Cymbalta is an antidepressant, meaning it is usually prescribed to people who are suffering from clinical depression or bipolar depression. These conditions are characterized by an extremely unhappy mood, sometimes accompanied with mood swings. Bipolar depression and clinical depression are caused not by events, or at least not entirely by events, but are mainly due to chemical imbalances in the brain. The brain does not have enough Serotonin.

Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that makes it possible for people to feel happy and stable. A lack of this chemical due to a problem with the brain causes depression which can only be treated by medication. A medication like Cymbalta works with the neurotransmitters in the brain to cause more Serotonin to be available.

My experience with Cymbalta started when I was diagnosed as bipolar. Cymbalta was given to me in addition to a mood stabilizer. Bipolar disorder causes mood swings, including very serious depressions that can last many months. Several weeks after starting Cymbalta, my depression lifted. As a matter of fact, the drug worked almost like magic. I soon was feeling better and functioning much more efficiently. Cymbalta helped my concentration as well, making it easier to have a clear head. As an added bonus, the drug helped me with pain- Cymbalta can also act as a pain killer in many circumstances. Taking Cymbalta with other drugs helped to control my bipolar depression for many years.

I also experienced very few side effects, and what I did experience were troublesome only in the first few days after starting the drug- the side effects went away quickly as my body became used to the medication. I did deal with some nausea, lack of appetite, and dizziness when starting the medication. I was glad that Cymbalta did not increase my appetite at any time or cause me to gain weight. Many medications for depression and bipolar disorder cause the person to gain weight, and Cymbalta does not do this- so it is a good choice for those who want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

One drawback of the drug, which is really a drawback for all anti-depressants, is that some people can build up a tolerance for Cymbalta, meaning that a larger dose is needed to achieve the same effect. Eventually, given a period of years, the drug may become ineffective and may need to be replaced, which is what eventually happened in my case. Still, I had several years of very high functioning on Cymbalta.

If you take Cymbalta, you should be aware that if you drink alcohol, the medication will become less effective. Since alcohol is a depressant and Cymbalta is an antidepressant, they will work against each other. The more you drink, the less effective Cymbalta will be at combating your depression. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink while on this medication, or at least to not to drink frequently.

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