I have been taking 30 mg. of Cymbalta for close to 2 years now and it has helped me immensely with my neuropathy. I've decided to wean off from it now, as I've had enough of the side-effects (constant nightmares, dry/white tongue, nausea, weight gain, shortness of breath, feeling zombie-like, total libido loss). It's been a month that I've been off of it totally, and my nerve pain is more TERRIBLE, of course. I've once asked my doctor about taking something different, and he scolded me telling me to stay on the Cymbalta. So I have nowhere to turn except to this wonderful community for suggestions as to what I may be able to replace the Cymbalta with. I am open to treating with both medications and herbal/vitamin supplements.

Any advice at all would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!!!!!!! Vanna

l-tryptophan can work. You start at 500mg at bedtime and titrate up as needed to a gram a day. (2 caps)
There is another type of tryptophan called 5-HTP...this you would take in smaller doses of about 100mg a day to start.

This link suggests higher doses but I would not go that high myself. Most people can see effects, at lower doses.
http://www.drugs.com/cons/tryptophan.html

Taking a small amount of B6 will help tryptophan convert to serotonin.

Cymbalta has a norepi component to it too. Typically norepi does not need supplements as much as serotonin does.

It is not advisable to take tryptophan with antidepressants.
But since you stopped yours, you could do this safely.

There is new information out there that amitriptyline actually helps stimulate growth factors in peripheral nerves. If you don't want to try tryptophan, you could try the amitriptyline. Most doctors are familiar with this and give it easily.

I'm not stalking you i swear ha

You and i are so much in the same boat, so i've latched on to your threads.

Just wanted to throw this at you ---> Have you had a thorough workup on your thyroid ? Reason i ask... i took Cymbalta 60mg for over a yr. It helped i guess. But i had the side effects you speak of and also would sweat real bad and get overheated real easy.....
I'm 10 yrs older than you....and all my crap basically started when i turned 40.
I had a thorough hormonal check up done by a homeopathic Dr and was discovered to be severely hyPOthyroid (as well as depleated female hormones). So by getting put on Sinthroid for the thyroid, i hoped my problems would be over. Not. But i've taken opioids for over 4 yrs since the onset of my PN and they do depleat our hormones amongst several other things and i'm currently trying to get away from the pain meds.

Just wondered. I never realized how vitally important our thyroid is until i found all this out. And i see you are seeking a more 'natural' route via herbs etc. Good for you (thumbs up!)
Check out the 'stickies' at the top of the Peripheral Neuropathy forum.
VERY helpful

Don't worry, I don't think you are a "stalker", but more of a person with a colorful character (hard way to be when you are in constant pain... LOL). I appreciate your feedback and found what you've stated as fascinating! I did have a thyroid check 2years ago BEFORE I started Cymbalta ( Docs thought I had a systemic problem before my nerve damage diagnosis). It came out normal then.... but could being on Cymbalta CAUSE a problem with the thyroid?? If so, I should have it re-checked. I did also get the sweats you speak of, but was told it was just a symptom of the neuropathy.

Also interesting to hear about the pain meds effecting our hormones. Here I thought they just "numbed" the area (LOL). I'm very conservative with taking junk, that I take the lowest dose (5 mg.) of percocet once or twice a day. When my Dr. got my diagnostic tests, he couldn't believe how bad a shape I was in and instantly wrote me out a prescription for morphine! I refused it, not minding being in some pain..... just hate it when I'm so bad I can't function. It feels healthy to be off of the Cymbalta--- I know my bowels are thankful-- but I don't want to be a complete idiot by not doing anything to improve my quality of life. Can be a difficult journey to find the balance

I did go to the Vitamin store today and picked up some St. John's Wort. I will go back for the 5 HTP and vitamin B6. Interestingly enough, I don't feel any increase in depression since being off of the Cymbalta, but that may be due to the increase in my chocolate consumption.

The doses for 5-HTP are much lower than for tryptophan.
Some people get irritable on it... so if that happens to you, you can try the tryptophan which is much more gentle.

100mg at bedtime should be enough 5-HTP to start. You may not need higher amounts at all.

I go for the ones w/o any or little B-6 as the B-6 aggravates my own neuropathies miserably. But the 5-HTP? I've not had to take in the recommended doses often, usually much less to get me on an even keel when I was on some cancer meds that mess up your hormones systems terribly!
I have to ask tho, are you weaning off the meds w/your doc's knowledge and guidance? This is key as some some very unpleasant things can occur when you to it on your own and without guidance. Call your docs office IF it's all according to his 'program' and outline your problems... I bet that can help you taper off either slower or find a substitute during interim periods. If they don't? I'd be very surprised and look for another doc!
The thyroid stuff is enuf to set off any 'storm'! Mrs D is an expert in that quarter! But I have suffered a bit due to the hypo-T to worse...dead thyroid aspects of life. Surprisingly? It can do visible and real damage to nerves but less visible is to the vascular system....my first 'thyroid storm' or collapse occured a few months after my neuropathy onset and it blasted the lymph system w/super swelling like you wouldn't believe. The only things that help are keeping my thyroid meds very very REGULAR? and some exercise to get the lymph systems moving...either thru physical motion or thru massage. The massage you can learn to do yourself. It's not hard once you see it done properly.
Now, keep in mind that many drugs stay in your system for up to 8 weeks after you stop. Go look up the 'prescribing information for that med and all the others you are on and see if they act/interact well together. Some do not, just read up on the 'side effects'? And ask questions! Don't be shy! 's - j

Hi Vanna, and welcome to NT! This is such a great place with many nice, friendly, and caring people.

We're so glad you found us!

I've been on Neurontin for many years, and it has helped a lot. I have neuropathy due to MS.

Here is a link to the peripheral neuropathy forum to help get you started:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html

Advice needed please....?

I am from the UK. My wife has had a back operation about 12 years ago where its all gone wrong.

Over the 12 years she has had pain in her lower back. We have tried a variety of treatments but nothing is effective in the long run.

My wife is now on strong medication. She has been taking the following drugs for a few years.

a) Oral Morph - when required
b) Zoromorph - twice a day
c) Diclofenic suspository - when required
d) Pragabalin - twice a day

My wife is only 37 and these drugs, i feel are harming her rather than helping her.

Before my wife started to take pragabalin she was a size 10, now she is a size 18 - 20.

Pragabalin is known to make you put on weight.

The doctors have now said that they will slowly take her off the progabalin and replace that drug with Duloxetine.

This new drug is cauising her rto be very sleepy, loss of cordination and more....

My question is..... can anyone recommend a drug that has lower side effects that deals with the pain issue?

I forgot to mention, my wife has an issue with the nerves in her lower back which started from her operation.

Also, we are from the UK, so the names of the drugs may be different abroad.


Thank you for your help.

Hi, I ended up with Nasty NErve Damage from hip replacement. My thigh is still 80% NUMB and it's 5 yrs post op. I had for years the burning/tingling from this nerve damage and since finding thru a naturopath nerve supplements, she suggested 4 and I chose 2, the burn/tingle is gone. These are Inosine and Sphingolin. I don't know if you can find them in the UK but I know amazon here sells them. I've posted my experience with these and have no fear of taking them. My fears are the drugs. Hope you can find help.