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Doctor is having me try Cymbalta

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Posted 9/19/2011 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Recently, I was taking Elavil (Amitriptylene) - I had sudden outbursts without any warning, so I weaned myself off those. I probably only took them about 4 days. I went to the Rheumy today and she said I was right to go off those.

She has given me a month's worth of Cymbalta. I decided to look up the medication and my online search brought me to a Healing Well forum thread where people shared a bunch of alarming reactions to it.

My doctor prescribed a really low dose, 30 mg....but after reading that thread, I'm not sure if I should take it.

If you took Cymbalta on a low dose, could you share your experience with it?
Posted 9/19/2011 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
There is another thread about good responses with cymbalta. It works differently on everybody. The only way to find out if it will work for you is trial and error. Hopefully it will work well for you. It takes six to eight weeks to reach it's full potential, but you can start to feel better within two weeks or so. I know somebody trying to get off of heavy duty pain meds and is using cymbalta, they have had luck with it so far. I doubt that they will be able to go off completely, but they have cut back on the narcotics.

The main problem that I have read about with cymbalta is trying to wean off. You have to go very slow.

I hope that you try it and I hope that it works for you. Do keep us posted.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 9/20/2011 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I am on Cymbalta. I started for a week on 30mg like the dr recommended. By about day 4-5, I had a 30% reduction in my pain. I felt improved. After a week and going to 60mg, I felt a bit nauseous initially (like when I started on the 30mg) but that left quickly and I have about a 60% reduction in my pain now on the 60mg. I want to increase it if it will help even more with the pain reduction but 60mg is maintenance dose for FMS. I see my rheumy later this week so will ask.

Hope it helps you like it helps me. I was also on Elavil (generic) for 13 months. I felt better on it but the fatigue in the mornings was not so good. It quit working on my pain after about 11 months. Getting off was horrible.

I too have heard the worst thing about cymbalta is getting off it. They say you have to work with your dr to wean off very SLOWLY...
Posted 9/20/2011 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
This is interesting. After trying over 20 meds my doctor recommends I try Cymbalta. I was on it for five days then tweaked my back so stopped taking it (was vomiting due to the Cymbalta which hurt my back further). Anyway, it did not make me feel horrible like Amitriptyline did so I would like to try it again, even though it makes me ill, because I am nearly desperate.

luv2ride, this must almost be a miracle drug for you if it has reduced your pain that much! How awesome. This really gives me hope, too.
Posted 9/20/2011 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
It didn't make you feel bad but it made you vomit?
Posted 9/20/2011 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
One of the side effects that goes away is nausea. My nausea was mild and went away after a few days and it was minor. It's recommended you take it with food in the morning.

Post Edited (luv2ride) : 9/19/2011 7:46:44 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/20/2011 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you!
Posted 9/20/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it sounds weird, but I am so used to all sorts of med side effects that I did not find vomiting to be one of the worst on the list. As I was told it would be temporary I told myself I could put up with it. I am quite desperate for something to help my pain and so would gladly go through vomiting for a week if my pain decreased. I also have celiac disease so am quite used to being ill as well. So sad what we put up with!  I was also taking it with food in the AM to help prevent nausea (which it did not, obviously).
Posted 9/20/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Applevenus,

Currently I take 60mg in the morning and another 30mg in the afternoon. Not only has it reduced a lot of my pain, it's also increased my energy. Funny story about that; my MD told me to have it at night and then I started having restless nights and for months we couldn't figure out why. So I go to this forum and then to my rheumy; turns out it's an a.m. pill:O Oopsy-doodles. So I flipped that from p.m. to a.m., and then I noticed a HUGE increase in energy that the extra 30mg gives in the afternoon. It really helps me get through my day with like 85% less pain and a billion times more energy:D I should be on a commercial for Cymbalta, lol;p

Now please do remember that this prescription works for me and like everyone pretty much says on the forum: You have to try it for yourself;) Keeping that in mind, I have to say I'm also on Lyrica and Cesamet, and the combination of the 3 have made a huge difference, alongside my weekly Marcaine injections, in my livability:)

Sadly with winter coming, I'm frightened to the high heavens about working and pain. Winter brings out the very worst symptoms in me *can't walk:(*. So I'm thinking positive this year and am hoping to even go skiing:D:D:D

Wish me luck for a nice Canadian winter worth mentioning;p LOL!!!

