Anyone with experience with this drug?
I've suffered with idiopathic truncal neuropathy for about six months, Dr recommenced Cymbalta but reading about the possible side effect it scares the heck out of me. Seems that some of the side effects can go on months after people discontinue use.
I've tried Lyrica, it did absolutely nothing. Right now I'm on Vicodin and Tramadol and while it does relieve my pain it's taking ever increasing doses.
Thanks for any help, Sally

show 47% incidence of withdrawal syndrome. This typically comes after several months at least on it.

Cymbalta has another down-side...it can cause liver toxicity. No other antidepressant does.

Effexor is very similar to Cymbalta.

Everyone is different, and I'd say you have a 50/50 chance of issues, based on the published papers.

Sally,
I tried Cymbalta in 2005. I took it for 10 months. I was on Neurontin and Vicodin when I started Cymbalta. My neuro told me it was new and could be great for my PN, and I might be able to go off the Neurontin (I was up to 3600mg per day).
Cymbalta did help my pain, and I thought it was great at first. Within a few months, however, it seemed to quit working and the side effects of horrible constipation, night after night of insomnia, mood swings, weight gain (especially in the belly), high blood pressure, escalating cholesteral, to name the worst of them. It became a nightmare for me.
I ended up going back to Neurontin, Vicodin, and more research on my own as to what might be the cause of my PN. Sadly, the Cymbalta adventure led to me and my neuro parting ways. I came off Cymbalta fast, which I later found out was wrong. The withdrawal was terrible. I am still not sure I have recovered from the effects of Cymbalta. I personally could not recommend it to anyone. I can only suggest you think about it real hard, and proceed with caution.
I have found more help from reading this forum, and trusting in the knowledge of those here who understand and suffer with us. I have reduced my Neurontin now by half after eliminating gluten from my diet, and I take other supplements recommend here along with extra B12. I watch my stress which also seems to affect my pain level.
I tried Lyrica with my new neuro, but it did not help me. Neurontin seems to be safest for me. I hope my experience is of help to you and others.
Wishing the best for you.
Mrs. Schumacher

I was on Cymbalta for 6 months this year. In the last year too I have truied neurontin,lyrica,elavil,tramadol,and vicodin. Anyhow for me cymbalta and I was on 60 did nothing. When I went off it we weaned and I had a head ache but sometimes I get that anyway. Other then that not much else. Mrs D no one ever checked my liver while on it. Just when I had random blood work. I always before the cymbalta had high liver enzymes but two months ago they were finally normal for the first time in years. Good luck in your choice and I encourage you to tell your doc your fears.

Cymbalta is a jacked up, revved up, version of Prozac.

I can't tolerate any of them, but I can't tolerate much. BTW, if you run Cymbalta and Tramadol together on a drug interaction checker, they come up incompatible....high risk for drug interaction.

Me neither Cycelops!

I tried Cymbalta once before and it threw me into depression; so did Elavil and Zoloft. I can't function on anti-depressants I guess. Anyway, I don't recall much nausea; mainly dizziness and just a feeling of gloom and doom while on it. And my issues are mainly anxiety anyway. The docs just prescribed the other (not Zoloft) to help treat the nerve pain.

However, I do know of some people that do just fine with it.

Sally m and others,Cyclopes beat me to the punch again ,
I who new better let a Dr, who was nuttier than I,talk me into
talking Prozac after one week I was not happy with the chickens
I was seeing on the ceiling..I knew one of my son's friend's was
on this stuff,I grabbed him pulled him down looked him in eye he
was a teenager then. Now this kid was very depressed he walked
around smiling now. I whispered do you see things,yes he answered,
that kid was having hullinations,as was I,but he was to young,but
getting a kick out of it,I was not. I told the Dr. never again,had to wean off.
I talked to his mother,like I told him I was going to do. None of that
should be given to teenagers.or me.
Most of those meds make you swell up,in hands,feet and gut..My Neuro
did not want me on Cymbata, and Mrsd right on. about the others. Lyrica
broke me out in hives..Tramador made me and Bob so dizzy we were down
more then up..I went back on neurontin 3600 a day I feel like it effects
my balance,but Polyneuropathy does as well..My body yells I need it,
lot's of rehab. Now
I was a ER Truma Nurse for 25 yrs. My pain got very bad but after 3 yrs.
I went on Morphine small doses 3 times a day,your not going to feel like you
do after major surgery,you have to pick it up walk in into the pharmacy.

