Does Cymbalta Cause Weight Gain?

[Conway]

I tried Cymbalta and had blurred vision almost immediately. Since you're having trouble sleeping have you considered having a sleep study?

Many fibromyalgia patients have a sleep disorder called alpha wave intrusion. This means that instead of having the deep restorative sleep stage (delta), we have constant interruptions in our delta sleep from our daytime (alpha) waves.

This condition goes on without our knowledge but is easily found in a sleep study. The results of my sleep study showed that in the 20 minutes that I was in the delta sleep stage, alpha waves interfered 38 times!

The treatment for this condition is Xyrem. Xyrem enables you to have uninterrupted delta sleep which results in less pain and less sleepiness during the day. I've been taking it since 2003 with great results!

There is a chat on this site on Thursday nights from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. in the Narcolepsy Hypersomnia room. This chat also includes fibromyalgia, and chat moderators are there to answer questions you might have about anything to do with fibromyalgia (as well as Narcolepsy, etc.). Xyrem is also discussed during the chat by both the moderators and the participants.

I would encourage you to visit the chat, and ask your doctor to set up an appointment for you at the nearest sleep clinic. If you have this condition you need to know and you need the medication for it.

If you go to the home page of this site you will see a link that takes you through a sleep study. That way you will know what to expect when you have yours.

If you are depressed you can still take the Cymbalta, but if you're not depressed, Xyrem might be all that you need.

[momof2innc]

This is the first time that i have ever replied to one of these message boards but I found this one and thought it may be helpful. I have been on anti- depressants for many years for anxiety and irritability. Started with Wellbutrin about 12 yrs ago and it worked very well - stayed on it until I got pregnant with my second child ( I just couldn't do without because my son and husband would have been miserable). When I got pregnant they decided to switch me to Celexa my first experience with an ssri. Everything seemed fine and it seemed to work as well as the Wellbutrin. After a while it seemed to lose it effectiveness and they swithch me to Lexapro and that is when the real problems began. I put on approx. 30 pds and I was sleepy all of the time. After Lexapro we tried Prozac and it never seemed to help the anxiety and I was even more tired than before and continued to gain weight. In May of last year I went back on Wellbutrin and after a month my Dr. added 60 mg of Cymbalta. At first i felt like a new person. I was not tired any more. I actually had more energy than I had had in many years. At first there did not seem to be many side effects - but sometimes I felt like I was on speed and my heart would race. Sometimes just walking through the house would make me feel like it would beat out of my chest - after that the dizziness started and the extreme body temperature. I would get so, so hot and sweat like crazy. No matter what I did I could not cool off. I almost froze my family out of the house. And the pound kept adding on. Now at 5'2" I am 155 pounds (30 pds overweight). Last summer I actually had a sleep study done at Chapel Hill NC because I was so exhausted all the time that all I wanted to do was sleep. I would get up in the morning and be ready to go back to sleep within an hour. After the sleep study I was told that I snored really bad but did not have sleep apenea. I did have excessive awakenings during the night and the conclusion was that I was overweight and needed to lose 30 pounds. And it is impossible while taking these medications. My family has a history of heart disease (my mom had a massive heart attack at 56 and I am 42) and my dad is a diabitic so the weight gain is not good for my health in many ways. I have decided to go off of my cymbalta. My question now is do I wean myself or do I go cold turkey (I will still be taking the Wellbutrin) Yesterday I tried to go down to 30 mg and was dizzy all day and had a bad headache. Today I decided just to take the Wellbutrin and I felt much better. I had a small headache but nothing major. Has anyone else experienced this and has anyone tried to go off of cymbalta? Did you do it slowly or cold turkey and what were your results? Has anyone been off of cymbalta for a while and did you loose weight? I am sorry that this is so long but any comments would be appreciated.

[Roniz]

In regards to Cymbalta and weight gain and libido: I am not on it for depression, but I have had neuritis in my hip and back for about 9 months. It got worse when I exercised, so I quit working out. I have been diligent about working out for the last 8 years, so that drove me nuts. But the pain was severe when I would exercise.

