Cymbalta

Does anyone take Cymbalta? Has it helped? I'm going to start taking it for both Fibro and for Anxiety. I just wondered if it really could make me feel better.

My doctor tried me on Cymbalta for a few months to see if it would help reduce my pain. It didn't and it made me feel numb.

Post Edited (almost medfree) : 4/28/2018 4:48:54 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Lendi. Cymbalta is different from the SSRI's because it has 2 neurotransmitters that it deals with (serotonin and norepinephrine). Whereas the SSRI's only work with the serotonin levels. The norepinephrine gives me more energy than the serotonin alone did. The first week was really hard because it made me restless and I had total insomnia. I also was hyper alert and aware. I felt like I had adrenaline 24/7. This was a big change from from the Lexapro which made me lethargic. It felt so good to not have fatigue, but it was the other extreme until I adjusted.

However, I'm told everyone responds different to it. When I looked around on-line quite a few people reacted to it the same as me. Some though it made sleepy. This drug was much harder for me to adjust to than an SSRI, but I stuck with it because it also cut my muscle fatigue/aches in half.

Sounds like you are tolerating it pretty good without side effects. Hopefully you'll get some relief from it soon! What dosage did your doctor start you at?

I started at 30mg with plans to also ramp me up to 60mg. Due to the fact that it is working and has given me some restless side effects we are keeping me at 30mg. I have the jittery, fidgety thing too. It was worse in the beginning, but I still have it to a certain extent. I think it has to do with all the energy the norepinephrine transmitter is releasing. Almost an adrenaline effect. It sometimes feels like an anxious feeling to me, but I'm not sure if it really is or not. I think it just appears that way due to the way my body is reacting to it. The jury is still out for me whether it is helping anxiety or not.

So I have the energy...almost too much now. I'm curious to see if your BP meds are having an effect on you also. It's good to eliminate one to see. You haven't been on the Cymbalta long so I don't think you will get any withdrawal (we are supposed to wean off it slowly).

Let me know what happens.

I've been on 39 mg Cymbalta since 2008. When I was tried on 60 mg it was not good. I take a muscle relaxant Baclofen and between the two my fibromyalgia is tolerable. I am in the process of selling my house in the north to move to Florida. I was there Jan and Feb and I felt SO much better.

It's trial and error to see what works.

Barb

Has anyone had problems with their eyes while on Cymbalta? The rheumatologist wants me to try Cymbalta, but when I asked her about side effects she said it might make you tired. Take it at bedtime. When I looked at the side effects it said visual problems: eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around the eye. I am already dealing with problems with eye pain, increased pressure in my eyes and blurriness. I don't need more problems.