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Suggest Dosage For Cymbalta

Posted on Sat, 15 Apr 2017

Question: Can I take 60 mg of cymbalta one day and 30 the next day to achieve the effect of 45 MG

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No, It will not work

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns.

Duloxetine have half life of 8-17 hours and just 12 hours on average. The dosing of cymbalta should be either twice a day or on a minimum once a day.

If you alternate dosage between 30 and 60 mg on daily basis it will not translate to 45 mg per day.

The alternative option is to go for one 30 mg tablet and another 20 mg per day. This will be slightly higher than your required dose but it will be much better option.

I hope this answers you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (35 minutes later)

I have gone from 30-60MG since the 21st of this month. I feel sleepy, agitated, and a little dizzy. I feel like stay with 30 mg. Should I wait a little longer before I make this decision? Everyday the sleepiness has gotten a little bit better but I feel like I have no motivation for my job. Don't know what to do.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
It will not take more than one week

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for reverting back to me.

I like to assure you that mentioned issues are temporary side effect with increased dose of Cymbalta. Most probably it will take less than one week or around a week to settle down all these new onset side effects.

In case you have tried 30 mg for at least 4 weeks and got some effects but still there are symptoms of illness, I will request you to hold on for few more days. In all possibility you will get more benefit with time and the sleepiness, dizziness, agitation will go down.

I hope this assists you.
If you have more questions I will be glad to assist you further.
If you do not have more questions, please close the discussion and if possible rate the answer for my future patients.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (49 minutes later)

I have been on 30MG of Cymbalta for 7 weeks with minimal side effects. I increased to 60MG this past Tuesday the 21st of March. I have decided to go back to 30MG for the mean time and see if I can find 20 MG tablets to take and increase to 40 MG instead of jumping from 30 to 60. I think this will be easier on my system. Do you agree?

Also what do you think about 30MG of Cymbalta and Wellburtin? I have heard positive things about this combination.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I agree

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

I do agree with option of either 40 or 50 mg per day with use of 20 and 20 mg tablet or 20 and 30 mg tablet since there are side effects issues with 60 mg of cymbalta per day.

To answer your another question I like to know your symptom profile, past symptoms before start of treatment and other possible details. This is important because choice of medication depends much upon your symptoms.

Thanks again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (3 days later)

12 years ago I began taking Effexor and after mixing the medication with drugs and alcohol I experienced a drug induced psychosis. I tried ability to help with the symptoms but it did not help much. I switched to citalopram and after three psychotics breaks the citalopram seemed to balance things out. I was on citalopram for ten years up until two months ago when my therapist and I decided that it was not working for me. He suggested that I try cymbalta. I have been on 30mg since and have had positive results. I want to increase my dosage to 40mg and then to 50MG but the hospital that I see my psychiatrist does not case 20Mg capsules of cymbalta, only 30 and 60mg. My psychiatrist suggested that I stay at 30mg but my therapist said there is nothing wrong with wanting to maximize the effect of my medication. I currently take 50-75 mg of seroquel as a sleep aid and the occasional benzodiazepine to help with it too. So much current medication plan is 30MG of cymbalta and 50 - 75 MG of seroquel. I want to try augmenting by trying another anti depressants such as Wellbutrin or something else. I generally feel ok, but I know there is room for improvement. Should I try another med on top of cymbalta? Or just stay at 30MG. I can't go from 30 to 60 I need a gradual increase but that's not available for me.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
Thanks for follow up.

In my opinion you should continue with 30 mg of cymbalta and I do not think there is any rational for augmentation at this stage. I agree that wellbutrin acts as good molecule along with cymbalta but I think it will be proved wrong in your case.

I hope this assists you further.
If you have more questions I will be glad to assist you further.
If you do not have more questions, please close the discussion and if possible rate the answer for my future patients.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar