Adding Cymbalta to Lyrica...
 

F.Y.I. update:
It seems that adding 60 mgs of Cymbalta to my 600 mgs of Lyrica is helping a lot with the burning pain that I would normally have. Today is very overcasted and about to rain and yet my RSD is not causing any burning flare ups. Although I am aware of a bit of discomfort it is quit doable.
I try walking with my cane but end up in so much pain that I stay in my wheelchair most of the day. Not to mention my fear of falling.
I just thought you all would like to know...:grouphug:

Jimbo,

Glad to hear your doing a little better with cymbalta. I think I am having some sort of reaction to my butran's. I was sick again all weekend and didn't take any medication except my 2 patch's. I slept and throw up, just like in oct. when they started me on the patch's.
It's over cast here as well with a forecast of several days worth of rain. my foot is starting to flair a little so I know the weather is not going to be favorable.

I take Cymbalta as well, and last week I read somewhere (I think in a neurological email) that Cymbalta has been engineered to be an absolute monster to quit! Worse than any narcotic.

I've got to mention, that if I forget my Cymbalta, (which I shouldn't) but a TBI doesn't give me the best memory, I get fierce headaches, and just wanna sleep sick. This is a helpful drug, but it IS a monster! I read on incidents of trying to titrate down, not working. Lilly (the maker), has not been forthcoming with any help.
Be VERY Careful with Cymbalta.
I'll try to find a link to that article.

Be well,
Pete

asb

I was on Lyrica and they added Cymbalta to it...and without fail 30-45 minutes after taking the Cymbalta I would get violently sick. I don't think it was the combination of those two that caused it though...more likely that I was suffering from undiagnosed Seratonin Syndrome already when they put me on it and that just made it worse. After that I stopped all meds and have spent the last few months trying one med at a time. I will definitely keep these two in mind because I do remember that Lyrica was the only med that they have tried where I have seen any noticeable relief from the burning pain.

Glad to hear that you are getting some relief. It started snowing again today and has been cold and windy the past few days...not doing me any good. But I started clonidine patches last night and I am hoping that these will help with the spells of dizziness and blurry vision so that we can focus on meds to help the pain again. Right now I pretty much have the TENS unit and Lidoderm Patches to help with the pain at the moment. :(

Pete,
I'd be very interested in that article if you find it.
Catra,
Thanks and I hope those patches help you.
Alta,
Be well and thanks...

:grouphug:

Hi Jimbo, my doc had me try cymbalta a little while back and it made my heart race out of my chest. I swear I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I'm so happy for you that you are getting some relief from the burning pain! The burning pain is my worst nightmare, so good on ya buddy!!:hug: Karen

Oh my!
Is that what's doing it?

Jimbo, I'll try to look that up for you tomorrow!
It's a great med, just be VERY careful!

Pete

Hi Pete, does your heart race like crazy sometimes too? I wonder if this is a RSD thing or a med thing? Or both? sheesh...:)

My heart rate is very high these days...ever since the pain got really bad again. I wasn't on any meds so it's not med related for me. But the doctors think it's my body's reaction to the pain...or so they have told me. It's pretty normal for my heart rate to be 150-160 even at rest...I don't want to know what it has gotten to when I am moving around.

Interesting!! I just started Cymbalta, gradually making it up to 40mg per day... I too, had a racing heart a few times... Thought it was just my short wired RSD body.. And Catra said... No meds and it's happening... Gotta wonder if it is our RSD ...the Cymbalta does make me tired and usually, my tummy wont allow any med.. So far so good.. without it I'm feeling foggy brained and some OCD going on.. Hit two birds with one stone..anxious and pain..

Hugs, Kathy

The burning pain is less but the crushing pain is still high. Today is raining and I went out to the P.O. and now my leg and arm hurt with a feeling of being in a press. I usually have burning pain and I'm aware of some but it's less than usual.
I don't notice my heart race but I have dry mouth and I'm hungry more often.
My neurologist warned me that my appetite will increase and it is.
I have to keep my food supply low or I'll eat everything...:thud:

jimbo
i know that feeling i eat everythimg anymore. the crushing pain is when i want my foot cut off. not it me yet. but its burning. so I know the rain is coming and major barametric changes. (beesting feeling is my burn)

I have been on 60 of Cymbalta with 300 of Lyrica and it works very well. Much less burning. I also take meloxicam for the bone pain as well as Flexoril for the muscle spasms. The combo has worked well. I had a spinal cord stim implanted last March and that has REALLY given me hope! My hand functions (most of the time) now, before the stim I was unable to open it. Now I can type mostly with one hand but my left can hit a button every so often. Now I'm trying to piece my life back but if I can't find a job soon we are going to lose our home. I am going back to school to finish my Bachelors in Social Work. I want to help others like us.

stressed out,
I am sorry to hear your going through such a financial hardship. I can't find a job to do from home either so I have been looking in getting my bsn then on for my masters. Good luck!

So sorry to hear of all your problems Stressedout. This monster takes us through a lot more than we realize at times. My heart goes out to you. I hope you find the relief you need soon. I know that everyone who reads your post like me sends you prayers and thoughts of help...:grouphug:

Thank you. I am trying to stay positive. I'm organizing food and toy drives for the needy, trying to stay in the Christmas spirit. Prayers my Christmas dreams come true. I'm taking out more than I need in student loans to help us survive but won't get that money till March.. I wouldn't have much in loans because of the DVR grant but have no choice. At my age the last thing I want to do is pay student loans again. I can do the Bachelors in 3 semesters if I take a summer class. I plan to. I would love to go on for my masters but I think I'll just take it one step at a time. Again...more loans just dig us deeper into a hole. Looking out for scholorships.

Anyway, going back to the Cymbalta. I found it works well with the Lyrica. I did gain alot of weight which I can't seem to get off. You do become dependant on it. Workers comp stalled approval once (I had been on it a yr already) and I ran out. Oh man, I was a mess. My daughter thought I was going to kill someone. Now I make sure to have extra of everything on hand if they do that again.

I hope I don't experience any bad reactions from Cymbalta. I'm sort of new at it but so far so good.
But now I'm having this on and off crushing feeling in my arm and leg. This has my neurologist puzzled so I'm going to a new one that's more specialized in RSD to get examined more.
The one side of my face is drooped and constantly feels like I'm wearing a mask.
I wonder if I've always had this crushing feeling and it was masked by the burning or this is something new?:confused:

Jimbo,
I get a crushing feeling every barometric pressure change. Just like my lower leg and foot are in a vice grip and its getting tighter and tighter.
Regular nights are just burn and pain

That's how mine feels! Like being in a press...:eek:

Sometimes Karen, I'm not sure what it is, I get very shaky sometimes too (tremor).. If it gets bad, diazepam helps, but I don't really know what causes it? Hope you feel well!

pete

Finally!
It took some digging, but at least I was smart enough (for a moment) to flag this article in my email client.
Here's the addy.
Health Central sends out a newsletter (email) every week or two, and of course some are more helpful than others. So, while you're there, (this addy will only take you to this one article) click on the 'home' page button, and look around.
You may decide that you'd like to sign up for their newsletter.

I hope this might help...

http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic...balta/?ic=6042


pete
asb

Thanks Pete,
Good info. Nice site too...