Cymbalta?

Bean - posted on 02/27/2013

I've been on it for 4 months (60 mg), and have gone from having 20 minutes of productive energy a day to 2-3 hours of productive energy/day. Helps my mood and my fatigue, hasn't impacted my pain much.

Elizabeth - posted on 02/07/2013

I like Cymbalta. I have been taking it for over 2 years. About 6 months ago my doctor increased my dosage from 60mg once a day to 60mg twice a day. Not only do I suffer from fibromyalgia but also severe depression. It really does help. Give it some time to work with the chemistry of your body. Doctors say 4-6 weeks but I bet you'll start feeling the difference in 2-3. Good luck and stay with it. ♥

Susan - posted on 02/06/2013

I started taking it, but had a bad reaction to it. I became so depressed that I had no will to live at all - within a few days of taking it. It was awful, but it went away when the cymbalta got out of my system.

Lisa - posted on 01/03/2013

im on both meds with no side effects!!??? cant wait to see Dr the 9th......i hate the numbness and tingly feeling and my lower legs burn and swell @ nite...

Ericka - posted on 01/09/2012

Hi Kathy. I didn't take it long enough to experience withdrawels but yes, it is a very scary drug. I haven't heard of many people having good results from taking it.

Kathy - posted on 01/09/2012

Scary drug along with the others, thanks for your comments. Did you have withdrawels from it and if so how long did they last?

Ericka - posted on 01/09/2012

I almost forgot but it also gave me an aluminum taste and made made my mouth very dry.

Ericka - posted on 01/09/2012

I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia. I tried Cymbalta and the side effects were awful. I could not function. I felt like a zombie, was dizzy, sick to my stomach and had trouble with speech even. I have also tried Lyrica and it was basically the same side effects.

Kathy - posted on 01/05/2012

I also want to add that I know that this alone is my experience and I do not want to take away that which may be helping someone!

Kathy - posted on 01/05/2012

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and little by little I fell for the drugs. I started with Savella and hallucinated and then tried lyrica not realizing it was in the same family along with Cymbalta. The Lyrica I was up to 200 mg a day and didn't like the feeling so backed myself down to 100 mg. Cymbalta I went up to 90 mg and then back down to 60 mg. I kept getting swelling in my lips and would be put on predisone until one day I had what I feel could have been a seizure triggered by flourescent lights. It kept flashing like a camera for several minutes and I was freaked, maybe a panic attack? After that I had heart racing and felt like a heart attack. I was checked out in ER and taken off the Lyrica and had HORRIFIC withdrawels. I swelled up again and the next thing I went off (after seeing my Neorologist) was Cymbalta. HORRIFIC withdrawels again. I was also on Tizanadine and Tramadol as needed as was taking them x3 a day and I said enough, it's still effecting me so went off those last Friday. HORRIFIC withdrawels and am still going thru them. Any help out there, I know I am rattling on but this has been really bad. I highly recommend thinking twice before putting any of these meds in your mouth and they alter your brain. Read online about the withdrawels of these meds and know that they have to be doing something to you if the withdrawel is so huge. I hope I can stop one person from putting any of these drugs in their mouth. I am not sure what I will do for the pain as it is now coming back, I will see my Dr in February and address that but it was so scary to have these things happen and I still live in fear wondering if I will be okay and ever feel normal again.

Andora - posted on 01/04/2012

it helped me for a couple of years with the pain, but it also made me void of emotion. i was just happy for the relief until my son's wedding when i didn't shed a tear. no emotion at all. the withdrawal symptoms were severe so i won't go back on it regardless of pain threshhold, but it affects everyone differenltly so please do stay excited and try it if your doc feels this is the best course of treatment for you. being aware of all the possibilities is a good thing. There is no healthier or powerful patient than an informed one. Peace and gentle hugs to you. andora

Kelly - posted on 01/03/2012

I love it. I am bipolar and have fibromagia and it works great..

Michele - posted on 12/29/2011

It helps, but by itself, it doesn't help for long. I do get some swelling, though. It helps with the depression that comes with chronic pain. However, I have to take celebrex and ultram in order to be able to function every day, with the cymbalta. It really works and it took years and different doctors to finally get the right combination for me. I have been on all of them for about a year and a half. The only time now that I feel debilitated is during bad weather, or after over exerting myself physically. However, I still have my bad days sometimes.

Melissa - posted on 06/30/2011

It gave me a terrible "tin" taste in my mouth that never went away... I was able to sleep but that taste was awful

Elizabeth - posted on 06/29/2011

I tried this for my fibro and my friends,my husband then boyfriend and family insisted that I go off of it because I would get enraged over simple things. I would go totally ballistic yelling at someone. For example my hubby rented the movie Sex and The City for us to watch because he knew I wanted to see it and I went off on him because I wanted to wait till I bought it to watch it. I mean the dear guy rents THAT movie and go off on him?

