Before considering taking any drug or medicine it is essential to recognize the side effects which may occur from it. If you have been prescribed antidepressants, you should look into all of the possible side effects before proceeding.
The main antidepressants that are used today
Cymbalta, or Duloxetine, is a type of antidepressant and is sold under a variety of different brand names; Ariclaim, Xeristar, Yentreve, and Duzela. The drug makes up part of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors or, to make things easier, SSNRIs. The medicine is used to treat depression, whether it is general anxiety or major depressive disorder. Nevertheless, it can also be used to treat other problems, such as fibromyalgia, which is a chronic pain disorder, or it can also be a remedy for constant musculoskeletal pain.
Just like all other drugs and medicines Cymbalta has its side effects, from serious to not so serious, from common to infrequent, nevertheless it is essential to know about all the possibilities to ensure you are ready for anything that happens.
What are some of the side effects you need to be mindful of?
The most common side effects of the antidepressant are nausea, headaches, drowsiness, fatigue, and a dry mouth. These effects are quite common when using most sorts of medication and drugs, thus they are not something to get too worried about. Individuals may also feel increasingly dizzy from taking Cymbalta, this may just be as you are not used to taking the medicine, so take more care when moving around, and if you are getting up from sitting or lying down then make sure you do so slowly. However, if these impacts are causing you discomfort, or are persistent, and are even getting worse, then it is highly advisable that you seek medical advice from your doctor.
Another common occurrence in patients taking Cymbalta is insomnia; the inability to sleep or get a full night’s sleep. In fact, research concludes that over ten percent of those taking the drug have experienced sleeping issues. There are general methods that can be used to combat any insomnia problems, such as keeping away from caffeine, alcohol, and energy drinks, as well as avoiding eating a big meal with a couple of hours before you go to bed. However, if you feel that your insomnia problems are getting serious and are having an impact on your daily life it would be a good idea to seek professional advice.
A lot of antidepressants cause sexual side effects and Cymbalta is no different. There is a variation of different sex-related issues that Cymbalta can bring about. Some men find that they suffer from impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, whilst taking the medication. Individuals may also experience problems ejaculating and having an orgasm, as well as a decrease in their sex drive altogether. It would be advisable to seek medical help from your doctor if any of these seem to become frequent in your sex life, however, if you feel uncomfortable doing so, perhaps it would be best to lower your dosage or seek a different drug to treat your depressant, of course, you must speak to your doctor about taking a new drug.
The medication can also cause serotonin syndrome, which is a condition considered extremely serious. It is important to point out that the chances of this happening or slim, nevertheless they are possible so it is essential to be aware of this. Serotonin is the chemical that allows the brain, as well as other cells in the nervous system, to communicate and respond with one another. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome range from rapid heart rate, to muscles twitching, to confusion, to variations in blood pressure. If you encounter any of these issues you must see your doctor as soon as possible.
To be frank, there have not been too many major reports of serious side effects caused by the drug, obviously, you have a high chance of feeling sick or having headaches, nonetheless, nothing out of the ordinary seems to have occurred thus far. In fact, placebo-controlled trials of the drug actually took place to gauge how safe and effective duloxetine actually is as a treatment for major depressive disorder, and the results were subsequently published. During this randomized trial four adults, over the age of eighteen, were treated with placebo, duloxetine 120mg a day, duloxetine 80mg a day, or paroxetine for a period of eight weeks. All in all the results concluded that in general duloxetine, and thus Cymbalta, is a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder. However, this does not mean that it is the only option available to you.
If you are worried about the side effects that have been mentioned, you can explore other medicines, or why not go down the herbal route? There are a lot of people that have been turning to the likes of Penguin CBD to help them with anxiety and related issues. We are all different, so it is about figuring out what is right for you.
All in all, Cymbalta seems to be a successful treatment for depression and anxiety-based issues. Of course, the same rules apply as they do to all other medicines; you must first seek medical advice from your doctor and you must always take the correct dose as advised by him or her. In spite of this however there does not seem to be too many dangerous side effects associated with the medication, nonetheless, nausea, headaches, and dizziness, can be a common occurrence. If you experience any of these, or anything similar, monitor the impact of them and if they persist or get worse then seek medical attention as soon as you can. And finally, it goes without saying, if you notice any Cymbalta side effects which are not mentioned or are more serious, then go to your nearest hospital or doctor’s surgery immediately.