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Lyrica or Cymbalta

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Posted 7/27/2009 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried taking acupuncture, and vitamins to dual the pain but it is not working.  I have read article after article on lyrica and cymbalta but I realized the best way to find out if either of these two medications will help my fibro is to ask you all about them.  I see my family doctor on Thursday and am going to ask her to put me on one of them.  I need a medication that I can take that will allow me to still drive to work daily and will help me sleep.

   

?  Have you tried lyrica, or cymbalta?

?  What are the pros and cons of these two medications?

Thank you for your help!

Stari

Posted 7/27/2009 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Stari,

I have tried them both. This is my unprofessional opinion:

I would not take either one. I was on Lyrica, but I was drowsy all of the time (made the fog even foggier). I quit taking the Lyrica and the fog cleared and I did not have any increase in pain.

I have been taking the Cymbalta , which is pricey even on insurance, and I am not sure I am any better for it...

I tried to quit Cymbalta a month or so ago only to find out there are BAD withdrawal symptoms. After researching and finding that it is notoriuos for bad and long lasting withdrawal I went back on it until I have enough time off of work to get through the withdrawal. In short, I wish I had never taken it...

That is all I know, but I would research the Cymbalta withdrawal before starting it...

Posted 7/27/2009 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried both, and for me cymbalta is better, Lyrica made me suicidal. Cymbalta for me is easier to take - doesnt make me drowsy or loopy, unlike, lyrica. BOth are expensive. I like that cymbalta has taken away almost all of my nerve pain. DOesnt do a thing for my fibro muscle pains. I miss doses and nothing as far as withdrawls happens to me and I am at the highest dose of 120mg a day. Just my experiences.
'

goodluck
Posted 7/27/2009 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I take lyrica. I missed several days of it, and didn't have withdrawals, but my pain levels skyrocketed.
For me, it takes me awhile to wake up in the morning, but I drive on it, and do anything else I want.
My husband however had severe sleepiness and couldn't wake up from it. So it affects different people differently.
Just my experience.
Posted 7/27/2009 9:56 PM (GMT 0)

Just my opinion but doctors never tell you what withdrawal side effects  come with these drugs.  I have not tried Cymbalta but I have been on Lexapro for almost two years.  I cannot get off due to the brain swishing/jolts that are miserable.  I have cut down to about 4mgs a day and the minute I cut the dosage any smaller the side effects kick in.  When I turn my head or move my eyes I get 'zapped'.  I have not tried Lyrica as it is $500 a month and I don't have insurance. (I get free samples of Lexapro from my doc or I wouldn't me on that either) I know someone who took Lyrica for three days and said it was 'not pleasant'  My suggestion to you would be to decide what you want to try and get only a weeks worth of pills at first, or a physicans sample pack so see how you react.  All these drugs are so expensive and it is such a waste when we get a 90 supply only to find we can't tolerate them.

Everyone is different and you may have no problem at all with either one of these.

Huggies

Donna

Posted 7/27/2009 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stari,

I have been posting on the Lupus forum but I also have fibromyalgia. I tried to take
Cymbalta but only could tolerate it for three days, TERRIBLE nausea. My rheumy then
put me on Savella, The FDA approved it in January for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

I have only been on it for a couple of weeks but haven't had any side affects. My rheumy
gave me an introductry sample. The dosage starts out at only 12.5 mg but gradually goes
up to 100 mgs. a day, that way your body builds up a tolerance.

Hope you find some relief!

Robin
Posted 7/28/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the replies I value everyone's experiences and opinions.
Posted 7/28/2009 8:14 PM (GMT 0)
As I have Crohns...I can't take Cymbalta. Something to do with how it can work similarly to aspirin and other blood thinners and can cause worse bleeding in the intestines.