Jami - posted on 06/25/2011

I have been on it for about 6 months now..I have seen some improvement but not enough to be really happy about it...I hope it works for you though..

Estella - posted on 07/16/2010

The doctors wanted to put me on Cymbalta but, honestly after hearing all the side effects I got worried. I am already on nortryip;yine, topamax, cyplatom,percocet, lidoderm patches and have a neurostimulator implant in my back on top of rods in screws from my chronic back n leg pain. deenerative disc disease, spianl stenosis, lumbar fusion, and lower lumbar nerve damage it has been at time and up hill battle over the last 19 years since my fall.oh I am also Bi-polar OCD and suffer from PTSD,... AFter spending so many years on tons of medication for mood stabilizers and pain control and muscle relaxers I am blassed to be able to stay walking. I am glad that those who have relief from thsi med.

Dr. Peggy - posted on 07/01/2010

Shannon - this is your post and it has been 6 months since you posted. How did Cymbalta work for you? And what are you taking it for? Peg

Sarh - posted on 06/25/2010

It may work for you, not sure what you are taking it for. I have A.S. and Fibro, sorry to tell you it did NOT work for me!! Good luck to you though!!

Dr. Peggy - posted on 04/19/2010

Been taking 60 mgs for over 2 years now. Only side affect is I get dizzy sometimes when I get up suddenly and I never did this before. Had to go off it for about 10 days cold turkey at Christmas because of some outpatient surgery that turned out to require antibiotics which would react poorly with the Cymbalta. Bad, bad, bad. The pain came back and I was a moody bitch whose sleep patterns were shot by the end of the 10 days. Soooo happy to get back on track again. Flu like pain gone again. (It shows up in about 4 days if I don't take the Cymbalta. Sleep problems happen sooner.)

Oh, about it being an anti-depressant. The doctor who finally diagnosed my fibro said, "Why not take an anti-depressant? Who wouldn't be depressed if she had pain in all four quadrants of her body 24/7." Enough said. PBB

Rebecca - posted on 04/18/2010

I have been taking it for about 2 years. It was awful (loopy and dizzy) when I first started it and it lasted about 2 weeks but then went away. The side affects I have had are little itchy red sores on my head. They drive me crazy but the Cymbalta really helps the pain I have from restless leg syndrome. I would rather deal with the itching then have the awful pain at night. I hope it works well for you.

Andora - posted on 03/31/2010

i've taken cymbalta for about a year. it helps with the depression that can be inevitable with this crazy chronic pain, but it has done little to help with the pain so far as i can tell. the savella helped more with the pain and fatigue but the blue moods were worse. i didn't realize i was depressed however till i began to take cymbalta and was switched to savella. hmmm?

Chantal - posted on 02/27/2010

I was on cymbalta for about 8 months and it really took my creativity away I felt like a zombie on it. As well I started having wierd thoughts and it scared me so I took myself off of it and realized it was the meds that were having that effect on me. I take Lyrica daily and numbemtone for real bad days..

Aimee - posted on 02/25/2010

I've been taking Cymbalta for a few months and it's helped me greatly. I used to take Lyrica, then Neurontin, for nerve pain in my legs caused by a damaged spine. I sleep better now and my outlook has improved as a result. I hope it works for you, but as you can see from the other responses, not all people react the same to medication. If it does not work for you, keep looking until you find one. It may take time, but be patient. =]

Karen - posted on 01/31/2010

been taking it for 4 yrs with no side effects!

Suzanne - posted on 01/27/2010

Cymbalta helps me really sleep & get good rest.

Tracey - posted on 01/27/2010

I've been taking it for over a year now and it has helped me a lot! I take 60mg a day. Good luck with it!

Rosie - posted on 01/18/2010

I am taking this along with Lyrica for my fibr and it makes me sick to my stomach.

Angela - posted on 01/15/2010

I have been on Cymbalta for a couple years, it is great for my depression. When my doctor finally diagnosed me with fibro a little over a year ago; we had assumed for years I had arthritis in my hips.....not so, lol. He doubled my dose to help with the pain of the fibro. I really don't think it helps with the pain, but it really helps the depression part.

Shannon - posted on 01/11/2010

Yeah, this is only a 30mg and it doesnt really seem to be doing anything positive...

Thanks for the responses. :)

Christine - posted on 01/09/2010

it didn't help my fibro.

Annalee - posted on 01/07/2010

Im on it and I actually like it I feel it has helped. You need to be on 60mg if you are using it for fibro. im using it for depression and fibro

Shannon - posted on 01/06/2010

Took my first dose last night... whew. Loopy, sleepy, nausiated. Still all of the above...

Laura - posted on 01/05/2010

I've been taking it for about 7 months and have had no bad side affects. So far it seems to be working. It might take a few weeks before you start feeling or seeing a difference. Hang in there and give it a chance. Good luck!