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Cymbalta users - any recent updates?

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Posted 10/1/2011 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Saw my doctor again today who asked again whether I would like to try Cymbalta.  Having read so many mixed reviews I am still unsure.  For those of you who have recently started taking it, how long did it take for the dreadful side effects to disappear?  Does Cymbalta actually help chronic pain?  Some days I would do almost anything for pain but on the other hand dislike what I have read about side effects, withdrawals and so on.  Not sure whether it is worth it!

I also have celiac disease and IBS so really do not wish to feel much sicker than I already do... shakehead    but then my chronic pain is so darned bad! 

Posted 10/1/2011 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
I've taken it for almost 2 weeks. Only thing I've noticed is decreased appetite. Which, for me, is a GOOD thing.
Posted 10/1/2011 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Chanterelle, I am right where you are. I have the samples & have been eying them. I want improvement but I'm cautious about rocking the boat
Posted 10/1/2011 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
Not so fancy, I hear you! But I do teach culinary classes so I would find loss of appetite hard. I would love to lose about 30 lb, though, but would prefer to do so without being sick.

Applevenus, I was wondering whether you have started it yet. I am so very torn! If it turned out to be a miracle drug for me it would be so worth it but the side effects worry me more than any other med I've tried (and I've tried LOTS!). Doctor is also very concerned about some ongoing GI issues so I am just wondering whether now is the time or not. I so wish I had a clear answer! If it was just a matter of trying it like a fast-acting painkiller I would be all over it.
Posted 10/1/2011 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I am taking 60mg of cymbalta I take it in the morning and I still take pain meds BUT I have more going on in my body. I am hoping once I have surgery on my back that some of that pain will be reduced and when they figure out the golf size lump I have under my right rib that more pain will be gone and the cymbalta will be enough. Yes it seems to have reduced some of my pain. I also know its addictive and if I accidently miss a couple days my hubby says he knows because I am very moody. I have no side effects that I am aware of, it does not mess up my blood glucose levels. I think the only way you will know if it will work for you is to try it.
Posted 10/1/2011 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys,

You still haven't tried them, eh Applevenus;p? I don't blame you for being scared either Chanterelle.

All I can say is I've been taking this med for MONTHS now. I take 60mg in a.m., energy plus pain relief lasts for 6-8 hours, then take 30mg in the afternoon if my first dose wasn't taken after about 12pm or else I can't sleep. Cymbalta has a wonderful effect of giving you energy which for years has been a problem for me;) *I seriously do not work for pfeizer ppl;P LOL!!!* My IBS is not noticeably worst or better on this drug, the side effects lasted less than a month, maybe less still and I don't remember, and the fact that I can get out of bed after working days on end has GOT to tell you something.

If you're scared, don't take it, but risk losing what could be your miracle 'helping-hand' in a pill until we find a cure!!! That's all I can tell you. YOU have to decide if YOU want to take something because all Fibromites are different, and we can't give you our feedback through your eyes/body....unless you pull out your eyes and put it in one of our bodies....BUT that's besides the point, LOL!!!! :P:P:P
Posted 10/3/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on cymbalta for 3 weeks. My mood has gotten worse, my pain isn't any better. I'm having to take my tramadol more actually. I talked with my advanced pharmacology instructor who has her masters in nursing and teaches that class year round. She said antidepressants mess don't do anything for the pain. That is more for the perception of pain. She said anticonvulsants would help with the pain a lot. She recommended neurontin. I'm not trying to give medical advise just telling my own experience. Hope it helps!
Posted 10/3/2011 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I'm on my 2nd month of Cymbalta. It has helped me a lot. I was in so much pain before, that it hurt just to stand, to sit, anything... It made a big difference. I take 60mg in the morning. I wish I could say it took away all the pain but it didn't. about 65% is gone. I still take a muscle relaxant at night and the occasional tramadol if needed. Life is a LOT better though. I held onto the samples for a month before I got up the nerve to try it.

Saw my rheumy's PA a couple weeks ago (at my 1 month anniversary on Cymbalta). She said I looked so much better and that the effects will peak at about 2 months of use. So things are supposed to keep improving until 2 months, then stabilize. I have IBS too and it has helped with that too (less frequency, less loose)... I have more energy than without it, and I have less of an appetite too (basically I still eat enough or more than enough, but don't feel like grazing all day long like I did before). I lost 3 lbs.

The side effects for me were mild nausea in the morning which lasted 2 days and then another 1/2 day after upping the dose from 30mg to 60mg. It was so mild I didn't care. That was it and less appetite initially.

