Cymbalta question (from another new member)
 

My counselor told me this helps with peripheral neuropathy and depression. I have those, anxiety disorder, arthritis in my knees, ulnar nerve pain (going to pt for it) and had a large right frontal meningioma brain tumor removed in 2009.

I'm going to talk to my doctor next week and if I ask her to let me try Cymbalta, I'm sure she'll be okay with it. I've done my research and I can afford it (on SSDI).

If anyone has used it, does it help with pain and stabbing in your feet (and did it help your depression/anxiety if you had those too)? I am moderately depressed. So, I've heard good things about it helping with depression, but getting off it I've heard is very, very hard.

I stopped taking Lyrica without a doctor's supervision b/c I could not afford it anymore (went thru divorce). It was very difficult, but I was determined b/c I couldn't afford $300 a mos for one med when I take 5 meds. I went from 900 mg day to 300 mg 2 x day to 300 mg 1 x day to 100 mg 2 x day to 100 mg 1 x day to zero. It was very difficult, but I did it - yay for me. I've never felt the same, never felt as good, but I can't afford it, so whatever, right?

Can anyone tell me their experience with generic Cymbalta? Does it help with both the pain and depression? If you tried to get off it, did it make you crazy (as I've read)?

I see my doc on the 12th, so any feedback would be really appreciated. I'm scared, no family, on SSDI, just went through abusive marriage/divorce, depressed, scared, alone (did I mention depressed, scared and alone)? Really. I'm pulling away from all my friends, social life, etc. I need something to help with my foot pain and my depression/anxiety. I'm hoping this is my miracle.

Charliebird (woman with man's username, I guess)

I have found Cymbalta to be very helpful over the years for neuropathy; however, it must be used properly.

You must first take 30mg once daily for the first seven days, and only then start taking it at a dose of 60mg once daily thereafter.

Do not judge your results until you have been on the 60mg daily dose for a full three to four weeks.

Overall, I have found it gave me anywhere from an average 50% to 100% reduction in pain (primarily small fiber), as well as a nice mood boost.

I may restart it myself again after being off for 16 months, and am also debating whether to try the generic version too (and trying to get feedback).

Best of luck with it!

David

I tried to get a bunch of Cymbalta reviews on my own thread with few people responding. I have much pain in the ball of my feet when I'm walking & am using Tramadol for this. Is that the type of pain you are referring to? Different people may be talking about burning, pins and needles, etc. when referring to pain relief. My new PC Dr wants me to try Cymbalta. I'm less than excited about it.

Many people have posted here over the years about Cymbalta...

Some have moved on but their posts remain. Lately I've noticed fewer using it. So try a search (the link is at the top right of the first page or use the link in my signature), and use Cymbalta as a keyword.

If you go to other forums here you will find mixtures of positive and negative experiences. That is the best way for you to see the information you seek. Remember many end up here when most things don't work well for them, so there will be many negatives.

You can also go to :
http://www.drugcite.com/?q=Cymbalta

These are collected FDA reports on this drug reported to them by doctors and hospitals. Keep in mind that only about 1% or so actually report things...so the numbers are not representative of potential actions.

Keep in mind that Cymbalta is the only antidepressant that has reports of damage to the liver. You cannot drink alcohol while while using it, and if you already have any hepatitis virus or cirrhosis, it is best not to use it either.

This is the link to our Cymbalta thread of this week.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread219640.html

Hi Charliebird,

I'm a cancer survivor too, 21 months this time, and suffer severe Depression and extreme Anxiety.

I understand financially how things are, but is Therapy not an option? Many people benefit greatly from Counselling. For me, one couldn't cope with MY cancer dx and another deliberately triggered a Panic Attack to 'prove' I did not have control. There are good ones out there, though.

Then there is Meditation. Simple Breathing Meditation teaches control and strengthens the mind. Many here practice some form - and it's free - it just takes peace, practice and dedication.

Also, you have found here a Community of caring peers who will listen to your concerns, issues, ideas or opinions and offer advice or support - or just be a sounding board to vent to.

I am not against ADs, I have to take a heavy dose of Mirtazapine myself to help me cope, but there are other aids.

Dave.