A new neurologist put me on Cymbalta (30mg/day) about 6 weeks ago and withing 3 days I was 90% pain free. It was a miracle drug for me. BUT......... I have gained weight. Not sure how much...afraid to get on the scale. Since I have been pain free, I have been at the gym 6 days a week.....45-50 minutes of cardio a day and lifting weights 3 days a week. (NO exaggeration) I have been following the Weight Watchers point system CAREFULLY because I wanted to take off the 15 lbs that I gained prior to Cymbalta due to the inactivity.

How frustrating is this!! Here I am busting my rear at the gym and my clothes are getting smaller all the time. It seems this weight is just coming from thin air or something.

The docs think I should be off this stuff within a year, but by then I will have gained 50 lbs....

As far as libido....mine was fairly low to begin with. I still have one, but ability to orgasm is WAYYYY more difficult.

[REMtime]

from having to buy new clothes monthly!!! Seriously, I have been on Cymbalta for 6 months and have gone from a size 10/12 to a size 16/18 and the 18's are starting to get tight. I have seen my doctor about the DRASTIC weight gain and she has put me on Welbutrin, and wants me to wait a month and come back and see her. I want OFF this drug. It's bad, bad, bad for my body and my bank account!!

[kimbo21]

Glad i'm not alone, I have gained 40 pounds since January, I am on cymbalta for FS my doctor told me I would loose weight, what a joke, I am definatley going off this, but figure I will talk to my doctor first, as far as the pain, it does help but I can't stand the weight gain, none of my clothes fit, and my mother-in-law today asked me what was up with me gaining weight, she's pretty blunt, anyways i've been obsessing all day and have decided no matter what, i'm quitting this drug! I feel fat, now i'm depressed!

[Roniz]

To: REMtime.....

Did your doc put you on Welbutrin INSTEAD of Cymbalta? If IN ADDITION, why? Is it supposed to counteract the weight gaining of the Cymbalta? Suppress appetite? Just curious.... I'll be seeing my doc soon, wanted to maybe ask her about that....
Roniz

[belvialinda]

I've been on Cymbalta for OCD since November 2005, so 10 months. In this time, I have gained approx 50-60 pounds total - 30 pounds of that in the last 4 months alone!

It MUST be the Cymbalta causing the weight gaini!! I'm not on any other medication, not even birth control pills, and haven't changed my diet or activity level.

It works GREAT for OCD symptoms - better than anything else I've ever taken - and I've run the gamut of SSRIs, etc., for OCD treatment over the last 10 years... but I don't know what to do about the weight!

It's getting really scary being so heavy - and I'm STILL gaining!!!

Does anyone have any advice?? Thanks!

[OpYop]

I'm scared now!

I have some sort of undiagnosable foot and leg numbness and pain that worsens when I walk even very short distances, and have been to lots and lots of doctors. Finally, they gave up on diagnosing it, and put me on 20 mg of Cymbalta. I took it for 2 weeks and went off of it because my vision was so blurry I thought I was going blind. The problem is that it was helping a little.

The doctors then tried Zoloft, then Lexapro with no results at all. Then they said that I should try a higher dose of Cymbalta (30 mg) for 3 days, then go up to 60. They said the higher doses cause less side effects, which makes no sense, but whatever. Anyway, I'm on my first day of 60 mg., but I'm afraid to take it after reading this board.

First of all, I have serious weight issues. I recently, in an effort to get rid of this leg/foot problem and at the advice of a nurse, went on a very restrictive diet. It didn't do anything for my health, but I lost 10 pounds and am now very happy with my weight. I am beyond paranoid at the idea of gaining any of it back, because I have a history of bullemia. And I haven't been able to exercise (I used to walk 3-5 miles/day) since this condition started, so if I put on weight, there will be no taking it off.

Secondly, I didn't realize how hard it is to come off of. It makes me not want to ramp up at all.

And thirdly, the sex thing. I have lost all ability to climax since the first try at Cymbalta. It makes me very sad.