I say try it if you want relief. You won't know if it can help you until you try. I think it took about a week to know it was making a big difference for me. My mood improved too - big time.
Posted 10/3/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing 2 weeks and I haven't noticed a difference in mood or energy :(. I'm still not getting restful sleep though so that might be it. I'm also only taking 30mg once daily, maybe I need to up the dosage to get anything from it. I have a follow-up apt next week, we'll see what happens.
Posted 10/3/2011 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Usually you only take the 30mg for 1 week, then go to 60mg (dose recommended for fibro)... hope you feel better soon.
Posted 10/3/2011 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still thinking about taking it, occasionally look at the sample boxes, then put them away again. Call me officially on the fence.
Posted 10/3/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
I was on the fence for about 5 weeks. I can sympathize... it just takes a few terrible days in a row to want to take the plunge...
Posted 10/4/2011 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Cymbalta for a couple months and it didn't do a thing for me. I felt as if I was in a fog. It was easy for me to quit.
Posted 10/4/2011 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Almost medfree, so sorry to hear that! :-( Did you have any of the horrid withdrawal symptoms I have read about?

I decided to take the plunge and today is Day 4. Feeling quite dizzy, very nauseous, hyperactive and not sleeping at all. My throat/neck also very tight - hard to swallow at times. However, the doctor and pharmacist both told me that it can be a side effect - I initially thought perhaps I was having an allergic reaction. I hope this passes soon because it is sort of disconcerting. Sure hope this will be worth it! The things we do for pain management...
Posted 10/4/2011 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
When I was going through the side effects my doctor would tell me the side effects would lessen as time went on. They didn't. I've been told by my rheumatologist that many people with fibro are medication sensitive.
Posted 10/4/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
The side effects lessened for me and within a week I didn't notice anything negative. I was a bit more hyper at first but that settled down too. Hope it helps you as much as it's helped me!
Posted 10/4/2011 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
almost medfree...what are all the things you're doing? I do pilates (helped a lot), fish oil, calcium, magnesism, pro-biotics, D-Flame (multiple supplements for inflammatory prob) tried cayenne powder in capsule but believe it was getting worse. On occasion I have to do steroids for the spasms since muscle relaxer Flexiril doesn't work.
Posted 10/4/2011 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ugh, yesterday and today I've been throwing up NON stop. I dunno what it is, maybe Cymbalta? I have no other flu symptoms, and I go from feeling fine to throwing up in less than a couple seconds.

If I don't stop feeling sick all the time, I'm gonna stop taking it. I'd rather be tired than tired and throwing up 15-20 times a day.
Posted 10/4/2011 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear that, Not So Fancy. You could call the pharmacist and ask if vomiting is a side effect of taking it.

mcandme, I walk a couple times a day. I soak in the bathtub at night, I do my x2 a day prescribed stretches, I take my supplements, one is a liquid multi vitamin, another a liquid calcium, another a liquid supplement for ADD. I also take Vitamin C for my allergies. I use to get muscle spasms in my legs. I found if I walk when starting to experience it it goes away. I also went to the chiropractor until he lessened the extreme pain for me, I've had myofascial release and physical therapy, and massage. I've had accupuncture in the past but it was expensive and very short term for me.

It's nice to meet you mcandme, I joined this website back in 2005, submitted one post, and recently returned a few days ago.
Posted 10/5/2011 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Not So Fancy,

I hope you're feeling better. I wanted to let you know the other way I check into side effects is through the internet. I google the medication name and the possible side effect. There are reputable websites like Webmd.
Posted 10/6/2011 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
From the data, Cymbalta produces at least a 30% improvement in pain for 50% of people who take it, and about 20% have over a 50% reduction in pain. So to me, that would be worth trying.
Posted 10/7/2011 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
I just started taking this med. Maybe we can talk to each other week to week. I am excited about it. I was on it one time and I felt great in the (head). Life was getting better, I couldn't afford it. But my dc. is filing for me to have some assistance. It is big time expensive!
Good luck to both of us :)
Posted 10/9/2011 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Marilyn, today is now Day 8 and I am doing MUCH better now. I nearly quit taking Cymbalta twice because the side effects were so brutal and extreme. Today I am finally feeling like myself and have my appetite back! If this decreases the pain by 30% I'd be happy.

It IS expensive! Thankfully through my husband's work we are 100% covered for prescription drugs.

I really hope that we do very well on this! I'd love to hear updates...
Posted 10/9/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
I had to quit taking it because of the constant nausea and spontaneous urge to throw up. I noticed I had a clearer head, but I work in a call center and having to pause calls to throw up was not going so well.

I'm gonna ask about trying Lyrica - or see if we can get some more tests done before I go into taking medicine. I'd like a second opinion from a rheumy.
Posted 10/10/2011 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
The nausea and vomiting disappeared after seven days. It was very bad but thankfully I do not work outside the home so I did not have to be "on". It was still pretty yucky, though.

I've done Lyrica and had very few side effects. It did not help me but it does help many! I would try it if your rheumy recommends it.
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