Cymbalta anyone??

I'm in the same boat you are. I was suppose to start taking it months ago and still haven't. I read positive things and think I should try it but then read something negative and decide not to. I do have a med phobia and hate taking new meds so my rheumy told me to open a capsule and try a little at a time but with all that has been going on in my life I haven't even done that. It could be just what I need but I won't know unless I try it.

 

Good luck.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Hi mominmich2   I have bumped up (was admitted to the hospital because of cymbalta) thred.  You can find it in the depression forum.  It has very good information about cymbalta. 

I tried Cymbalta (15 mg. for 3 days, 30 mg. for 1 week, then increased to 60 mg. 2 weeks later) and it helped with pain but it made me extremely tired. My doc also forewarned me of the side effects when I started and said I would have nausea for up to 2 weeks at first but it would subside. We played around with it for a while and decreased to 30mg. because I really wanted to be able to stay on it and we added Phentermine for energy. I had more energy during the day and lost weight but I was so tired by about 4:00 every day, then I couldn't sleep at night. (I know, crazy right?). My doc then decided I should take 20 mg at night every other night and take an ambien with it. This also did not work because the ambien made me tired the next day. I stopped taking the ambien and that seemed to keep me from getting too tired. The only problem with this was that the Cymbalta really didn't have any effect since I couldn't even take a clinical dose. I also had a psych. evaluation during this time and found out that I was severely depressed despite being on the Cymbalta. I am off of it now and didn't experience any withdrawal but I was barely taking it by the end so I guess I was weaned off. I guess my point is that us fibromites can't seem to take any new med with the assumption that we know the outcome (even from each other's experiences). I hope this helped, I know it was kind of long-winded!

I've been on Cymbalta for three months and love it.  It has given me more energy and curbed my appetite even though I haven't lost any weight.  I'm also taking Lyrica in a small dose, because I'm afraid of it causing me to gain weight.  They have both been great for me and I also take Flexeril at bedtime and I'm sleeping so much better.  The only thing is I'm still sleepy when the clock goes off.  When I get up and get going though I don't feel a bit drug down. 

My only problem is all of them together are causing me to stay constipated and I have to take otc vegetable laxative every night. 

I feel so much better since my rheumy put me on them, but I'm so afraid of the side effects and long term use.  I have been thinking about getting off them all and seeing how I feel then.

I hate taking any kind of meds and these are powerful ones so I'll let you know what I decide.

In meantime give Cymbalta a try.  You can always get off of it if you don't like the feeling it gives you.

God Bless!

Shannon

 

I was going to try Cymbalta, but I'm on Lyrica and Prozac and I have to watch my "liver" because I have a liver disease as well as Fibromyalgia and if you have a liver disease they recommend that you do not take Cymbalta...  Everyone is different and medications effect people differently I think..   Good luck with your decision though...   Hope it works for you

Breezie

I wish you luck with it. I would do a google search on "cymbalta withdrawal" and on "cymbalta side effects" to see what you may be getting into. I had absolutely no reaction of any kind to it. No help with depression or with pain, no side effects and no withdrawal.

As with most meds of this kind, you will probably need to be on them for several weeks, up to 6 weeks, to see the full effects of the meds. If you DO have any side effects, or any suicidal or homicidal thoughts, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE call your doctor!! This is one of those medicines that can give you that during the first few months of treatment.

I also have a med phobia. I am comfortable with my hydrocodone (vicodin 7.5) that I tale 2x per day never any more than that. I did try a lot of different meds, one was cymbalta, and I did not like it at all. In addition to the horrible dry mouth(felt like sand in my mouth) it just made me feel strange. I now have been given Lyrica, and it still is sitting unopened on the shelf.

A new medication was just approved last week and it will be coming out in march, I think its called Savelle, or something like that, but the side effects dont look to bad.

Hi,

I have been following this forum for quite some time now, but this is my first post, so please be patient with me!

I started taking Lexapro at first, but it really made me feel like a zombie, even though it relieved my depression. In July, my neurologist changed the Lexapro to Cymbalta, hoping that it would help with my headaches and the pain from the fibro. It did quite a good job. I had less pain in my chest and hips, and the headaches were really eased. Unfortunately for me, in October, I was in a car wreck and hit my head again. And since then, the Cymbalta stopped working as well. I was only taking 30mg a day.

When I first started taking it, I took 30 mg for a week, then I raised it to 60mg. At 60mg, my headaches worsened, so I cut back to taking 30mg twice a day. I had a little nausea after first, but nothing too bad, and now I have none at all.

I am now also taking Neurontin, and that has really eased my migraines.

Good luck to you.