Opinions on switch from Cymbalta to Celexa?

I tried it for several weeks and had no noticeable improvement and no noticeable side effects. Every body is different. I take a low dose of generic Zoloft, called Sertraline, which is also really cheap.

@gailcalled – how are you managing on Sertraline? it is what the clinics here use and one of my relatives is doing well on it.

Fine. No problems. 50mg/daily I think (doing this from memory).

It all depends on the way your individual body chemistry interacts. That’s why there are so many drugs out there that work, don’t work, kinda work but not really, and anywhere along the spectrum for individuals. I liked Wellbutrin myself for anxiety, but I’ve seen a lot of people on Celexa (mostly low income people which is why they choose that one to try first) who are doing ok to great on it. There’s really nothing you can do other than to give it a go for about two months and see what happens. Two months being time for the other drug to clear your system and Celexa maybe getting up and running. :)

Cymbalta works on both neurotransmitters – serotonin and norepinephrine, whereas Celexa just works on serotonin. Effexor is probably the closest to Cymbalta in its mechanism of action. The generic name for Effexor if venlafaxine. It’s been out long enough that I think you could get it for the same price as Celexa. That doesn’t mean that Celexa won’t work for you. It is a good medication that I have used with patients very successfully. But not everyone respond to the same medication the same way.

I was on Celexa and could barely get out of bed. My dr thew a couple other meds at me
and then said I had to go to the mental health professionals. It was all I could do to get up
in the morning and make the 9 am appointment. When the counselor was finished getting
all my info I wanted to see the med nurse right away and that wasn’t possible….another
appointment. I didn’t think I would make it. Finally the counselor told me to go back to
my Dr. and tell him to put you on Effexor. I did and he said you tried Pristique which is
like Effexor but I talked him into it. It was THE hardest med to get used to and into
my system but somehow I kept going and finally I got the relief I needed. I have been
on the tables or generic Effexor- Venlafaxine for about 8 years now. I can tell when i miss
a tablet but that is alright. I feel so blessed that I found a med that really helped me and
the counselor that could see my pain and wanted to help. I have heard terrible stories
on people trying to get OFF this med but hopefully I won’t need to anytime soon. I thank the Lord that I got my life back. I suffered from depression off and on from when I had post- pardum depression 25 years ago with my baby deliveries. The drug is about $35 for a months worth. The capsules are more expensive. This is the only thing that worked for me. Depression really sucks and most people do not understand the illness.