... I was recently prescribed Cymbalta for depression/anxiety/pain. I'm starting out on 30mg for a week then going up to 60mg. I've had two doses so far and I'm definitely starting to feel good effects. The doctor also prescribed me trazodone to help me sleep. I haven't picked up my prescription yet so I'm not sure of the dosage amount (can't remember) but I'm assuming its a low dose since ill be using it for sleep. I googled the two meds and up pops a major interaction warning. The two used together could cause seretonin syndrome? Is this really safe to use together?
Depression - Cymbalta and Trazodone safe together?
Question posted by Backend-Of-Forever on 21 Sep 2012
Last updated on 2 September 2019 by Farberjf
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9 Answers
Farberjf
3 Sep 2019
Don't do it. I was prescribed the same and am suffering major issues and interactive side effects right now.
I'm scared.
mccoykj11
22 Nov 2017
I'm afraid of seratone syndrom
depressed anxious
16 Oct 2014
I'd appreciate it if someone has an opinion of my combo of meds. I'm on Cymbalta 60 mg twice a day (once in the morn & once at bedtime) & Trazodone 100 mg at bedtime. I'm also on Buspirone. Thank you.
TereseVanHoy
5 Jan 2017
I was previously on 20mg Geodon for 7 years. Had problems with uncontrollable movement of my legs and feet. Went to 5 specialists and found out it was Geodon. I was also taking 200 mg. of trazodone. Finally got off Geodon. I am now on 60mg. Cymbalta in the morning and 200 mg. of trazodone at bedtime. I do not take them at the same time. No problems yet.
HeadStarter
22 Sep 2012
Hello backend - I hope you are having a good experience here in our community and find it beneficial and helpful to you. It would be helpful to know the dose of trazodone. Cymbalta at 60mgs and trazodone at 50mgs, for instance, should not present an issue. The cymbalta is taken in the morning and trazodone at night. You actually are not taking them together or at the same time, just for the sake of clarity. Remember to take your cymbalta early in the morning. Taking it too late can actually cause insomnia. I would be surprised to see you having noticeable results after only two days on cymbalta. Perhaps you are feeling "relieved" which might give you that false sense that it is working. Don't get me wrong, I was on it for years and it did wonders for me. When I was ready to come off, I did and that was the end of that. I do still take a sleep aid, Ativan or Lorazepam (generic).
This helps me relax at night when my mind is generally still active and resiting poetry and other fun stuff. Most people don't notice anything until the second week but most definitely by the fourth week on cymbalta. I hope this works just as well for you.
There are many other better sleep meds than this one because it is normally used to treat depression. So now you have two meds both treating depression. I have also taken trazodone for sleep but it really knocks me out and I don't like the "hangover" feeling the next day and sometimes lasting the whole day. trazodone is also used to treat bi-polar illness and schizophrenia.
Have you ever done a sleep study??? Why not ask your doctor what he/she thinks about that? Perhaps there is something else going on here. And, perhaps you will get the much needed rest and sleep when cymbalta is at the clinical dose.
I am with a lot of the other posters here who believe a psychiatrist is the best doctor to prescribe psych meds or "head" meds as they are also lovingly referred. The reason being... they are more knowledgeable in that area and can diagnose what type of mental illness is presenting. So, you wouldn't go to a psychiatrist when you have the flu... nor should primary care physicians treat mental illness because they don't understand that area.
Be well and take good care of you.
Mary
sara12345
22 Sep 2012
Taking the 2 meds only have a potential for seratonin syndrome. My doctor and a specialist Pharmacist both approve of me taking both Effexor, now Pristiq (also SNRIs like Cymbalta) and a maximum dose of Trazodone. My doctor said, it's rare and if it does happen, it can easily be treated at the ER. I have taken both medications for the past 7 years.
I greatly need both medications. Effexor/Pristiq for depression and the physical pain of my migraines. And the other one, Trazodone, has been the only medication that has helped my fibromyalgia a lot.
