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Cymbalta users - any recent updates?

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Posted 10/10/2011 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
My dr said the number one reason people give up on cymbalta is the nausea - and if you can tough it out the first 2 weeks, you'll manage as the side effects subside...
Posted 10/10/2011 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
It's not the taking it that worries me, but the trying to get off of it. When I have a super bad time, I will probably try it, but so far I manage pretty well & haven't hit that point yet.
Posted 10/10/2011 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I took Lyrica for a while and I could only sleep 4 to 5 hours, my pain increased, and I felt in a daze the next day.
Posted 10/10/2011 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
If you have bipolar disorder DO NOT take this! I was on this med for about a month (only 30 mgs) and had all side-effects listed in this forum and hallucinations, terrible nightmares, felt completely out of my mind, you name it, I had it. They took me off of it immediately, rather than slowly because of how severe my side-effects were. That made the withdrawal process equally as bad as being on Cymbalta. I am very sensitive to medications. It's all about trial and error and sometimes the process can be ugly. But the hope is still there to find a medication to help live a "normal" life again.

I have a torn disc in my lumbar that is still leaking fluids after almost 2 years, along with post traumatic fibromyalgia. I have had mild bipolar since my son was born 12 years ago.

Lyrica was the only med that truly helped with my symptoms, more than any of the other meds, but I had a very significant amount of dizziness and forgetfulness (which became dangerous, leaving stove on, car running in garage, etc.), so they had to take me off of it. I have now tried about 9 different meds and am still in search of one that works well with minimal side effects.
Posted 10/13/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I took Cymbalta for a while a couple of years ago. While it did noticeably help with the pain, it changed my personality to mean-spirited, impatient, indifferent and ugly. It took my wife and daughter confronting me with it for ME to realize what was happening so, with the doctor's help, I stopped taking it. The help for my pain was not worth the pain I was dealing out to others.
Posted 10/14/2011 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Jev, that is so awful! How long were you on Cymbalta before that happened? I have told my husband to make sure to tell me if my personality or mood changes even slightly. Believe me - he would tell me and has been keeping close watch. I have only been on it two weeks thus far.
Posted 10/14/2011 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
My dh was pleasantly surprised at the improvement in attitude on cymbalta... probably because the chronic pain had been lessened... also felt more positive, less depressed.
Posted 10/14/2011 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
luv2ride, that makes so much sense. My spirits would be uplifted in the extreme with less chronic pain! It would also give one more hope for a brighter future because with less pain one could do more. So, instead of a negative cycle it could become a positive cycle.
Posted 10/14/2011 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
My dr also said it peaks at about 2 months. If you feel good before that, it will improve until you plateau at about 2 months.
Posted 10/15/2011 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Sadly I must go off Cymbalta because of sudden extremely high BP and constant irregular heart rhythms. It just started happening yesterday and I saw my doctor today. Never had either problem before. I am so disappointed because I really thought this might be IT! My pain was not as bad yesterday or today and now I must stop after one brief little taste of how it could be. I want to slowly taper but I cannot for very long because my doctor is concerned about my heart. However, the one thing I am thankful for is that it was discovered now, rather than in two weeks' time when I am on a long-haul flight (hopefully). Also, the withdrawals should not be as severe or long if I were on Cymbalta longer than I have been (two weeks). I was sort of counting on this in time for our vacation but it is not meant to be. Now I am stuck without any pain meds except Oxycontin which does nothing for me and a very long trip. Will have Cymbalta in my system so cannot go back to Ultram, either (major drug interaction). I am discouraged and anxious about our trip as I feel ill prepared. As I have celiac I cannot take any NSAIDs so I am somewhat limited.
Posted 10/15/2011 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
If Ultram is the same as tramadol, then I worried about this interaction too. However my dr said I could take up to 2 tramadol daily while using Cymbalta. Hope this helps. I take one at night.
Posted 10/15/2011 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Yes - Ultram or Tramadol can cause serotonin syndrome. I took them together once and had a sudden very bad headache. The pharmacist told me she would never give anyone both together so I have not dared try it since. (She was unaware that I still had some Ultram left at home.)  Ultram does not really give me much relief, either, but it sometimes does take the edge off.
Posted 10/19/2011 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Took my first dose last night. Was up all night nauseous, shaky and puking. I still feel weird. I don't know if I can stand to take another dose.
Posted 10/19/2011 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Tara, take in the morning on a full stomach... makes a difference..
Posted 10/19/2011 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Chanterelle, I am sorry you won't have an effective medication for your long haul flight. I'm guessing Flexeril is also out due to potential serotonin syndrome, but you might want to at least ask your doctor about it. Also since it's just situational, your doctor might be willing to prescribe a benzodiazapine - Valium (diazepam) or Klonopin (clonazepam) to help you with the flight. The benzodiazapines have muscle relaxing properties, but they will also pretty much make you go to sleep. They aren't usually used long term in fibro, but the might help with the flight.
Posted 10/19/2011 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
I've finished my first week of Cymbalta bow and i have to say that for me it works. I have a lot more energy during the day and i am in a better mood. It is also starting to have an effect on the pain, i'm not as sensitive as i ussualy am and my hip (wich is alwxays the worst) has improved a lot. Another benefit it gives me is that i seem to sleep better because i use up more energy during the day, that make sense to anyone? Most of the side effects have subsided, the one thing that keeps bothering me a bit is the lack of appetite but i just force myself to eat something.

