ipursuitMy 14 yo daughter is having some depression and anxiety/panic attacks due to some suppressed grief (long story). She has been prescribed Cymbalta 20 mg per day. How long does it take to work? I am so worried about her being well enough to get back into her school work in late August.
How long does it take Cymbalta to work?
- Posted:
- 16 Jul 2010 by ipursuit
- Topics:
- cymbalta, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Details:
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Responses (6)
Anonymous 
marjorie ...
christineATU
16 Jul 2010
Hi there Marjorie! I've been a little sick the past few days but much better now. How have you been old friend??
marjorie zych
18 Jul 2010
Will be talking to you soon glad your feeling better.Marjorie zych
Anonymous 16 Jul 2010
According to my search;
As far as norepinephrine reuptake inhibition goes, you could start feeling better in three to four days. So if that's what you needed tweaked, you could feel better pretty damn quick. Or at least as soon as you hit the right dosage.
But if you needed to have your serotonin reuptake adjusted, or both your serotonin and norepinephrine adjusted, then you're looking at 2-4 weeks after you hit the right dosage.
Anonymous 16 Jul 2010
Hi pursuit, NRI's can work pretty fast, in my experience. Do watch your daughter's diet, as NRI's can cause major sugar and carb cravings!
My daughter started having panic attacks at about 11 years old. Evidently, panic disorder shows up around puberty. It tends to run in families, seemingly a genetic thing, I have heard.
I feel so bad for you, I know how painful it is to watch your child going through something like this, and feeling helpless, not knowing how to aid in any way.
This episode may just go away, as my daughters situation did, sure hope that is the case for your dolly!
Best wishes to you and your daughter. sweetlemon
christineATU
16 Jul 2010
Very caring advice and words sweetlemon
ipursuit
29 Sep 2010
thank you so much for your kind words sweetlemon. My daughter is doing better but still not back to her old self. She has always been the most joyful child and now it is so hard to see her very stressed out and sort of beleaguered. She just started High School and that has been very hard, putting the medication to its test. I don't know if she might need a higher dose, she is only getting 20 mg/day.
16 Jul 2010
I copied this info for you from the Cymbalta med guide. I hope it helps clear up any confusion you may have about when it should start working.
"Take Cymbalta exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication.
Try to take the medicine at the same time each day. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Anonymous 16 Jul 2010
chris, you should go to med school... and take grey-cypress with you my irish rose!
xoxo sweetlemon
christineATU
17 Jul 2010
Thanks sweetie, my Irish counterpart!
19 Jul 2010
Thank you all for such kind and prompt responses! This is a very nice set of people on this board! My daughter started the meds this past Thursday night and has been at least eating now, but not much change other than that. It has now been 4 nights of doses and I am hoping it will starting kicking in more. She is on the lowest dose - only 20 mg.
Thank you all again for your help!
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Thank you so much for such a fast response! Some of the other people have cited 4 - 6 weeks, so I was certainly hoping it wouldn't be that long.
No problem just glad i can help!:)