I didn't get much relief from pain from Cymbalta - took it for five months at quite a low dose. My GP and neurologist both wanted me to stay on it and raise doses but I was getting lots of miscellaneous symptoms such as worsening of GORD, dryness in mouth and throat with tickly cough, dizziness and worsening nose bleeds.

I have to tell you that trying to come off it was a kind of hell I never wish to repeat. Awful nausea and panics and terrible headaches so I had to empty out a little more of capsule each day over a period of a month. It turned out that most of the supposed side effects were part of my rheumatic condition but I would never go back on a drug again that was such a nightmare to get off.

Tried Amitriptyline for three years and loved it but finally it gave me severe heart palpitations so had to stop. Tried Gaberpentin for 3 weeks and it made me punch drunk and angry. Now I just take the odd Tramadol and am on imuran in the hope that by suppressing my immune system I will eventually calm the neuropathic pain.