MY PM Dr. has me on this for nerve pain because of my crpsII. I have been taking this for 8 weeks along with the other pain meds. I get very little sleep at night when taking this or not. This Cymbalta knocks me out where I can be talking you one minute and lights out the next. I have cut back by half on my main pain meds but it still does not seem to matter I cannot stay awake. Because I am not taking all my pain meds I am in pain 9+ all day long. I have found that I am a shell of a body I can't drive, read, deal with everyday needs. I told my PM Dr. about this so he dropped my script down to 30mg. I still have the same problem just not as quickly just takes a little more time to fully drain all energy from my mind and body.

I stopped cold turkey 2 weeks ago and now I feel like a person again not a pile of S@#T all the time. My mood has improved as well even though my wife disagrees. I can take all my pain meds now as needed without being drained all the time and now in some what less pain a full 24 hrs at 9+. I hate to go against my PM Dr. but I was worsted off on this drug then on and had to get back a little peace of my life back what little I now have dealing with this crpsII.

Has anyone else experience this same felling from this drug.

Hi ~ there must be something about this particular drug that you just cannot tolerate. I take 120 mg per day of Cymbalta and it doesn't bother me a bit. It's my pain meds that were making me go to sleep. I was on Methadone, and that put me right to sleep, so my doc took me off it and put me on Opana, and now that doesn't even touch my pain.

Be sure and tell your doc what you did, as far as getting off the Cymbalta. Actually it's very dangerous to cold-turkey it. You should have weaned off it, but you got lucky. lol. Never cold-turkey a med again, as with many meds you can go into seizures.

I'm sorry you had that reaction to it. It can be helpful, but for me it does nothing for pain. I take it for depression only, although the doc said it would help with the pain too. It doesn't. lol. Best of luck and God bless. hugs, Lee

Lessa

Thank you for the heads up about stopping cold turkey and what could happen. I will not do this again. I am new to all these pain meds I have been living with all the pain for over 3.5 years until now. I am also on Opana 20mg. twice a day. I feel that it does little for my pain. The Cymbalta was for nerve pain. Since stopping I have the Cymbalta I feel alive again during the day where I kept falling asleep. I find no difference with my nerve pain on or off.

Hi,
I was on Cymbalta for years. (I thought the highest dose was 60mg??) Anyway it did take care of my nerve pain, and the only side effect I had was when I (foolishly) ran out; I never did that again!! It was like I was on an emotional rollercoaster from hell; it was awful.

Sue

I take 60mg of Cymbalta too, and haven't had any problems with it, unless I forget to take it and then I have brain zaps. It helps a little bit with my chronic pain, I also take Vicodan for the pain, and that only helps a little bit more. The only things that make me sleepy is Ambien and Soma.

I agree that you must a sensitivity to Cymbalta for you to react that way to it.

Its been 2 weeks since I stopped taking Cymbalta and I feel much better clear headed no falling a sleep all day long with other side effects. I can now drive without worrying if I am a danger to others by falling asleep at the wheel. My nerve pain has stayed the same. I just wanted to give a update.

Thanks to everyone for your reply and concerns.

I also take Cymbalta with pain medications, OxyContin 20 mg twice a day, with Percocet 10/325 twice a day for breakthrough pain along with the Cymbalta 60 mg in the morning and 30mg at night. The Cymbalta recently is being used for neuralgia, so if you are having neurologic pain along with the chronic back pain, this is an excellent combination, in my opinion. It does work for me. However, the sleepiness was a problem at times. My doctor prescribed a small dose of Nuvigil, which is for obstructive sleep apnea or shift work (people who work midnight hours). It has made a world of difference and completes the whole pain management program. I am rarely in pain and never sleepy, nor does the Nuvigil make you jittery. Again, in my opinion, the quality of life I have with this combination has been a Godsend. Hope this helps.

Next time you are at the doctor I would ask them about neurontin, if you havent already tried it. It works for me better than narcotic medication ever could and best of all it is an actual medication for your nerves not an antidepressant that can sometimes help with neuralgia or whatever other ailments they try to use it for. Take care.