Cymbalta

[Princess "Leia"]

So I will be starting Cymbalta soon....am in the process of weaning off of eilval, which at this point,was not working very well. I realize Cymbalta has a few unwanted side effects.

Anyone have any luck with it for the neuropathy?
Pam

[ima2003]

hi princess,
i started taking cymbalta for neuro pain the middle of aug. i initially had some nausea...and still do have occassional bouts, but no other side effects.

i believe that i have had pain relief. i am not sure exactly why or how since i know that the pain is still there but somehow i am not affected by it in the same debilitating way. whatever the reason i am grateful to be able to get through the day without wishing that i were dead because the pain in my arms and back is so intense. i call it "body on fire"...it just doesn't happen like that anymore. now it is pain from true weakness and fatigue. i go to bed at night, it goes away.

good luck. keep us posted.

[David Berg]

Pam, what else are you taking? How long were you on Elavil?

[Princess "Leia"]

ima2003,
I get what you mean about the burning/body fire. How do you manage in Wisconsin with the cold? Cold makes the burning just awful for me. My family knows I hate the cold because of this. Heck, I get cold just thinking about the cold.

David,
I took my 3rd Cymbalta last night. At 52, I know this body well enough to state it knocked me out and I awoke up feeling very groggy. It seems to persist through-out the day, with me yawning and in the fog, which is highly unusual. Neuropathy relief was ok.

I was taking only 10 mg of elavil at night for about 4 years and it worked fine in the beginning. I also use Ultram 50 mgs about twice daily. Anything more than that wrecks havoc with my system.

Neurontin, Lyrica caused me weight gain so I discontinued them. Topamax did not sit well with me and made the burning much worse and I developed severe Nystagmus.

Its been all trial and error for me. I am not so sure I will continue the Cymbalta. My doctor and I had discussed increasing the elival as the 10 mgs is not much, say maybe to 25 or 50. I go back to see him in a few weeks.

Sigh, I grow weary of the constant battle with the meds and once weaned from all of them. Suffice to say, I was so rotten miserable I did not even want to be around me.


Thanks for your replys,
Pam

[firesmurf]

for me,cymbalta actually increased my central pain and also had a very odd effect on this area of my RSD knee where i have some type of RLS component going on.it enhanced it to the point where i litterally jumped out of bed the day/night i had to raise the dosage(from only 30 to 40mgs) as my leg felt the worst creepy crawley nasties ever.i ended up pacing the floor all night long,the next morning,i started a rapid taper off that stuff.it was a horrid feeling it created in my legs.

despite the fact that it was making my CP worse,i wanted to still give it a shot since it WAS actually affecting it,i was hoping that it may turn around for me and DO something good eventually.nope.it also did nothing for my depression either.but i know other people who it has really helped too.everything is very highly individual as far as how it will work on you and your bodys physiology and pain processes.marcia

[alan]

Doc is going to try me on 20 mg. Cymbalta, as we have no other ideas. Hoping to avoid the nausea this time - I'm having enough problems with central pain-caused queasiness and all the painful organs, so I don't need more stomach trouble. And I sure don't need a meed to increase the pains - they keep intensifying on their own and don't need assistance, as I'm beyond miserable already. I want reduction of the bones tnrough skin, skin ripping, burning and being scraped off, and cramping feelings, as well as all the others!

[cass]

cymbalta made me sick as a dog. worst one i've tried. hope you have a lot better luck. :o but, they've all made me sick. i can't seem to take these kinds of drugs. effexor was my latest try...made me sick from one pill.

[KevinT]

I've been taking it for depression for a week now. So far so good (no side effects).

[razzle51]

I took it and it was awful . Heart racing , sweats , anger .

[Tim C.]

another nearly usless composition of Rx shit dust.

[Princess "Leia"]

Cymbalta was not for me. I had a difficult time waking up each day, had to go back to bed later in the morning several times. Was in a fog all day long not to mention the bad anxiety that came with it. It took me all weekend to feel somewhat normal. It also did nothing for neuropathy.

[KevinT]

The worst one I've taken was Celexa. It left me much more unable to function than my depression and anxiety did. Paxil was similar, and Wellbutrin did absolutely nothing for me.

