Increased alcohol use on Cymbalta

timzamoviemaker · Newbie Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I am a bit relieved to see that there are allot of other people dealing with this very issue. I've been on cybalta for 7 months now and about 4 months ago my drinking began to get out of control and I have done several rather embarassing things while under the influence (or atleast people tell me what I did the next day).

I will share a couple of them with you, don't know if this has happened to anyone else but its embarrasing. And this has only started happening in the last couple of months, post cymbalta, I was never this bad of a drunk.

So here is my story. Last weekend I was drinking with the girlfriend and yada yada yada drank too much and couldn't stop, we go back to her place and pass out. I wake up in the middle of the night and she is smacking me on my back. I was pissing on her floor in my sleep! I am very very concerned about my behavior, but its been hard for me to control the alcohol intake.

I agree with everyone here. I'll have a couple and then have to drink all night long without stopping, blacking out and not remembering much. And before I didn't want to drink that much.

Cym 224 · Newbie Joined: 16 Jul 2007 Posts: 1

I have just stop taking Cymbalta for the reasons this thread is pointing out. It is not effective for me and the drinking has lead to blackouts. I am not talking about a fifth of Jack Daniels a night but three beers.

My question is does anyone know were I can read a scientific study, not testimonials, why this is occuring? Is there something in the chemical make up of Cymbalta that is preventing the working of the liver to normally detox the alcohol i.e. are the chemicals in Cymbalta blocking this process. If anyone can send a link from a medical journal or medical report explaing if there is a correalation, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Guest · Guest

I just had the same thing happen and it is so not like me. I have completely sworn off alcohol also.

elm1120 · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I cannot believe what I am reading! I am weaning off Cymbalta at the moment and switching to Wellbutrin. My physician prescribed Wellbutrin because I am going to be trying to have a baby in the next year or two and that is supposedly the safest. But I was considering taking the two together until I really started trying, but after what I'm reading, I want to go off Cymbalta all together. I have never had an alcohol problem like I've had in the last two years. I started Cymbalta in graduate school secondary to severe depression, agitation and migraine headaches. I thought it was a miracle! However, my fatigue increased 100% and I started drinking like nobody's business.
I have had blood tests done and seen multiple doctors to try and figure out why I have these issues. Now I know. I am at the point where I drink almost a bottle of wine a night and feel nothing. But in the morning, I pay for it. So just know that you guys are not alone. I thought I was becoming an alcoholic, because it runs in my family. I hope as I wean off Cymbalta (60 mg) and take Wellbutrin, things even out.

DILLARD · Newbie Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I have always enjoyed a couple of drinks but since going on cymbalta, I am out of control. At first I thought that I was unhappy with my job, gastric bypass surgery, etc. A couple of months ago, the doctor increased the dosage and I got out of control. I was drunk literilly every night. It didn't matter what the alcohol was, I drank it. I was also put on darvoset for arm pain and would take two with a beer. Last week I found this website and sat at my computer in tears reading it. It was like everyone was talking about me! I went off cold turkey and am now going to a massage therapist who is working on my liver. I have good days and real bad ones. The headaches are the pits but I have basically stopped drinking. Thank to all of you for being honest. You may have saved my life.[/enc]

warwens · Newbie Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

I have been taking Cymbalta 30mg for over a year now. I started taking it for job related stress. It has helped tremendously. And I never felt many side effects at all. Well none that I knew of. Anyway my work offered a pilot obesity program. I have been on this for about 6 months and I feel great. I have lost over 30 pounds and I am in the best shape I have ever been. My job was going great so I went to my Doctor and asked him to help me get off of Cymbalta. All the working out I was doing would help with stress.

He put me on 20mg and told me to take it for two weeks, then drop down to every other day. Before all of that I have begin to drink heavily. For me. I have only been a social drinker. I went from that to buying a 12 pack of beer every two days. My husband was getting very worried and pissed off. Alcoholism runs in both of our families. I couldn't figure out what the hell I was doing. I was so worried about how much I was drinking. I started seeing a psychologist, who thought I might just be going through a phase. Deep down I didn't think so, but I really never shared that.

After I was almost at my two week point of 20mg, I noticed I started losing interest in drinking and I havent been barely drinking. I am at the every other day mark. My withdrawal symptoms from the Cymbalta are hell. I hope I can get though it. But I wouldnt trade it for the drinking I was doing. I am so thankful for stumbling on this web site. I nearly cried.

Guest · Guest

Hi All, Well, the cold turkey has been hell but the worst is over. I am taking vitamins and dramine for the head rushes. I don't think that I would recommend this to everyone but for me, my life has always been "all or nothing at all". Don't give up. Talk to your doctor and bring this web-site to him or her. I am sure that this problem is not well known so I shout it from the rooftops. If I can save one person from what I have been thru, it was all worth it. I have filed a complaint with the FDA about this. I don't know how far it will go, but I feel better being on record.
Keep the faith and don't forget:YOU ARE NOT ALONE. :

Guest · Guest

oh yes....
i'm glad i found you guys.i began taking cymbalta about 3 months ago.after about 4 days my depression returned and i still had anticipitating panic attacks.instead of taking me off the cymbalta,my dr. uped it from 30 mgs to 60mgs and added wellbutrin.for the first time in my life ,i found myself taking an extra slug of alcohol here and there.
when we went out to dinner ,it was like i couldn't get enough...as the months progressed i began drinking more and more.eventually i started to black out.this again ,it never happened before.this last time ,i was completely out of controll,i punched my boyfriend in the eye and gave him a black eye,and i am full of bruises.he said i said vile things .it was like i just snapped.I don't remember a thing and my relationship is dangling(of course).the onset of theses blackouts about 2 months ago.about one month after starting cymbalta .
my dr. should have taken me off the drug after the first couple days after i complained of feeling worse instead of upping the dose and adding wellbutrin to soothe the effects.i have taken effexor in the past for many years around 3 or 4 and never experienced anything as horrendous and dangerous as this.i am now off both cymbalta and wellbutrin and only on effexor .ill be back in a couple weeks when i test my ability to have a cocktail without turning into a homicidal maniac...(i hope anyways!)
don't read internet withdrawals about cymbalta.it will scare you to death.i was on 60 mgs and felt NO TRANSITION onto effexor...

Cymbala too? · Newbie Joined: 15 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I find that both Lexapro and Cymbalta make me drink more - actually I get so wired from both, especially at the beginning, that sometimes I find alcohol helps ease it. It's weird, however, to hear that it increases your hangover. For me (well I take a thing called Chaser whenever I drink anyway) I find that when I have a hangover I take Cymbalta and it helps alleviate it. But then I have only been on Cymbalta for a few months and it seems its effect is wearing off anyway just like the Lexapro; I don't get the same dizziness I used to get, but I also am more depressed. I am bipolar and "tip" really easily, so I may be in a different category, but I'm glad to see the discussion!!

Guest · Guest

i've been on cymbalta for about 4 months and i've noticed a huge increase in the amount of alcohol i consume. i used to be on wellbutrin and never had this problem. As many others have said, once i start drinking i'm not able to stop and end up with terrible hangovers in the morning. i've stopped taking the cymbalta 3 weeks ago and have noticed that my urge to drink has decreased significantly. i'm going to ask my doc to put me back on the wellbutrin. that didn't have the same effect and also doesn't cause the sexual side effects that i'm experiencing on the cymbalta.

hope this helps. thanks for everyone's posts.B

Increased alcohol use on Cymbalta

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