Good luck chicka in your own endeavors and let us know how it goes:)
Posted 9/20/2011 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am having a mostly pain free time today. I stopped taking the Flexeril & Tramadol to see if it will stop my ears ringing. I have some work I have to get done so I'm going to put off taking the Cymbalta at least for today. I'm feeling very blessed today.
Posted 9/20/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking cymbalta for about a year and a half.  Started with 30 and soon after went to 60.  It was a miracle drug for me.  After taking it for a week I got out of bed and cleaned my bathroom, it was amazing.  It feels like you are on speed, but you get used to it.  At first I lost weight, but after nine months the weight comes back.  The only pain I still have after being on cymbalta is in my hip(they can't find anything wrong).  I took ester-c this week and that pain went away.  I'm doing pretty good right now.
Posted 9/20/2011 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
How funny you say that. After a few days on it, I suddenly felt motivated to do a major kitchen cleaning. Never had that impulse before. Since then, not as much cleaning motivation but I do feel better. :)
Posted 9/20/2011 11:32 PM (GMT 0)

Please stay away from the Cymbalta!! - Go online and check this out first - terrible withdrawals symtoms from this drug.  I was prescribed for fibromyalgia and I also have arthritis. Had to quit taking it about 3 weeks ago and having night sweats, brain buzzing, ear-ringing and so ill I could chew nails - Just searched Cymbalta withdrawal and was appalled at what I found. This should never be prescribed for pain - I can't focus on anything, and looks like this takes a long time if ever to get back to normal from - Whatever you do - Please research this carefully!!!

Posted 9/20/2011 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
jcd, so sorry you are having such horrible problems. Is your doctor weaning you off very gradually? I have read about the side effects and withdrawal and it scares me but I also read similar about Lyrica and a few others which I had no problems with at all. Sometimes I just get so desperate to try something even when I know about the consequences. Some side effects do not seem worth some pain relief. It is amazing how drugs affect us differently; for example, I was on Ultram for ages but it did absolutely nothing. It was like I was taking vitamins! Yet others have had relief; others weird side effects. So far Amitriptyline (for insomnia) has had the worst effects on me. It was downright nightmarish. SO glad to be off that stuff! No one could pay me to do that again.

My pain is debilitating daily. I literally lie on the floor to watch TV; cannot sit in church; stand to eat - and I am still young. I find no relief from magnesium, malic acid and other supplements. I was told today by a therapist that if I continue this way I will be immobile in five years. THAT scares me. So, I want to control the pain so I can do more. I must swim, etc.

Thanks for the reminder...
Posted 9/21/2011 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I started out with 60 mgs- once daily, Dr upped to twice daily because I really did not see alot of difference - at 120mgs daily it helped some with leg pain, enabled me to sleep alittle better. But that was it. Had an attack of pancreatitis and got off the med. (Please check on this too, organs are affected). I stopped all at once, but from what I am reading online, the people that are weaning off aren't doing a whole lot better. Just check everything out and make sure you know all the facts before you take the risk - I did not do any research first, just took what I was prescribed. I too have tried alot of different pain meds etc.

Have RA, IBS, Fibromyalgia, and Osteo Arth. - Unfortunately I am not getting alot of relief. Am trying now to find a Dr. that won't just throw another pill at me - I have a drawerful and still feel bad. So I want to start cutting them all back, and do more physical therapy. I'm thinking that maybe taking so many meds is part of the problem, it sure is not the solution at this point

 

Posted 9/21/2011 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I know what you mean about drugs. They truly are just band aids but I just so wish there was something I could take that would enable me to perform daily activities normally! I've had physio for three years and was discharged each time as that was all they could do with me. Have had hundreds of massages, laser, acupuncture, cortisone and trigger point injections, chiro when something is out, and so on with very little help. If only I could just do more - to me that is the key - if my muscles were stronger I would be able to sit.

