Cymbalta (an SSNRI) targets two chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, that are believed to play a role in how the brain and body affect mood and pain.
My friend is on the medicine and she doesn't like it at all.
This is about the drug: The Science Behind Cymbalta
Depression may be caused by an imbalance of naturally-occurring chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine, in the brain and the body. In the brain, these two chemicals are thought to be associated with mood. These same chemicals are thought to be associated with regulating and reducing feelings of pain that come from the body.
If these chemicals are out of balance, the effect can be felt in both the brain and body. You can feel both the emotional and painful physical symptoms of depression.
Many antidepressants target one chemical, serotonin. Cymbalta also targets a second chemical, norepinephrine. In clinical trials, Cymbalta was proven effective in treating depression, both its emotional and physical symptoms.
Cymbalta is not a narcotic.
My friend says the it makes her nausiated and she has been sick a few times. She was going to give it another week and then maybe try something different.
Bi-Polar disorder, also known as Manic Depressive is a series of highs and lows. Where depression is all lows. Does that make sense? Here are some red flags for Mania.
Increased Energy
Decreased Sleep
Little Fatigue
An Increase in Activities
Restlessness
Speech Disruptions
Rapid, Pressured Speech
Incoherent Speech (generally not present in hypomania)
Clang Associations: the association of words based on their sound
(For example, my ex-husband once carried on for some time about vacancies, vagrancies and bacon seeds.)
Impaired Judgment
Lack of Insight
Inappropriate Humor
Inappropriate Behaviors
Impulsive Behaviors
Financial Extravagance
Grandiose Thinking
Increased or Decreased Sexuality
May include inappropriate or sexual behavior
Changes in Thought Patterns
Distractibility
Creative Thinking
Flight of Ideas
Disorientation
Disjointed Thinking
Racing Thoughts
Changes in Mood
Irritability
Excitability
Hostility
Feelings of Exhilaration
Changes in Perceptions
Inflated Self-Esteem
Hallucinations (not present in hypomania)
Delusions (not present in hypomania)
Paranoia (generally not severe in hypomania)
Increased Religious Activities
Hypomania also differs from bipolar mania in that the symptoms are generally less severe so that they do not cause significant impairment of daily activities.