Cymbalta

[Carrie]

Hello, I'm new to group. Suffering PN (small fiber sensory) for 5 years. I take Neurontin with Vicodin. I was given Cymbalta in Jan. 2005. It did great on my PN pain. I thought I might be cured. Then side effects set in after the third month. By month 9, I stopped Cymbalta. Neuro never would actually say it was the Cymbalta, but my regular MD did say it was the Cymbalta. Side effects were swelling of lymphs in groin, bad leg pain, weight gain, low back pain and sciatica, severe depression, could not sleep (from back and leg pain), stomach pain, nausea, and it goes on. The withdrawal was worse than any nightmare. And, then the PN pain was back full force. Never completely quit Neurontin, so just upped it again to my old dose (3200 mg per day). It has been a very difficult experience. Dr. wanted me to try Lyrica, but it being new, said no. I do take B12 now.
Question is, has anyone else had good results with Cymbalta with bad side effects like this? Any suggestions on what I could try without the brain blur of Neurontin to help with this pain?
Thanks
Carrie

[dlshaffer]

Welcome Carrie - I also have had PN for close to 5 years. I was on Neurontin when I was first diagnosed, but after a couple of years and memory loss, went on Tegretrol for a couple of years. Had to have some regular blood work done because of the side effects. I have also been taking Tramadol (Ultram). The Tegretrol was getting to the point where it was becoming ineffective so went on Lyrica this past spring. I have had very good luck with this. Takes care of the burning to a better degree than the other two medicines ever did. I also have a home Anodyne unit that I also swear by. See another post that discusses Anodyne therapy. I hope I have been somewhat of a help. There are many, many good people here that are much more knowledgable than I am where you will be able to learn much.

Diana Shaffer

[Carrie]

Thank you so much for the reply Diane. I have been afraid to try Lyrica due to the awful experience from Cymbalta. I see my neurologist this Thursday and plan to ask her about going ahead with Lyrica. (I understand it is in the family of Neurontin which gives me no side effects but brain fog) The PN seems worse now, and going some in my hands. I'm just in a spell where it's presence in my life is extremely wearisome.
thanks again
finding this board is the glow in the dark.
Carrie

[RANDEL]

Hello, I'm new to group. Suffering PN (small fiber sensory) for 5 years. I take Neurontin with Vicodin. I was given Cymbalta in Jan. 2005. It did great on my PN pain. I thought I might be cured. Then side effects set in after the third month. By month 9, I stopped Cymbalta. Neuro never would actually say it was the Cymbalta, but my regular MD did say it was the Cymbalta. Side effects were swelling of lymphs in groin, bad leg pain, weight gain, low back pain and sciatica, severe depression, could not sleep (from back and leg pain), stomach pain, nausea, and it goes on. The withdrawal was worse than any nightmare. And, then the PN pain was back full force. Never completely quit Neurontin, so just upped it again to my old dose (3200 mg per day). It has been a very difficult experience. Dr. wanted me to try Lyrica, but it being new, said no. I do take B12 now.
Question is, has anyone else had good results with Cymbalta with bad side effects like this? Any suggestions on what I could try without the brain blur of Neurontin to help with this pain?
Thanks
Carrie

Hello Carrie, I am a new member. I signed on because your experience with PN and Neurontin are very similar to mine. I have suffered with PN and lower back pain for about 14 years. I also was on 3000 mg. of Neurontin. It never seemed to do anything but make me forgetful and foggy. After doing nerve conductivity test a neurologist told me that the problem was from a damaged spinal cord not diabetic neurophathy. After two back and one neck surgery I still have PN. He also stopped me from taking neurontin. He never told me to taper off slowly.I had a crash that lasted two months. (DON'T EVER JUST STOP TAKING NEURONTIN! (WITHOUT CLOSE MONITORING BY A GOOD DR.) I started Lyrica about 6 mos. ago. It helps with the sever episodes but the constant burning, numbness and pain is still there in both hands and feet. Last week my Dr. increased the Lyrica to 75 mg. twice daily and sent me to a new neoroligist today. She said that it is deffinitely PN and suggested that I start 20mg. Cymbalta. I am to check with my Dr. tomorrow to see what he thinks. Don't know if I can take both of them or not?
Now to your questins. First I wonder if withdrawl from neurontin may have caused the nightmares instead of the Cymbalta? That is what caused it for me. I have had no ill effects from Lyrica. It just doesn't do enough. I have a sister and a friend who take Cymbalta and swear by it. My son is a Pharmacist and says that it has very few side-effects. Wish that I could help more. PRAYERS, RANDEL

