[amtram]

I've been managing my ADD and depression pretty well over the last several years with 120 mg Cymbalta, 60 mg Adderall XR in the morning, and 1-2 mg Lorazepam or Xanax at night. I'm also hypothyroid, so 50 mcg of Synthroid at night for that, and just had a complete hysterectomy (forgot to take hormones, now I'm almost done with surgical menopause. . .)

However, my pdoc I'm not managing so well. He moved far away enough that I could still see him, but it was a long, irritating drive. He won't write postdated scrips, so I have to go up there at least twice a month, and with his inadequate staff, I sometimes leave empty handed even if I've called beforehand. The number of pdocs on my insurance is limited to two that are closer, and one of them wasn't taking new patients. So, off to check out other local doctor.

Of course, he needs to make adjustments. To be fair, I am still having some problems like skin picking and overeating that aren't being helped by the Cymbalta, some verbal stumbling caused by the Cymbalta, and morning drowsiness made worse, apparently, by the anti-anxiety night meds.

So. . .I went down to 60 mg Cymbalta on Wednesday, and started .5 mg Risperidol that night. Went up to 1 mg Risp. last night, will go down to 30 mg Cymbalta on Wednesday. Dropped the ativan/xanax entirely. Do. Not. Like. Strange, interrupted sleep, and continued daily drowsiness even after the Adderall. Muscle twitching all over, little spasms in my extremities, from shoulder and hip on down. Numbness in my lips and tongue, now a surface numbness everywhere.

Is it withdrawal, and I'll be better when it's over, or is it acclimation, which will get better once the risp. kicks in? Or is it something I need to worry about and call the doc?

[AirMarshall]

Um, you are changing three (3) meds at once. And you want to identifty which med is causing any given side effect? Seriously, don't expect an answer.

Cymbalta withdrawal typically has effects like: nausea, dizziness, brain zaps/head shifts, general crapiness. Going from 60mg to 0mg cold turkey means you are probably going to notice it. heh. That wouldn't work for me, but everyone is different.

The risperadal should help, I would think. If things get too unbearable talk with your doc about going back on the Cymbalta briefly and tapering down to 30mg and then lower if dosing is available. Remember there is seldom a reason to race on med changes. It takes time for the med levels and brain to adjust. Time.

Hope you feel better. a.m.

[amtram]

Not quitting the Cymbalta CT - that was the anti-anxiety meds that were helping me sleep. Goodness, no!!! I made the mistake of quitting Paxil CT about 5 years ago, and won't do that again. The cymbalta is a quick taper: 120 down to 60 mg the first week, down to 30 the second week. Faster than I'd like to go, but this isn't quitting meds entirely - it's a switch from one to another. I know about the zaps and some of the wooziness, but the last time I had twitches and spasms was when Wellbutrin was added to my Paxil, so I'm wondering if that's from a dopamine effect of the risperidone. . .