So far the only thing that helped every so slightly were a couple of NSAIDs. However, I was diagnosed with celiac disease six months ago and can no longer use them. :-(

All the best to you - we are on a very difficult and painful road. It is so hard when your focus is so often on pain and what to do about it! I try so hard not to allow it to control me but some days it does.
Posted 9/21/2011 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Have you talked to your doctor about massage therapy? I meant to, but I forgot. btw my pain & stiffness returned so I finally took muscle relaxant & pain medicine just now. The tinnitis never let up, not even a little bit.

Jcd, I appreciate you sharing your experience with Cymbalta. I have read the warnings & it makes me nervous, so I will keep putting it off a little longer.
Posted 9/21/2011 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Chanterelle, looks like we posted at the same time. Noe my post looks like I wasn't paying attention, but that's one time fibro fog isn't to blame! lol
Posted 9/21/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Dumb old fibro fog! I also have celiac fog so if I seem incoherrent I'll blame that. :-)

Speaking of which, I notice in your signature you are having IBS issues. As fibro and celiac are both autoimmune diseases, have you been checked for celiac disease? Just a thought. Sorry to intrude but there are so many people out there with horrible problems that can so easily be drastically improved by going gluten free. When I see others suffer I mention it just in case. Hope that's ok?!
Posted 9/21/2011 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Do you know that ALL the anti-depressants have major withdrawals and that's why they all recommend you wean down slowly to get off them with the help of your doctor. The withdrawals from amitriptyline were awful for me, my dr insisted I didn't need to wean on the dose of 50mg. I never want to go cold turkey again.

I feel that if a drug is helping a lifelong chronic pain condition, then that's worth it to me, to stay on the drug as long as it works. I will deal with the weaning off if it stops being effective at some point. For now, the relief in pain makes my life so much more improved, that I choose not to focus on the negative, and embrace the positive. I don't plan to get scared off Cymbalta due to the withdrawal effects. The same is said of every anti-depressant I've researched.
Posted 9/21/2011 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
Chanterelle - I'm not having many gut problems lately & it does seem reactive to restaurant food (so I suspect intolerance to MSG etc). I do think many if my problems are foid related
Posted 9/21/2011 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, that is a relief to hear. Before my diagnosis I was blissfully unaware of food intolerances (to a certain extent) but now I sometimes feel like an encyclopedia! LOL. My chiro told me I must eliminate MSG and aspartame from my diet as they can exacerbate chronic pain.
Posted 9/21/2011 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I took cymbalta for 4 days and was manic, didn't sleep a wink, couldn't calm my mind or shut it off and I have never felt that way before in my life.  It really scared me and I stopped taking it.  Lyrica is the next choice and that made me feel drunk for a couple of days but it worked really well with the pain and numbing, burning feeling I have in my foot,  After three months I weaned myself off of it inspite of it working so well because I don't like prescription drugs especially the newer ones when all the long term side effects haven't been released to the public yet.  So now I do take an occasional flexeril, some advil but mostly I do the natural stuff - magnesium with malic acid, Vit D, B-12, Vitamin E with selenium, melatonin, C0Q10, yoga.  I plan to add regular massages to my regiment.
Posted 9/21/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
How is yoga going? I have been thinking about that. By the way, sorry for the typos, I am typing one finger peck at a time, using a tablet & the keypad is too small or my fingers are too dang big. One or the other! :-)
Posted 9/21/2011 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
Sawa, do you find that the supplements help? I, too, take all you mention plus a few more and have had no relief at all. However, I do have massage twice a week and that is the only thing that helps. It is very temporary, though, but I must have massage to loosen things up and help with my myofascial pain, spasms, etc. I really recommend it!
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