I am currently weaning myself off Cymbalta which I was put on 3 months ago for my small fiber neuropathy. I have RA but this seems to be inactive presently although I am in plenty of pain and unable to tolerate RA drugs to date or NSAIDS long term. The reason I'm trying to get off Cymbalta now is because ever since starting it I have been clenching my jaw a lot - confirmed by my dentist and oral surgeon.

I now have a mouth guard which I use every night but am still suffering from severe headaches and a deep ache around my ears and upper teeth and my nose. I suffer from nose bleeds due to dryness in my nasal passages and also from dry eyes but am told that this is just mild secondary Sjogrens which is part of my RA.

I don't think I have much arthritis in my jaw because it doesn't click and I can open my mouth normally. The oral surgeon said I have a swollen muscle on one side of my jaw but this isn't matched with the distribution of pain I'm experiencing. However this ache in my nose and teeth is really getting me down and seems to connect with the intense headache I'm suffering from everyday at present.

Does this sound like withdrawal side effects from dropping doses of Cymbalta slowly or does it sound like TMJ? The headache and neuralgia both seem to have appeared alongside a horrid taste and tummy ache and a worsening of my neuropsthic pain in arms and legs. Really confused and not sure what to do because my GP (NHS Scotland) will only offer me more drugs or push me to get back on Cymbalta- which I just won't do because I fear it is making things worse and is so hard to get off. But he won't acknowledge this and says I need to give it longer at a higher dose. I am just existing on the maximum dose of paracetamol/ panadol presently and am splitting Cymbalta capsules so I take about 12mg daily now.

Hey, I don't know if my two cents will help you or not; but it's worth putting on the shelf, maybe...I have jaw issues and was put on Cymbalta. I had a bad allergic reaction...my throat and tongue swelled. I stopped taking it thus I don't have advice for long term effects or withdrawal effects...I can say that if you feel that you are being pushed into continue usage, continue to stand up for yourself...if many of us here didn't stand up for ourselves, medical field wouldn't keep looking into other areas for help...

Thanks so much. I have had bad allergic reactions to three drugs to date and many severe intolerences to others. This is why my GP is clutching at Cymbalta now because he says we are running out of options. I agree that acceptance of drugs often leads to complacency from the medical profession. Luckily I have another GP who only works part time but she completely understands how I feel about taking powerful drugs and never knowing whether my symptoms are from the drugs or the problems that the drugs are aiming to treat.