MrsD: I just googled "antidepressants causing liver damage" & found that amitriyptyline & other tricyclic antidepressants can cause liver damge. Nortriptyline was not included on the list, however. Your take on this?

The doses used for PN are far below the old therapeutic doses for depression. At that level, side effects are much much less, when used for PN.(tricyclics like nortriptyline)

Perhaps I should have said of the SSRI and SNRI family, Cymbalta is the only liver toxic one. More on the liver toxicity aspect:
http://livertox.nih.gov/Duloxetine.htm

Welcome Charliebird. :Wave-Hello:

Charliebird, Sorry to have seemed to have hijacked your post. I've really been trying to get more input about cymbalta before I see my neurologist on Mon. The combination of Nortriptyline and Tramadol, seems to be working reasonably well for me, but wanted to give my new PC Dr the benefit of my doubt. I think I'll stick with what seems to be working, at least for awhile. It took me long enough to get here. Hope you may have benefited from my interference.

Cymbalta
 

Dear Charlie:

I've taken 60 mg of Cymbalta daily since 2010. It works very very well for me.
It is on label for the pain of arthritis and PN among other pains...and of course helps stabilize mood.

One note: My husband tried it, and it took away his pain completely, but it also gave him explosive diarrhea. So it wasn't for him.

We must all use trial and error to find the right treatments, I have found.

Best wishes, ElaineD

Argh. I looked up nortiptyline and is said something like an accidental overdose is easy to do. Yep, there's that liver warning for Cymbalta. Ghee this is tough b/c my doc will know I've done my homework. I've used bupropion for years, but it's lost it's effectiveness on me (10 years) and doesn't help with NP. 6 of 10 of my nerves in my lower legs are unresponsive-but I still walk (have a service dog for artificial lighting areas where I have most balance problems). Otherwise I hike, etc. I used to suffer from awful panic attacks in my 20's, so I have been to many, many years of counseling. I go weekly now. The docs thought I had borderline personality disorder for many years before the tumor was found! Lol - not. :hissyfit:

I don't want liver problems (who does), but I want a life too. No one on this thread said anything too worriesome about Cymbalta (except the blowout) and I'm wondering if I can have my liver function tested regularly to be sure I'm not causing damage. Weight gain was listed on both; I lost 10 pounds when I quit Lyrica.

My NP is excruciating burning on the bottom of my feet, especially on the balls and for good measure stabbing pain occasionally, if I'm as active as a normal person (actually more active - I can't seem to stop if I get on a roll) or if I wear the same shoes all day (no high heels of course). I live in slippers at home. Sometimes the burning/stabbing is so bad, I cry. I have oxycodone I take regularly to prevent most breakthrough pain.

I really appreciate the responses and read each one with gratitude. :hug:

I'm glad I found you guys and hope to be of help to others as well. :)

The doses used for nortriptyline are much lower (sometimes only 10%) than the antidepressant doses.

At the low end therefore there is not much risk of overdosing unless one takes a whole bottle of them.

The tricyclics when used for depression were used 100mg + a day (up to 200-300mg a day). At that dose, and when mixed with other drugs that affect liver enzyme metabolism, THEN, an QT event may be triggered.
When tricyclics first came out on the market for depression, these liver enzymes had NOT been discovered yet. And suicide attempts with them were often fatal because they affect the heart rhythm in high doses.

Today there is alot of research on QT events, because this was happening with a common antihistamine called Seldane --which was taken off the market. Seldane used with erythromycin or antifungal drugs caused the heart to stop.

There is a research organization now for this topic:
https://www.crediblemeds.org/

Now, the issue with Cymbalta is different. This drug is not used in tiny doses for PN.... it is used in HIGH doses right from the beginning. So the liver toxicity is much much higher in potential than with nortriptyline.(or amitriptyline). Cymbalta caused some deaths even during its clinical trials. None of the other SSRI/SNRI drugs have that history either. People who drink or who already have liver damage, are most at risk for liver damage with Cymbalta. But damage has occurred in patients who do not drink alcohol at all.

Therefore Cymbalta is not for everyone.

If you put your daily dose(s) in a daily pillbox once a week, like I do, it's pretty hard for this senior citizen to take too many capsules of Nortriptyline, unless you are trying to do yourself in. 50 mg of it daily has also greatly reduced my need for a benzo for panic/anxiety.