Cymbalta for CRPS
 

Hello friends,
My PM doc has just started me on a new add on nerve pain med - Cymbalta. Tonight I took first one. Any comments on your experiences with this drug are appreciated.
I have CRPS symptoms systemic. I already take 3,300 mg gabapentin, LDN, & dextromethorphan for nerve pain. Thx!

My fiancee hasn't tried Cymbalta, but I'm thinking about having her try LDN. Not to hijack your thread, but what are your experiences with LDN?

I have tried cymbalta for a different injury. I hurt my right hip and they still don't know what is wrong with it. I didn't like the side effects of it, I can't remember if it worked or not, but it was before I got CRPS. I hope it works for you. Keep us posted!
Angelina

I don't know what LDN is sorry.:o
Angelina

I sallysue, I took cymbalta for several years along with 3200 mg of neurotin.
I did well on it along with other meds. It does take time to start effect. I felt it helped me. Take care, loretta

I had a good response to it, but after a few months I developed severe stomach pain. I attempted to try it again at a later date, and my stomach revolted again.

Thx all - felt nausea couple times during night and when awoke after first dose of Cymbalta. Doc told me to try one half dose daily now (so 10mg/day). Will try again tonight. Felt kind of mildly sick to stomach all day.

cja1 - I still take LDN but cannot tell if it helps at all.

I am in a major pain flare. My nerve pain has been so bad lately it is getting really scarey. If it were not for gabapentin I could not survive this pain; it is unbearable for a human being to survive that kind of systemic nerve pain. I do not know that I can even sleep tonight.

I was taking Cymbalta prior to my RSD diagnosis. I've been on and off it for a few years. I had a nerve entrapment and surgery that led to the RSD. I'm still taking it as of now. I think it helps. It takes a little bit to get in your system and start working.

I've never had any side effects with it, but horrible withdrawal to get of it.

The nausea will get better, but just make sure to follow the directions if you're supposed to take with food--it's been to many years for me to remember the directions. The stomach pain that was an issue for me, was very severe, and I probably should have gone to the ER severe...

One of my doctors put me on this and started me on a 25mg dose and told me that we were going to gradually increase the dose. Like clockwork I got VIOLENTLY ill 30-45minutes after taking the Cymbalta. I tried for 3 days (with food, without food, etc) and then called the doc and was told to stop taking it. When I stay violently ill I mean worse than anything I have ever experienced with projectile vomiting and it coming out both ends at the same time...worst experience of my life and it was when I couldn't stand or walk at all and was home alone the first time it happened. I was so scared when it happened the first time.

I later found out that I had serotonin syndrome when I tried taking the Cymbalta...which might account for the terrible reaction to it. Never tried it again though as that was about the time I went off all meds (after the serotonin syndrome diagnosis).

I was really nauseous when I first started taking it. It definitely affects you sexually. But, for me, it has done nothing for my pain. Good Luck!!
~Amanda

cymbalta
 

I've been on 60mg of Cymbalta along with 300mg of Lyrica and the combo works well. Except for the 30 lbs that I gained since starting them both.

I do also have a spinal chord stimulator that is amazing.

I've gone back to school (had an Associates) I have 1 more yr and just got inducted into the national honor society because of my good grades. I'm slowly putting life together in some resemblance of my old one. This weight is depressing most of all.

The cymbalta was a suggestion in the beginning by my primary dr because he said it works well for nerve pain with Lyrica but also for depression. He said that chronic pain patients typically get depressed.

rare side effects
 

I had a A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION TO Cymbalta. I gut EXTREMELY itchy then a rash started developing on my sides then my face. It looked like a raised sunburn, but I've read it can be Purple as well as red. Just be forewarned and watch for ill effects! I hope it works for you!

I've been taking Cymbalta twice a day, along with 2700mg of Gabapentin for about 5 months now, and have never had any problems with it. Even when I initially started it it never bothered me. I love it because it agrees with me so well and seems to really help.

Dear Rich - What dose of Cymbalta are you on daily and how did they start you on it?
thx!
ss

Hello Sally Sue,
 

My Doctor has me on several pain meds for CPRS too and - Cymbalta is one of them. I have been on it for about a year now and it has helped me out so much. I am on it once the max dose. But it help the ants and the fire to stop for a while and the broken glass feeling when I try to walk does not hurt as bad.

Take care,

Sallysue, I'm on 30mg 2x daily. I started out with one in the evening after dinner, I guess in case it made me sleepy. It didn't make me sleepy at all, meds are weird for me, even pain meds like hydrocodone actually keep me awake. After 4-5 days he had me start another dose in the morning. I never noticed any adverse side effects at all to be honest. I did notice that it helped my emotions some. Before I started it I would get really depressed because the pain was so bad, and my surgeon couldn't figure out what was wrong. Surprisingly now I don't get as upset as I used to.

Cymbalta side effects were HORRIFIC! I was totally unable to function in any capacity. I was unable to walk because of severe dizziness, I could not think clearly because my mind was so confused, needless to say this strategy has nothing back horrible memories for me. I am terrified of ever taking a nether one of these pills, And I am usually very good about realizing that some drugs take time for your body to adjust to, But I could not adjust to this, because I was totally incapacitated.

For now I am taking a half dose of just 10mg at night. I will increase soon to 20 mg Cymbalta. Thx my friends!

And sagesmudger - I had to laugh that you said if affects you sexually. With this lovely CRPS condition being systemic, that is not an option for me! I do think the Cymbalta is lessening my allodynia even at such a low dose (10mg/day for now).

I just sent you a PM about my experience.

So I am at the 20 mg dose now and I think today it was causing me to be sweating.
Is Cymbalta one of the meds that is bad for the teeth - causes dry mouth? Or which pain meds do cause dry mouth? In addition to RSD we do not want our teeth to rot!

I haven't noticed any problems with dry mouth at all.

I started it in January and am having problems with extreme sleepiness. My dosage is 60mg.
Am going to decrease to 40 mg and see how that goes. I do not notice a change in my pain. I was sleeping poorly as most of us do, now cant stay awake! Seriously, I was awake 6 hrs Saturday and maybe 8 on Sunday.

I take 60mg of Cymbalta nightly, for me it is a great help. Doesn't help with the burning, stabbing pain. It it does with the deep down in my bones pain.

cymbalta
 

Hi I started cymbalta about 7 wks ago doing good now but at first it was very bothersome, my dose is now 120mg a day but at 90mgs I felt the worst hot flashes, nausea, shins ached I thought what the heck has she got me taking
if you can stay with it untill you get to your recommended dosage. hope all goes well.