Cymbalta Ruined My Life--Picking Up the Pieces

Hi,

I have always had issues with any of the antidepressants that they have put me on. None of them ever worked, and the last was Cymbalta. This was the worst of them. I always felt like a truck had hit me...and even when they maxed me out on it...it never worked. I kept telling the doctors that something wasn't right. I developed horrible instances of balance loss (never knew that was one of the side effects) along with really significant short term memory loss. I was scared that maybe I was developing dementia, etc.

Fortunately, (but at time, didn't realize it) my health provider at that time messed up and I was unable to get my prescription as usual. I ended up going off this cold turkey (NEVER DO THIS)...not my choice, but was circumstances. Bottom line was that after a painful 10 days of hell: I felt clearer than before.

I started using SAMe (originally to relieve fibro muscle pain, and great side benefit was a mood stabilizer), and I didn't have those beaten down feelings during day, and my balance and memory got significantly better. I feel better. It is still a battle....but, I am winning some of the wars, now.

I guess my whole point is this: Doctors still really do not know how to effectively treat fibromyalgia and the depression that follows. I am depressed because I can't do the things that I used to with ease. NOT I can't do the things because I am depressed. I have had more doctors tell me that 'this antidepressant' will work. They don't make the muscles not hurt, they don't make the pain irrelevant. I believe that our bodies react differently to medications, especially as the years go by, because of fibro, etc.

It turns out that since this episode...they have discovered that I have too many sensitivities to the classification of antidepressants, along with the benzopiazidines. I was once told that the greatest healer of our own bodies is our own minds. We must be vigilant, and keep strong...NO MATTER who tells us differently.

Tkhardy I feel that way all the time

How we all handle drugs can be so different from each other. I, personally, try to avoid drugs because I'm so sensitive to them and usually immediately don't like how they make me feel. The problem is, even if a drug works at first, but then stops working.........it is hell to get off it. IMHO it's like other "bad" drug addictions in that respect (at least for me). It really irritates me when docs immediately go to meds without even talking about anything else, like you mental state, your life situation, what you eat, your sleep, your past medical conditions,etc., etc., etc.
I'm not sure what the answer is. I'm extremely depressed and in lots of pain most of the time, and have tried lots of drugs in the past.........but they caused unacceptable side-effects. So I'm not sure what to do. Seems like in this country (U.S.) we don't raise people to be healthy people, and then we suffer. I guess I don't have much to offer. Personally, I'm thinking about seeing holistic docs. I know some of them are crazy, but there must be a few good ones out there. Good luck to all of us who are having trouble leading a better life because of these problems.

Hi Sherrine.........sorry I just saw your post. Thank you for your concern. I guess you could say I've had depression my entire life (PTSD from childhood, maybe). Like you, I am extremely sensitive to meds and have learned to start at a very low dose and slowly work up. I'm only on a small dose of Sertraline, metoprolol and acetaminophin.........so I'm not sure there's too much bad interaction. I've been to so many docs in my life, who really haven't been very interested and jump right to ordering pills. I'm very complicated psychologically, and right now I'm just trying to stay afloat on a daily basis. I did finally get a knee replacement and that has helped with some of my depression. I saw a psychiatrist, thinking he would be smarter than most therapists. He is very kind.......but he says he doesn't do therapy........just figures out what problems people have and how to treat them (meds, therapy, etc.) When I look for a therapist online locally, they all look so young and smiling and have too much make-up on. ;) I need someone like Freud or Jung, etc. haha I'm sort of a loner and am pretty much left to my own thoughts. I am married, but I'm pretty sure my hubby is autistic. Okay........way too much info, but I do appreciate your concern. Thank you Sherrine!

Thanks Sherrine!