Now Sally is this the first time you posted,if so please tell us about you,
we are no Neuro's,please every bit of the prersription papers you don't
understand ask your Pharmacist,,or Mrs d helps more then many,make
the Dr. read his little I don't know what I'm talking about book. I
can tell you Neurontin makes me gain belly weigh me!!! But like Kat said
everything is different for others,just like PN.

Bob and Hey Bob,I know your Wife is a RN. I was will tell you, RN but
STAFF nurse don't know about you HEY JOE, nurses have to PUT UP
with MORE ,WE are used to telling other NURSES
to MOVE IT. WE all end up with back trouble,I have been hit ,yelled at and worse helping 6 male nurses move a 700 lb man who had been shot,was hard and when 1 of my Nurses,had a heart attack and our 700 lb. patient fell
on me and shattered my arm..We were 2 nurses short,and when they were done with meI had to wake up 2 tired nurses and tell them they were not tired anymore..Yes we did take it out at times ,to many in our family..Which
I'm sure you all would care about us but honest,it's not right,unless you complain 24 hrs. a day.. I think you do as much as you can,YOU BOTH
HELP, it's just NURSES,are BOSSYas are PNurses or Tecks AND THE LADIES
AND MEN who keep thaL Hospital CLEAN,I agree Our famiys on both sides and our children all need to work together..I glad both of you can come here,
I wish as much as I loved nursing,I would of thought of being perhaps a Football Player same injuries..Sorry for that,and my hands hurt. Sally tell us about Sally.. Hugs to all Sue

Sally - I tried Cymbalta on 2 separate occasions. The first time it helped the burning in my feet and hands. However, after a few months, the med stopped being effective and I went back to the Neurontin (Gabapentin). It actually helped me lose some weight.

I tried it again about a year or two later and it did not work at all. I am currently taking Neurontin 300 mg 4 x day. This is what works for me. Oh and never, never quit taking Cymbalta cold turkey (I speak from experience). At the time I stopped, I had a bad sunburn and attributed my nausea and "spinning" feeling to that. I could not hold my head up. Finally I figured out what the problem was and took a Cymbalta and the "spinning" stopped. You have to quit slowly as in most meds. Now I know!

Good luck, Cheryl

Sallymander,

I take 60 mg of Cymbalta a day. Along with Neurontin, Lyrica, and Tramadol twice per day only as needed. The Cymbalta works well for me and I have been taking it for two years. Of course it is different for everyone. In the next week I will be weaning off Neurontin and increasing my Lyrica and Tramadol and adding Topamax for weight loss. The combo of Neurontin and Lyrica caused a weight gain of 50 pounds - yucks I know.

Fortunately, I am one of those people who functions well and one would never know I am ill. I have a good job and a family that keeps me hopping. I have SFN and do experience severe pain if unmedicated in my hips and thighs. I also have a B12 deficiency.

Anyhow, the moral of this story is that no drug works the same for each of us. Weigh the pros and cons and make the best decision for you.

Take care and let us know how it goes.

Laurie

Much thanks to all who replied !!!

I've decided to try a larger dosage of Lyrica before taking a chance with Cymbalta.
What bugs me is the possible side effects of Cymbalta aren't just an upset stomach and the like but rather psychological problems. Don't need any of that, haven't been depressed in my life and don't want to start now... When you think about it the fact that some antidepressants lessen PN pain could be called a side effect, pain control wasn't what these drugs were originally designed for. At least the Lyrica wasn't primarily designed as an antidepressant but rather antiepileptic drug. Guess I'll see what happens.
I have little faith that the root cause of my PN will ever be found, Apparently 45% never is.
I'm 57 years old and the first time I've been to a Dr since I was a child was in Jan. Been working on the same bottle of Advil for ten years. Very active with no bad habits except maybe ice cream.
Then the pain came. Started out as what felt like a bad sunburn on my right waistline that moved straight across to the left then up to the lower rib cage, back across to the right. Now it's trying to go across my shoulder blades. After the initial sunburn feeling it changed to pins and needles, that's when I said no more and headed for a doctor. Heavy pressure or touching is fine but wipe the area with a feather and you could knock me over. Clothes or even a blanket rubbing is the worst, if I could I'd become a nudist.
Tons of blood tests and MRIs later and still no answer to the cause of my pain. Certainly doesn't reinforce my trust of the medical field even though the doctors I've seen have been top notch and likable. Guess we don't always know as much as we think we do.