Fiona
Posted 10/19/2011 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
The lack of appetite will wane... I found by month 2 I was eating normally again.... just perhaps not quite as much...
Posted 10/20/2011 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Its good to see that cymbalta is working for so many people here. Unfortunately it made me so sick on my first dose that I don't think I can continue taking it. Oh well.
Posted 10/22/2011 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Heather, by the time we fly (next Thursday) hopefully the Cymbalta will have been out of my system. I have not taken it for three days now after weaning off. I have been nauseous, shaky, weak, etc. but it has not been too bad. Just hoping it does not get worse. I have taken Flexeril but it has not helped at all - same with Oxycontin, Neurontin, morphine, and so on. But I did request Ativan which will at least relax me a bit. I cannot take anything with major sedative effects as my doctor said I must get up and stretch every 20 minutes (I find it nearly impossible to sit and sort of thing I am out of my mind to contemplate this trip in some ways). I also have Ultram which, when taken at the max dose, takes the edge off (after Cymbalta is long gone, of course). I also purchased a mobile TENS unit and have a massage booked in Croatia the morning after we arrive there. Preparedness helps but I am still very frightened. Every trip to Europe we have been on for the past several years has had something go wrong (I had a miscarraige at the Frankfurt airport - things like that).

Since I have had this awful back pain I have been terrified of flying - especially turbulence and delays when I am unable to stand. Being forced to sit in a cramped position whilst in brutal pain is almost too hard to bear. Our flights are not direct to give me time to lie down in airports - it takes longer to get there but at least I can move around more. Makes me wonder why I put myself through it BUT we do own a lovely home there and I love Europe SOOOOO much. If I could just press a button and just be there! Even if I could lie down in cargo - seriously. I wouldn't mind!
Posted 10/22/2011 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Tara, I felt incredibly ill for the first week on Cymbalta. It was very bad - I was literally unable to do much those days. Although I had to discontinue it (very high BP and irregular heart rhythms - scary stuff but VERY RARE) perhaps it will work for you. I would encourage you to try it if you can hang in there. I really wish I could do it but obviously cannot. :-(
Posted 11/4/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I saw my rheumy yesterday. Because I have about 60-65% reduction in pain with 60mg of Cymbalta, we're going to try 90mg for a couple weeks and see if it helps even more. I am hopeful! I seem to be one that the Cymbalta has given me back my life...
Posted 11/5/2011 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
PLEASE LISTEN TO US! DO NOT TAKE CYMBALTA, NEVER, EVER FOR NO REASON!....I started on this poison, read everything about the side effects, had company for weekend and asked them to watch me for any peculiar signs or craziness!, Was on my second day of that pill and my son started laughing at me because I could not get words out of my mouth!...I felt like I was in a twilight zone, way out there...I continued to take a pill only 30 mg, called doctor because he wanted me to start the 60 mg, he said stay on 30 mg, I got worse and worse...after nine days of living hell, I got off, COLD TURKEY...no more brain zaps, just slowly came back to my old self. The pain I had was not worth the side effects, I even had a "suicide" thought one day, and that did it...I am not a psycho and never thought that way...got off, am feeling good, and want to tell all DO NOT EVER FALL FOR THAT PILL!...I am so mad at my doctor for prescribing it...it's all about the money...hope that helps some of you...
Posted 11/5/2011 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
People with suicidal ideation are not psychos!! People with CP or fibro are often very depressed and on meds for that. I know you did not mean it, but that vocabulary is not very productive.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. People with fibro vary wildly in effect of meds...so what is poison for one might be the cure for another.

Hope you find something that works for you!!

Maggie
Posted 11/5/2011 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm glad my comment got your attention, MY POINT is that CYMBALTA is true to it's advertisements and WILL give people thoughts of suicide. I have had fibro for over 30 years, on many meds over those years and off of meds for many years, and for me to have just one thought of suicide, DUE TO MEDS, will have me telling everyone I can to GET OFF OF THESE DRUGS! You can be depressed and on meds or off of meds, if you have a suicidal thought, and someone or a doctor offers you advice to get off of that drug and seek help, that is a GOOD thing to do! OF COURSE ONE DRUG IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY, that's why the more comments on side effects of new drugs on here the more it helps people you do not know...THAT IS WHY I WROTE THAT COMMENT...My vocabulary is fine and productive, your comment is harsh and mean and unfounded! Oh, and you're a veteran member? Whatever good that is, I will not be back on this forum, trust me bayoub2, I don't know who you think you are, but you aren't very helpful to the real people seeking advice and understanding from this site....
Posted 11/5/2011 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
depression is not the same as being psycho or psychotic as you so delicately called those of us that fighr suicidal ideation and suffer thru MANY meds with very nasty side effects, not just cymbalta
And as you can see here, for SOME of us it has been a great help...

Please mental illness gets a bad rap already...people that think about ending it once are not even necessarily mentally ill...

Harsh? I thought I was very diplomatic!! You should hear what I really wanted to say to you...it was nearly as off based and bigoted as your comment was.
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