[karen nichole]

Hi Carrie. I'm new also to this site and I tried Lyrica and didn't like it but ALSO was not adjusted off neurontin to Lyrica very well. I would be interested to know how you adjust off neurontin and adjust onto Lyrica. I also hate the brain fog/memory issues. I stopped after one week of horrible pain & burning. I have been taking cymbalta and am maxed out at 120mg daily. I had to go off because it was thought to be causing urinary retention. It wasn't and also a miserable experience. I use neurontin 4000mg daily and cymbalta together and they work pretty well. My pain mgmt dr has me on Mexilitine which is a heart arythmia med,of course using for pain mgmt only. I started taking 150mg once daily and that worked great for awhile and now I take 150mg three times daily. I love it with no noticeable side effects. I've just had this since late april of 2005. I'm sad to know that 5-14 years later there are still people looking as well. good luck at the dr visit. karen nichole

[george]

I have had PN for 10 years. Went to many doctors for 8 years and they all said pain medicine. I beleave we tried every thing in the market but my pain level was always 5 or more. Some of your stronger meds have morphine mixed in them. My VA doc said lets try straight morphine. I started at 60 mg. twice a day and was up to 150 mg. twice a day. My pain level stayed around 2 or 3. After a year i lowered my intake to 90 mg twice a day and my pain still stays around 3 or4. The pills i take are 30 mg. SR. That stands for slow release.
I am finally where i can live with my self and other people.
I pray this may help anyone reading this.

George

[nide44]

I was taking Gabapentin (Neurontin-generic) for 6 yrs, along with Tramadol (Ultram). I was up to 4200mgs/day on the Neurontin. About 2 yrs ago, the meds weren't working anymore for me and I started on a search for something to help with he PN pains.
I tried Keppra, Topamax, MSContin, Cymbalta, IV drugs, and others, with no positive results. I still was in pain. I never went off the Neurontin, tho. Each trial titrated the new med up to strength and then titrated down. Some took 2 wks, others 4-6 wks - each way (up then down).
Finally Lyrica was approved and came on the market.
I was put on a very special mixed titration & replacement schedule.
Replacing some of the Neurontin with some Lyrica, until I was at
a full dose of Lyrica with no Neurontin.
It didn't take long, about 1 1/2 weeks.
I was at 450mgs Lyrica for the first month and then after that, upped it to 200mgs 3x day (600mgs/day). I still take the Ultram (400mgs/day).
After the Neurontin was replaced by the Lyrica, it did the job well.
My pain is back to a manageable 2-4 with some spikes in the 5-6 range, but nowhere near the 5-7 with spikes in the 8-9 range.
Anyone who takes Neuronin without adverse s/e, should be able to use Lyrica, if the titration and replacement schedule is administered correctly.

[jd3]

Hi Carrie, welcome to the forum:)

I have taken neurontin on/off for 8-9 years. It can work very well with my PN and also act as a mood stabilizer/antidepressant facilitator for my Bipolar condition. But I build up tolerance rapidly. By the time I am taking 2400 mg or higher I am basically wasting medication. Unfortunately I have no good alternative. The failure of Lyrica for me was a heartbreaker.

Cymbalta (60 mg) does work; but again I build up tolerance. 120 mg. cymbalta did work but my insurance won't cover. My PC doctor uses 120 successfully for fibromyalgia.The old database contained enough information that I think I could fight the insurance denial. But will we ever see it again?

P.S. DO NOT STOP NEURONYIN ABRUPTLY! :cool: