Cymbalta Side Effects--Please help

[Cindee56]

Hi, I am posting this for my 21 yr. old son.  He is in college and he had extreme anxiety and depression and was put on Cymbalta.  He's been taking it for about a month.  He complains to me that he yawns constantly, is really drowsy, almost to the point where he falls asleep at random times and it's upsetting him.  However, his anxiety and depression are much better.  I looked up the side effects of Cymbalta and these are not very common ones, so I don't know what to tell him.  I said to call the doctor, but he never does.  I am worried.

Anyone experience any side effects like this from this drug.  Thanks.

[Cindee56]

Hi, thank you for your replies.  My son was on the 60 mg. dose.  Now he takes the 30 mg. and he still feels somewhat tired, but not as bad and not so much yawning.  He told me the yawning was embarrassing!  It's a shame because the drug really helps him with his anxiety and panic attacks.

Another question I have is that since he's a college student, he does drink beer on the weekends (no matter how much he tells me he doesn't do it).  I worry about combining alcohol with this drug.  Any of you drink while taking Cymbalta?

[wait2long]

in too am on cymbalta, i was on a higher dose that made me extremely tired yawning to the point that i would have tears rolling down my cheeks, lol!, since my dose was cut back...i feel fine...
what dose was he on?, if you dont mind me asking...i was on 120 mgs, they cut me down to 90 mgs and just that 30 mgs helped me a lot...
good luck!!

[sadinmichigan]

hi...i took cymbalta and had to take it in the evening but then i had a rare side effect that made my skin feel like it was burning..my face was bright red..I did find that taking it at night at least helped with the tiredness..

[JSGeare]

You're the top! Read you loud and clear. There was no instruction manual, was there? And I am thinking of you, and him. He's got a very good mom.

-S

[Cindee56]

Thank you for your help.  My son did call the doctor and he reduced the dosage to see if that helps.  Also, just to let you know, I am not a pushy or controlling mother at all.  Most of the time, Tim calls me to talk.  I do want him to be more independent, so I try not to micromanage!  Thanks for the advice and for thinking of me.

[JSGeare]

Good shrink, I think. It is, after all, your kid's "do it." That said, as his mother, you of course are concerned and maybe VERY concerned. As long as you have some assurance that your son is not in harm's way, perhaps the time has come for Mom to back off a little bit. That way, if he fails to follow through -it is really is of his own making and there's a big, lifetime lesson in that. No reason you can't have a little chat with someone who can help YOU -not psychiatry, perhaps, but maybe a social worker, priest or someone who you trust implicitly. Dad, maybe? Growing up is hard for kids to do and just as hard for parents to witness. You are high in my thoughts.

[Cindee56]

Thanks, but this psychiatrist won't really talk to me about my son.  He says that Tim has to call himself (he is an adult after all).  I spoke to Tim today and he said he is going to call tomorrow.  Let's hope he does.  Actually, I looked on another site and it did list the yawning as a side effect.

[JSGeare]

Kids!

Anyway, YOU call the doc and pose this question. Some folks here will have had the same issue -and others will report minimal side effects, and still others will report other side effects -which basically puts you right back where you started. So, try the doc -and see if some adjustment can be made to wake up that sleepy head of yours. Good luck.