects - Abdominal pain. Vomiting. Diarrhea. Nausea

 

Concurrent use /of angiotension-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); cyclosporine; potassium-sparing diuretics; chronic use of heparin; low-salt milk; other potassium-containing medications; or salt substitutes/ with potassium phosphate may result in hyperkalemia, especially in patients with renal impairment; patient should have serum potassium concentration determinations at periodic intervals. 

 

Source - https://pubchem.ncbi...te#section=Uses

[viola639]

@fishinghat, thank you . That was really eye opening. I didn't know they were used in all these things. She did mention taking it 30 mins before food, morning and evening. Also she mentioned has been practicing for 25 years now in India. She mentioned this with Avena Sativa extract is what she uses for herself and for patients looking to transition from anti depressants to homeopathic remedies. 

 

But about renal issues, i do have fatty liver. I don't know if this would cause an issue with that . 

[fishinghat]

I am not aware of any issues between kali phos 6x and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Very little research has been done on the effects of kali phos.= and systemic organs.

[viola639]

Yeah @fishinghat, it does look like it has no documented effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver (mine is mostly due to pcos). I'm hoping, this helps with some of the zaps i'm encountering. I can't seem to take Omega 3 without getting anxious . So, i'm down to taking homeopathic remedies if they don't cause issues. 

[viola639]

Ah yesterday night and today morning, i have crippling anxiety. I keep thinking about breathing. Manual breathing overriding automatic breathing, this is so stressful, almost panicky mode . Would any medicines help with this? How do i stop thinking about breathing? 

[fishinghat]

The best medication in my book is Clonidine. It is a prescribed medication. There are a number of supplements that may help as well.

 

I did a search for a list of things that may help (supplements) so I could refer you to the list but the site would not do any searches for me. I tried to post a list of supplements that may help but the site would not let me post it. I will try again later.

[fishinghat]

OK, things are working now.  The list of things that can help starts on post #6 at https://www.cymbalta...please/?p=96044and goes through post 13.

[viola639]

Thank you fishinghat , i'll ask my doctor for clonidine then and get over counter benadryl too. 

[viola639]

Also, i did take Kali phos 6x yesterday night, could this have triggered a response like this along with the meditation. I'm not sure . All i tried to do was mindfulness meditation. 

[fishinghat]

The Kali phos 6x contains phosphorus which could have increased serum levels of ADP and ATP which are energy carrying molecules and are stimulants. If that is the cause it should subside in 1 or 2 days.

[viola639]

Seemed to have slowed down a little bit @fishinghat. But still very anxious. Doctor gave a prescription for 0.1mg clonidine, but i'm scared to take it . 

Also, i switched brands a few weeks ago, i'm not sure the side effects for that is popping up now. 

[fishinghat]

Clonidine has a long history of use. Please don't worry about taking it. If you are concerned than start with just a 1/4 of a tablet and work up from there. No withdrawal and not habit-forming.

[invalidusername]

Absolutely. You can start this drug and you will know more or less right away if it is going to help and as Hat said, there is little if no withdrawal. Nothing to lose. 

 

I had the breathing thing for a while about 3 years back. All I could do is focus on it, I wouldn't let it automate, even though it is what it is supposed to do. One might say meditation here, but the ironic thing is that meditation teaches you to focus on your breath! Unfortunately, this is a good practise and does help. 

 

But what people don't understand is that it DOES help because guided meditation does exactly that. It guides you. Counting your breath, you befriend your breath. When you start using such practises as box breathing, in for 4 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, out for 6 seconds, hold for 5 seconds... or whatever - these are numbers plucked out of the air. You will find your own rhythm. But this technique calms you down, It send a signal to the vagnus nerve which triggers a calming response in the brain.

 

It takes time, but its certainly worth a try...

[fishinghat]

IUN brought up a good point, clonidine only takes about an hour to kick in. Antidepressants usually about 4 to 8 weeks depending on the formula.

[viola639]

@fishinghat and @IUN, i got really scared. I assumed it was because of the change in brand. So, i went back to the previous india brand  (full dose) and have been taking it for 2 days. The panic symptoms have not gone . Instead i'm feeling very sleepy, sluggish and dry mouth alongside panic.

 

Have any of you had this breathing trouble for 5 days like me ? What do i do?, i'm really scaring my husband. 

[fishinghat]

Breathing issues (hard to catch your breath) are very common. Updosing with Cymbalta is tricky. Sometimes it works and sometimes it can make things worse. What was your dose and what did you raise it to? Up dosing usually takes 4 to 7 days to kick in. Have you tried the clonidine yet?

[viola639]

@fishinghat Oh i didn't updose by a lot, i just went from 55mg(Lupin Pharma) to 60mg (old brand Torrent pharma). I had only done drop + a new brand. Also being on the period, makes it extremely hard for me to think straight . I haven't started the clonidine yet , my husband heard it could reduce blood pressure and i'm already on the lower end of bp. But still, if this trend continues, i'll have to take it tonight, can i actually take it with duloxetine or away from it ? 

 

I also have questions about Lupin pharma, after all this happened, i went ahead and looked up some history. I has been recalled by the FDA several times due to dissolution issues. Which makes me think, for the past two weeks, i might have been on a far lower dose than 55mg. 

 

Also this sleepy and tunnel vision thing is killing me , i just started a new job, i'm afraid i'm going to lose it, if i'm this panicky . Everytime i think about breathing, i get this queasy feeling in my stomach. I'm almost thinking of seeing a hypnotherapist, 

[fishinghat]

Clonidine, like all anxiety fighting drugs, will lower BP. even Cymbalta can lower bp. We have had members who suffer from low bp before and they have a hard time dealing with anxiety because of their inability to take medication or supplements to help treat it. 

 

That is a small drop Viola. Things should settle down in a few days. 

 

That comment on Lupin is accurate. Lupin is another of the India based companies however it also have production facilities in a few other countries. Their inconsistencies are usually site specific problems. 

 

Hopefully the sleepiness and tunnel vision will clear in a few days as your Cymbalta serum levels stabilize.  

[viola639]

Thank you Fishinghat , i'm hoping it will kick in soon, also got in touch with a hypnotherapist for help too. 

 

Would you recommend using a different brand from Lupin, have members had success with a particular few brands ? 

[fishinghat]

Citron and Eli Lilley (Cymbalta ) are the two US companies that have a large number of beads in them so that making small drops is practical and also have relatively a stable number of beads per batch. As noted in the ebook, most companies have several manufacturing companies that produce their version of Cymbalta. Each facility has a slightly different number of beads in their capsules as well as each batch being slightly different in the bead quantity. This means that with each refill, if the batch number is different than the previous refill, then you will need to count beads again before using the new batch.

[viola639]

@fishinghat thank you . i think Citron might be a brand i'll look out for. The local cvs seems to carry Torrent and Ajanta, i don't know if they are good enough brands. 

 

Still a bit congested and breathing issues. But slowly settling down. I just hope this panic goes away . 

[fishinghat]

Members have commented that the Ajanta only has around 70 beads so  that makes small dose changes more difficult compared to say 300 beads.

 

Torrent is another company out of India.