If anyone has any advice, please let me know. I need all the help I can get! Thanx!!!

[Lindasin]

After reading some of the entries in this forum, I don't feel so crazy. I've gained 22 pounds since the first of the year when I was put on Cymbalta. (I also take 50 mg Seroquel & 100mg of Lamictal). I've always been slender and very conscientious about my weight. At 5'2' I'm currently at 132 - previously weighed 110. I exercise every day doing 60 minutes of cardio and 1 hr. of weight lifting. I watch what I eat & have cut back 500 calories/day. I've still gone up two pant sizes and feel like I gain every day!

I've talked to my Dr. who insists Cymbalta is NOT the culprit; nor anything else she has me taking. I'm SOOO FRUSTRATED This doesn't make any sense. Only occasional medical studies mention Cymbalta and weight gain as an issue.

I'm ready to stop all meds, even if my moods suffer. I simply cannot live with myself being this heavy. Talk about depressing...And my libido is gone, as well!

Anyone feel like me? Any suggestions?

[belvialinda]

Hi,

This is in reply to Lindasin. I soooo hear you! My doctor thought Cymbalta couldn't be the culprit, either, but after I talked to him with facts and figures about my weight, activity, and eating habits before and after starting it, he agreed that it almost HAS to be the problem.

He is taking me off Cymbalta completely - put me on a half-dose of 30mg per day for one week, and now nothing (this is my first day completely without it) and is going to closely monitor my mood and OCD symptoms. At the first sign of trouble, he'll put me back on Zoloft (which I switched off to go on Cymbalta because I had such trouble climaxing on Zoloft and was newly married). He told me that many people had fewer sexual side effects with Cymbalta - which is kind of true for me and kind of not - I can now climax much more easily, but I've lost my drive. So kind of useless trade-off.

The one thing I do know is that Cymbalta has controlled my OCD symptoms better than anything else (and I've been on the gamut of OCD meds over the last 10 yrs), but I just can't deal with the weight gain! 60 pounds in 10 months!!

I started taking 1mg twice per day of clonazepam about 3 weeks ago (have taken that on and off for years as needed for anxiety) and the change has been amazing! Even though I'm going through Cymbalta "withdrawal", I still feel okay because of the clonazepam... I've had quite a bit of dizziness on the half-dose of Cymbalta, but no "brain zaps" as of yet, but have experienced a lot of fatigue and have been very emotional, crying at the drop of a hat!

I figure that I'll go through about a month of crap with tiredness, dizziness, and crying jags, but it's worth it to get off of Cymbalta and hopefully start losing this extra weight (or at the very least, stop gaining!)...

Best of luck to you!

~Belvialinda (Ruth)

[savedbygrace77777]

I have been on Cymbalta for 5 months and have experienced weight gain of at least 7 pounds. I am very disappointed because it has really helped with the fibro and depression. I do experience blurred vision also. It is my intentions to wean myself off beginning today.

[campbellhairitis]

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with chronic fibromyalgia.I 've sufferd pain in all FM trigger points but, recently I have experience awful ribcage pain and joint pain. However,I have had this pain for over ten years and no one seemed to be able to diagnose me.The rheumatalogist diagnosed me and prescribed cymbalta 60 mg. My pain compltely went away for about two months.I have experienced weight gain but, i'm not sure it is from the cymbalta.I also have had a sleep problem since my 20's, I am now 58 and have tried evry kind of sleeping med. I am now taking ambien-cr which I am going to talk about on the insomnia board.But, I somehow believe my weight gain is from the sleep med because always want to eat after taking it. and we all know that nighttime eating especially sweets cause weight gain. Cymbalta worked wonders for my back pain but, hasn't helped my chest pain. Ialso have serious leg muscle cramps but, again this is also a side affect of vytorin and ambien-cr.Therefore, you won't know if cymbalta works for you until you try it. Thanks campbellhairitis

[Changed]