So, I'm on Lyrica. Which works to an extent. That's about all I can say for it. It's better then taking just plain old pain meds to cover all the pain. Not the best of working ideas...but it does something.
Posted 7/28/2009 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Lyrica awhile back and it didn't really seem to help me, but I didn't have any of the side effects that others on here have described (I guess I was lucky). Currently I'm on Cymbalta and it seems to be working a little although I have been having trouble sleeping since I started it. My doctor has now increased my dosage and has told me to take it in the morning to help with the insomnia. I feel that I can drive and do most of my daily activities while taking Cymbalta and even when I missed a dose or two I didn't have any withdraw symptoms.
Posted 7/29/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
I am currently on Lyrica and going back to my doctor to take it off... the grogginess is too much for me i feel drained all the time... and the dizziness is too much...the headache is way to much

i will just see if they can't raise my other meds and hope that will help... for me lyrica is not worth it.. it takes me forever to wake up ... i have to take my meds at 6pm so i can be up for 5:30...


i can't take cymbalta since it is sulpha based and i am allergic..
Posted 7/29/2009 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
I tried Cymbalta and hurt worse after 4 days on it than ever before. My neighbor has tried both and got nightmares, hallucinations, and more pain. The dr. wanted me to try lyrica but at $172 a month it just isn't worth it.

Good luck....hope you feel better

Posted 7/29/2009 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
The withdrawal from Cymbalta was very much like what Vestabula described. It began in earnest my second day off of Cymbalta. I work through all illness and pain. I NEVER call in sick to work. I had to leave work because of the effects.
Posted 7/30/2009 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I have tried both of these medications before. While everyone is different, I found that the side effects to both of them were definitely worse than their benefits. Lyrica made me very groggy and I felt like I was in an extreme fog all of the time. I would get easily cofused and forget things all the time. I would feel like there were periods of time that would just go completely blank in my mind. It scared me. Plus, I never got any pain relief from Lyrica.
As for Cymbalta, it did help with my depression. I take Celexa normally, and I do think the Cymbalta helped a little bit more, but as far as pain relief goes, it didn't seem to make any difference. Plus, it made me tired, sick to my stomach, messed with my vision, and made me sweat like crazy all the time and get cold chills.
Over all, I think that both of these medications are extremely expensive and neither offered me enough relief to be worth it. Of course, everyone is different and you may find it beneficial to try them. Most doctors have samples they can give you so you can try the medication without paying for it. If you don't want to try it, you may want to ask your doctor about something like amytriptiline (a tri-cyclic antidepressant). I've been taking it for two months and it helps a lot with my stiffness and a little with the pain. It does make me a little drowsy, but I take it before bed and it also helps me sleep. It's a generic and isn't very expensive at all. Keep in mind that there are many medications other than just lyrica and cymbalta that may help you. The best thing you can do is talk to your doctor about trying some different things and see what works best for you.

Good luck!

SaraBeth
Posted 7/30/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
 

For me, I did not see any difference when I took Cymbalta, so I went off of it. I was on Lyrica for a little over a year did okay but then I started swelling really bad. So I weaned off of Lyrica and now the swelling is gone. I also found out I have Lyme, right now I'm on IV rocephin. I still take percocet as needed for pain. I honestly think I have felt better since I came off of Lyrica. But I felt like it really did a good job when I first started taking it.

 

Good Luck on what every path you choose!

Posted 7/30/2009 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on lyrica for a week and a half. The dizzyness and headakes are almost gone now and although I am a sleepier than normal I do have substantial reliefe from my pain.  I am on 75mg twice a day and if the side effects continue to deminish I will probably stay on it.

just my experience

Posted 7/31/2009 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all!
My doc put me on lyrica 100mg daily. I take one 50mg pill with dinner and the other 50mg pill at bedtime. Doc informed that it could take up to 2 months to feel any difference in the pain. I think doc said to start off on a small dosage then build up to 150mg daily. I'll give it a try and hope it works.

On another note...I have been taking malic acid for about a month now and have noticed that I am not so tired.

Thanks for the replies!
Posted 8/1/2009 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Stari,

I am with Jokat on this one, in regards to Cymbalta.

I tried Cymbalta and the side effects were worse than Fibro itself. I was EVEN MORE tired, which I honestly did not think was possible. This made going to work extremely difficult and I made errors on my projects as a result of the extreme fatigue. It also turned my sex-drive into nothing and, in addition, I had physical side effects (numbness) in that area. It did alleviate some pain for the first couple of weeks, but afterward it came back. I could have raised the dose, but decided to stop because of the side effects.

I hope you can find something that helps.
Posted 8/1/2009 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there Stari and you will find what works best for you. Research your meds before you start them, including withdrawal effects. In my opinion you should only start meds that you have an option for stopping.
Posted 8/1/2009 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the support...it's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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