So again, talk to your doctor about it.
tejas129
22 Sep 2012
This combination can put you at a high risk of seretonin syndrome.If it was me, I'd contact the Dr who prescribed it before I picked it up from the pharmacy.If it was a GP rather than a Psych, I would definitely ask for another med.If your Psych prescribed, and they still think this is a good med to address the issue it was prescribed for then go ahead and get it. But be proactive in making sure that you are having the lab work done regularly,and if you have someone who can help you watch for symptoms,be sure to enlist their help in monitoring you.Also be sure to let them know the particular symptoms that you likely won't realize are happening,ie,hallucinating,etc.This symptom is one that most think they would know if it is happening,but I know from experience that sometimes you really don't know .With some of these symptoms you may not realize that certain changes are taking affect.Put the side effect list in a spot where you and your watcher can see it.This tends to remind ourselves and those helping to watch more carefully.
tejas129
Backend-Of-Forever
22 Sep 2012
It was a GP that prescribed them. He wanted to see how I did on them for a month then see me back and possibly refer me to a psych depending on the results. I'm really feeling uneasy about taking the Trazodone. Are there other sleep aids that would be more safe to take with the cymbalta I could suggest to him instead?
tejas129
22 Sep 2012
Now that you have said it is a GP doing the prescribing I would say 100% NO!! I did not want to list the litany of serious side effects,but since it has been done,I'll be blunt.If, as I assume you have been diagnosed with all the issues listed in your bio,do NOT let your GP prescribe for you.A Psych knows how these meds work,what ones work well together and which ones don't. This combination that your GP has prescribed, has numerous serious or fatal possible consequences.All drugs can interact with another,but on this combo,the serious outweigh the benefit from my viewpoint.If you need the ref from your GP get it.If not find a good psych.There are literally thousands of combinations of drugs that can be used,but GP's do not have the knowledge in this area to be able to successfully combine head meds.
To answer your question,there are many other alternatives that are much safer.If you just need a little help sleeping a few times a week,maybe a sleep med like Lunesta,it can have some side effects with Cymbalta,but the risk is mild.I'm an insomniac with a tolerance to any kind of sleeping aid,so my Psych gives me Flexerill to take,and while I'm resistant to that as well, it does help me achieve REM sleep . I also take Benadryl sometimes, which works suprisingly well for ME. But, we are all different,and process meds differently.But a psych will be able to add to the Cymbalta,and very likely have you on a cocktail that works, within a short period of time,since the Cymbalta is starting to work. Who, knows? When you move up to 60 mg,I think that might change some things and you may not need help to sleep.
Pegaboomer
22 Sep 2012
I've taken both together for quite a while. Recently stopped the Trazadone. My psychiatrist recommended that I stop and try to sleep without it. So far (5 wks or so) I'm learning to sleep without it. I also take low dose Ambien, and .5 Clonipin to sleep along with two Tylenol. Her reasoning (psychiatrist) was that my brain needs to learn to use the transmitters that are naturally there. I'm willing to give it a try. I've recently titrated off many drugs that I was taking for various reasons. These two sleep meds, the Cymbalta (60) and 3 BP meds are all I take now.
Backend-Of-Forever
22 Sep 2012
Did you experience any negative side effects from taking the two? I'm leaning towards not taking the latter. I'm already feeling a bit anxious about the risks (defeats part of the purpose of the cymbalta lol).
balbanese
21 Sep 2012
Trust your Dr, or ask him/her this question as that is the one you entrust your care to. Interactions are listed as potential, not always for certain. If anything I would be more concerned about going to 60 on Cymbalta, that you will want to monitor closely. Hope this helps.
Backend-Of-Forever
22 Sep 2012
Would you mind explaining the concern on moving up to 60? I've tried reading up on the Cymbalta as much as I can but I haven't read about any risks of moving up. Thanks in advance.
balbanese
22 Sep 2012
I should have been more explicit and mentioned when I went to 60 it was as though I was given a completely different medication, I got horrid sides, flu-like symptoms and a plethora of other indigtatious flagrencies. You'll probably be fine with it, it was my own experience and again I should have been better about rendering them to the tablet.
Inactive
21 Sep 2012
I just an interaction check for your meds and you are correct, it is a major interaction. I suggest you talk to your Dr. asap.
Major:Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Interactions between your selected drugs
trazodone ↔ duloxetine
Applies to: trazodone, Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Talk to your doctor before using traZODone together with DULoxetine. Combining these medications can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms while taking the medications.
It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Switch to professional interaction data
Other drugs that your selected drugs interact with
trazodone interacts with more than 300 other drugs.
Cymbalta (duloxetine) interacts with more than 500 other drugs.
Interactions between your selected drugs and food
duloxetine ↔ food
Applies to: Cymbalta (duloxetine)
DULoxetine may cause liver damage, and taking it with alcohol may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with DULoxetine. Call your doctor immediately if you have fever, chills, joint pain or swelling, excessive tiredness or weakness, unusual bleeding or bruising, skin rash or itching, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark colored urine, or yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, as these may be symptoms of liver damage. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.
Switch to professional interaction data
https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=2228-0,949-2273&consumer=1
Take care,
maso.-
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, anxiety, pain, generalized anxiety disorder, trazodone
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