I've taken Cymbalta for fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and neuropathy. It really didn't help. At all. As a matter of fact, it made things worse. I was nauseous for days, my orgasms are virtually nonexistent (that is WHEN I actually have the desire), and I felt like hot garbage. Here's the kicker.... that was after just one tablet. ONE. A month later, I'm still having side effects (I have a really sensitive system so I have to be very careful about what I take.) My moods were weird and I wasn't myself. I'd be one of two things either angry or lethargic. How long is this supposed to last? I'm mad because doctors need to take some responsibility in what they prescribe to patients. I decided I wasn't going to take it anymore after that one pill.... the side effects were headache, intense nausea, and muscle spasms. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I had taken the full bottle.

As far as sleeping, I've been sleeping fairly well. I was on different sleeping pills years ago but they left me feeling "slow" and made it difficult to concentrate. I've found that plain old OTC Melatonin works wonders. I use Natrol (3mgs) It doesn't make me feel wonky the next day and I get more restful sleep.

[Lorideetara]

HELL,YES, IT CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN!!!


I've only taken it for less two weeks, 10 mg. a day, and I'm binging, can't stop eating!!! Grazing like a cow...CARBS, CARBS, CARBS!!![/b]

I don't care how depressed I am, I'm not staying on it! I've denied myself and killed myself trying to keep the weight off, after a 70 lb. paxil gain! Even falling of the food wagon, I didn't gain more than one or two, and it came off right away, and I cared about it! Now...so discouraged!!


The biggest indicator about this is the number of people who have posted: I AM AFRAID TO WEIGH MYSELF!!

Sorry, Doc...if you think depression makes you suicidal, try being someone who's fought weight gain all her life, and has maintained a 90 pound loss for six years. In two weeks, I've gotten too fat for my clothes!!! And, it's FLAB!
For six years I followed a modified all protein diet, or Lindora, or WW...! I WAS a guerilla fighter in the war on fat, and now I can't stay away from food!

My Doc SAYS it's not a side effect?? No, it's also a FRONT effect. My stomach looks terrible! I feel like I'm wearing a fat suit from the movies! I still was higher by thirty pounds than my goal, but now I don't even want to know! AND holiday time...how unlucky is this timing???
I was also on a restrictive (VERY) diet from Tibetan herbal medicine which restricts EVERY known food group...white flour, flour, anything sweet, even splenda, no caffeine, tea, chocolate, sodas, not any potato, tomato, onion, pepper, garlic...etc. (nightshade family, no fat, frying, white rice, pasta, wheat, jam,nuts peanut or nut butters, many fruits, no melons, grapes, dried fruits, citrus, AARRGH! But for five months I did it! (NOT NOW!!) I have fibro and terrible degenerative disc disease and back pain and the Tibetan med. was helping, and causing weight loss! This helped my back too!
But now, in a week, my back pain is TERRIBLE, I can't restrict myself to barley and lean meat, and I can't seem to take my herbs...nor do I care! I can't sleep so I'm eating, or I can't WAKE up, so days are a waste! SWEATING!!! I recently kept working on losing, and now can't stop eating or gaining! ONE day on 20 mg. and I was suicidal! I CAN NOT TAKE SOMETHING THAT MAKES ME GAIN WEIGHT, and these posts from trainers and athletes SCARE ME! How do you get this weight OFFFF??? Or is it permanent? I'm quitting it!! I don't care what kind of headache, and my Fibro and CFS are worse by far... oh, my aching back!! What do you guys think? I don't care about sex and it's almost repulsive to think about bothering! NEVER BEFORE!!!! [b] I've lost my Mom unexpectedly, my best friend (38, pancreatic cancer), my business of 20 years, my son's moving out, EMPTY NEST,and SELLING OUT MY BUSINESS AT A LOSS, therefore my retirement, at 50 lost my career, and now I'm going to be fat to add to all that!
Waaaaaah! losing everything but weight!!!! HELLLLLLP!!!

[meme]

i have gained 60 lbs on cymbalta and recently got off and started lexapro, does the wight come off after one discontinues?