I started to notice the 'fog' with Cymbalta this morning. It took me hours to get out of bed, however, I was also a few hours late in taking it, too. Not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. We'll see if it clears up during the day.

One good thing I've noticed since taking it is the racing, uncontrollable thoughts that make me unable to concentrate are almost gone. That's my main concern since I'm in grad school.

Anyhow, I didn't mean to steal the topic away from pain.

[jb]

i've been on cymbalta for nearly 2mos and i luv it!!!!!!!!!!! i take it for depression and it's been the only one i haven't had prob w/. i've tried alot now. i initially got tolerable headaches but they've gone. i do get a little backed up but nothing too severe.

[beherenow]

If Cymbalta isn't the answer for some, what do you try next? Is there something that doesn't have the initial crummy side effects? Who needs additional pain/discomfort when you already have enough pain going on?

[rollin64]

are ya supposed to take cymbalta in the am or pm? my doc give me some samples...30mg then 60. i ran out of neurontin for a month and i felt like i was dying. was taking only elavil and it did nothing. i've been taking 600mg neurontin every 8 hrs and my second 30mg cymbalta this morning. i feel a whole lot better ...but WHEWWW, withdrawals from neurontin was awful.

[friedgreenpea]

I have been on it for a couple of years now for depression. If I skip a day or two, I get so depressed, I just cry and feel like hurting myself.
I was never evaluated for depression after my accident. I woke up from the surgerys and found out that they already started me on anti depressants. I think that is bull shit!

[alittleslower]

i take 60 mg. cymbalta 2x day it seems to help i only notice when i dont take it way bad pain when i forget it also help keep me goin "antidepresant" i have'nt had any ill sideaffects that i can remember ive been on it for 11/2 years my story good luck all
peace

[rollin64]

are ya supposed to take cymbalta in the am or pm? my doc give me some samples...30mg then 60. i ran out of neurontin for a month and i felt like i was dying. was taking only elavil and it did nothing. i've been taking 600mg neurontin every 8 hrs and my second 30mg cymbalta this morning. i feel a whole lot better ...but WHEWWW, withdrawals from neurontin was awful.

no cymbalta updates? must not be very helpful in the neuro dept. my general doc said he heard it's better than lyrica even..

all elavil does is make me sleepy.;;;

[bigbossman26]

I was on Lyrica for a while but could not handle the foggy feeling, general "spaced out" feelings all day. Was switched to Cymbalta and have been taking for 3 mo. now. I do notice some side effects I.E. real jumpy and jittery. Have all kinds of energy so I take it in the morning when I get up. I could not imagine what would happen if I tried taking it at night. Doc thought there would be some benefit in taking Cymbalta in conjunction with Lyrica. So now this is the first month of taking both. Kinda evens out the groggy feeling from Lyrica and the hyper feeling from Cymbalta. I have noticed some decrease in the Neuro pain and allows me some mobility I had not previously had for some time. I also take Celexa for depression which seems to be helping. Not too clear on what I am supposed to be feeling with that medication. I now have a very laid back, relaxed outlook on life and my situation. I no longer feel so anxious and stressed out. Couple that with some Vit B Complex and my BP is now in a good range. Not sure what help this has been but my two cents worth anyway.

[katemm]

It is a shame you didn't stick with it. I was zonked for months but now I am fine and pain relief is great

[Princess "Leia"]

It is a shame you didn't stick with it. I was zonked for months but now I am fine and pain relief is great

As I stated, it did nothing for the neuropathy and so it was not worth the foggy side effect. And after almost 10 yrs of testing every med for neuropathy I will stick with good old elavil. Hey Rollin try to take it at night and see what happnens.

Pam

[sesau1]

I've been on Cymbalta for 2 years. I also take Morphine Sulfate ER 30mg and Hydrocodone for breakthrough pain. I tried stopping Cymbalta and after 3 weeks of withdrawls I was left with pain that even the Hydrocodone could'nt take away. I am back on Cymbalta and feel much better. I now believe that yes it does help me significantly with pain.