[Shashi]

Hi everyone,

I posted on the new members board, but I wanted to stop in here and say hello too.

My name is Lisa, I'm 45 years old, I'm an assistant professor at a community college (for now), and I've been dragging through limbo for the last two years. Lots of weird symptoms, lots of medical tests, very few answers. I see a lot of familiar names from another MS board, so I sure hope I'll feel at home here.

I do have a questions for you too. My PCP started me on Cymbalta for fatigue problems. (My muscles have been so weak and I've been dealing with so much fatigue for the past six weeks that I've honestly felt like I was dying.) I took the first Cymbalta this morning, and noticed that I haven't been as tired today as I usually am. I was actually able to get some things done today, which was wonderful.

However, since I sat down this evening, I've been having a bad case of the yawns. It's just one right after another, and I'm not even that sleepy. That wouldn't be so bad, but every time I yawn, my neck, jaw, and face muscles seem to go into a prolonged spasm, which is scary and painful.

I'm thinking this might be a reaction to the medication, which I'm really hoping is not, especially if it is going to help with the fatigue. So I was wondering if anyone else has had this side effect with Cymbalta, and if so, if it went away after you adjusted to the medicine.

Hugs to all,

Lisa

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

Here's the link to side effects for Cymbalta. Muscle cramps is one of the listed side effects.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...r/a604030.html

There is also a medications forum here too that you might want to check out. Here's the link!
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html

[Shashi]

Thanks, Av8rgirl. I'll check those links out right away.

[SurvivingMSwithHOPE]

Hi Lisa and "Neighbor".

Welcome! My PCP gave me Cymbalta to try and it lasted about 3-4 days, had opposite effect on me, I slept all day after taking it.

I hope you can take it and it helps!

[Snoopy]

Lisa, when I used Cymbalta I had to take it at night because it made me tired but everyone reacts differently with meds.

I never had the side affect your describing.

[doydie]

I don't know anything about Cymbalta but a lot of the depression type medicines have a time to get used to them. So you might be sleepy at first but your body just has to get usd to it. I guess I should add that many meds are given for uses not originally intended for. The first med my neuro tried on me for my fatigue was Prozac. I wasn't depressed, it was just a proven fact that it helped fatigue. I have tried a lot of meds for it and we eventually settled of Ritalin.

[the Bird]

Welcome Sashi! I hope you get your answers soon! Meanwhile hang out with us! We have quite a few limbo people and they seem to get a lot of support from each other here. (I'm past that stage!)

[Debbie D]

Welcome Lisa!!

I take Cymbalta for neuropathic pain...it helps the gabapentin. I take it at night, since it makes me tired. I think it helps me sleep a bit better (especially when I wear earplugs to dull my DH's snoring noise!)

Good luck, and I hope the med helps!

[Shashi]

Hi everyone,

I decided not to take the Cymbalta. It only helped with the fatigue the first day I took it, and the side effects were really getting to me. Besides the contant yawning and muscle spasms, it also dilated my pupils, which made my vision even worse than it already is.

*sigh* I guess I'll have to try something else.

Hugs to all and thanks for the warm welcomes.