Cymbalta~~What Are Your Thoughts

[BrokenBladder]

My rhuemy talked with me about it yesterday due to the pain in my legs and feet. I have this pain/numbing/burning sensation in both feet and both legs.
I'm hesitate to start a new medication right now because I've gone through so much with my stomach issues that I'm afraid to start anything new.:eek:

So I told my rheumy that I would come to my support group and let her know on June 11th.;)

Now it's up to you guys to let me know what the real deal is with this stuff and what the potential side affects are.:D

[Rozia]

are you asking about the drug ???

[jimac]

Hi Lisa,

I have been taking Cymbalta for almost 2 years. I will warn you that it can cause nausea (very common SE). But the nausea will go away in a week or so.
I have had no SE since the initial nausea.
Cymbalta is a good med for me.... it helps me feel better mentally and also helps with the general pain in my neck and arms. I also take Lyrica and the combination of the two really helps the pain, tingling and burning in my arms.

If you try Cymbalta.... ask you doctor about the nausea and possibly taking something like Phenergan if necessary.

Take care,
Jim

[Mark N]

Cymbalta is a very good med for me, it does a great job with my pain and lifting my mood [although I am optimistic most of the time]. It seems to be a med that many can't tolerate and a big side effect is the inability to urinate. I haven't had any problems with it but my wife had to stop using it because of the urination issue. I think it is worth a try and you will know in a short period of time if you can take it or not.

[bluebirdy]

Pain doc wanted me on a double dose, but I couldn't pee! So back to the usual dose.

I can't tell how much it helps to be honest.

bb

[spoiledbeth]

I've been on Cymbalta since it first came out, and I don't remember having any side effects. I can tell if I've missed a few doses, so I know it helps some with my pain. I definitely think it's worth a try.

[suede]

Lisa,
I've been on it now pretty much since it came available.
I also had a bit of nausea from it in the beginning.
It has really helped with my nerve pain and it did help a lot with my mood but it has seemed to level off with that, but I don't think a med would help with that right now.
I can understand your not wanting to start another med, I just have to say that I have probably tried close to 19 of the anti seizure meds for the nerve pain and couldn't take any of them and cymbalta has been a real save for me..

[curiousforever]

I loved it for the pain. It really did help. UCSD had told me the pm 'dose' is 60 twice a day.

It made me agitated. I'd get angry very easily. Strange considering that it's an anti depressent (in my mind anyway).

I've off of it now - due to that problem.

I *did* have problems with pitted edema. Not actually sure if it was from that - or seomthing else. Esp since I have it right now and haven't been on it in months....geez - I'm not sure anymore it's connected to any of my meds.

[curiousforever]

are you asking about the drug ???


It's pretty obvious that she is when she says "to let me know what the real deal is with this stuff and what the potential side affects are." And the title of the post is Cymbalta.

[terrapin_station]

I was on Cymbalta for awhile for neuropathic pain and I found it to be horrible. It caused severe nausea, dizziness, headaches. I couldn't sleep and just plain felt like crap.

Of course this happens when I take most anti-depressants. I have since decided that I will no longer take any of them. In fact I have been thrown out of a few physician offices because I refused. Personally and this is just me speaking but I feel this is an area where medical science is just tinkering and only guessing as to the outcome. The long term effects of these medicines are simply not known.

[Mark N]

One of the big reasons my wife couldn't tolerate it is because she has trouble with almost every AD just like terripan_station.

Side effects for me or my wife were: weight gain, sleepiness, hot flashes,and urination trouble. My wife did get good pain reduction with it but couldn't urinate without alot of trouble. My MIL got good results from it but quit because of the hot flashes but she is a hypochondriac with some pain issues. My hot flashes have stopped but the weight gain is still with me. Like I said before Lisa, it is a great med for me and you will know in a short time if it is effective for you so I think it would be worth it to give it a try.

[BrokenBladder]

Thanks so much for all of the info!! The only thing that scares me is the nausea because I've had a problem with that without taking something that causes it. Also with my bad bladder the urination part is scary for me. I will tell my doctor the s/e listed here and I will try to make an informed decision with her on June 11th. Hope everyone has a pain free day!!

[jena1225]

I can't remember if you read my thread, but I have had a great experience with Cymbalta so far. I have been on the 120mg dose for just a week now, and even from the beginning, I had no nausea at all, but that is just me. Apparently some have also had insomnia. I have had no trouble falling asleep at all, but that may also be due to the fact that all my meds have a sedative-like effect. But, 4 nights in a row now, I have woken up just a couple hours after falling asleep. I am not sure, but it may very well be from the Cymbalta :confused:

Plus, if it really works well for you, some nausea may be a small price to pay, so if you do get it, I would stick with it anyway, if it works for you ;)

[Sara1979]

I don't tolerate anti-depressants well so I am definitely not a good "test case." Unfortunately, for me Cymbalta made me absolutely nuts. Mood swings, couldn't sleep, couldn't urinate.... Not the medication for me.

[debhun]

Please read (Steve would coming off tramadol)
I am going to come off of it too. I have do it slowly. I will never take any thing like that again. I will live in Pain the rest of my life than go thought what I just went though.
Sorry But really thing about it and what you are takeing.
can you take your meds with cymbalta.

Deb

[simby]

I had to come off the cymbalta. After being on it for three months, my liver function numbers doubled. I was scared, as i have other possible liver problems.
Anyway, the cymbalta was replaced with effexor. Now, after anotehr 3 months, my liver funcrtion is back down to mid-range normal.
It was a great realief.

So - to get to the question - hehe,
I felt absolutely wonderful on cymbalta. Best ever on any of the ad's i have tried. But , my was mad so i had to stop.
I would encourage you to try it if your docs suggest it. Just please be viligant in getting your liver function tests every 3 months.

[jena1225]

Thanks for the heads-up Simby :) I already get mine checked every 3 months, and all has been good so far. But if anything changes for the bad, I will at least know what it may be from!

How is the Effexor working for you?

[dag_FL]

I took cymbalta, it definitely did "change" pain right away, I didn't have any stomach or anything trouble wise except being backed up a day or 2 but that went away. It relieved a lot of body aches but my foot felt like it had gout and I couldn't walk on it so I had to give up the cymbalta....seems like individual's my react differently though and it might work for you. I did notice I couldn't focus on small print when taking it as well. best of luck with it. :)

[simby]

Thanks for the heads-up Simby :) I already get mine checked every 3 months, and all has been good so far. But if anything changes for the bad, I will at least know what it may be from!

How is the Effexor working for you?

I just increased the Effexor to 150 mg. yesterday. So far, so good. I am a lil speediy feeling and have absolutely NO hunger.

It will take a few days or so to determine if it helps the depression.

thanks for asking,
hugs,
sims

[marijo]

Cymbalta was bad for me. I ended up calling the manufacturers, to try and get some information. The clinical trials were quite short, and I read that a 19 year old girl who had not previously suffered from depression, committed suicide whilst on the trial. It played havoc with my liver and gut, I didn't know where I was, I felt really sick and generally ill. I am now on efexor. Its OK.

[Kathi49]

I am just going to have to echo what Terrapin said...same things! But it put more into a depressive state. I just can't seem to tolerate the AD's very well. But, I do know they help a LOT of people. :)