Should I try Cymbalta?
 

Just had a doctor appointment and he would like me to try Cymbalta at a 30 mg starter dosage to see if it helps with my CRPS symptoms. Neurontin is my primary CRPS drug and the Cymbalta would be in addition to that, not in place of it.

I know there are some previous threads on this, but as Cymbalta is really being marketed for chronic pain as of late, I thought I would take the pulse of the CRPS community and see if it has helped any of you!

Or if you have taken it and have side effects you'd like to mention too, that would be nice to know as well. Boy that stuff is expensive; not really sure if I'd be able to afford it long term, but if I don't at least give it a shot, I would probably always wonder if it would have helped!!

Always an adventure trying to figure out what to try next with this darn condition, isn't it??!!! :confused:

I was on Cymbalta when my crps first started. I didn't notice a difference in my pain level so they took me off.

I sent you a private message about my experience.

I was going to.But heads up, if you dont have insurance the cost is outragous, no generic :/

I've been on Cymbalta 60mg twice a day (so the max dosage) and for me I've had a good run with it helping to eliviate some of my pain. I think the main benefits I received from it were that it helped me to relax and sleep a little easier. Now as I say this, I realize it's nearly 4AM but after 2 years and new symptoms not much helps anymore. I found when I first started taking it that if I didn't have at least 2 hours after taking a pill to "process" I didn't function well. It can also be hard to wake up and shake the cloudiness until you get used to it. For the first few weeks I also had terrible nasuea the first few weeks.

I don't like listing a bunch of bad things, because I think it's a great option to help treat your pain but nothing is perfect and I you should know about the ick that can come with it! I hope some of this helps!

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I found out while I was researching the drug that the mfg. of Cymbalta (Lilly) is offering a voucher for a 30 day trial of any dosage of Cymbalta for free (with dr. prescription)

So I printed it out and brought it with my doctor's script and got 30 days worth. I'm going to give it a shot for a month, then will evaluate if I want to keep taking it. I will keep you posted on efficacy and any side effects.

Keep the comments coming though on Cymbalta folks......sure is getting a lot of press lately. :)

Took cympalta
 

I tried this med. for about a year. I got no significant relief from pain. Had to have spine surgery. The risk of the med. was not worth the little benefit. ginnie:hug:

I actually had good relief from it, but had to discontinue due to severe stomach pain.

I as well as many RSDers that I know have had excellent results when using Cymbalta ALONG with neurontin. After my SCS , I was able to wean off, but would probably go back on for additional relief if wasnt SOOOO expensive. I recommend that you at least try it-Some I know have been astonished at the additional relief-good Luck-Fondly-Carol

p.s. Keep us posted as to how it is working for you

Re: Cymbalta
 

Hi Birchlake!

Regarding your question about Cymbalta- Everyone is different, and I'm not a doctor of course, but since you ask, I feel obliged to share my experience...

Mine is a Cautionary Tale! Please be careful with this med... Although it is possible with any anti-depressant (which Cymbalta technically is), soon after I began taking it, my depression worsened DRASTICALLY, and I became suicidal! I have been on a few different anti-depressants in my life, and this has never happened before. It was SCARY!

Now, I am 25, so a "young adult", right at the end of the "danger zone" age for anti-depressants (I believe), when they are more likely to cause suicidal thoughts, so that is something that might have had a hand in my reaction.

I am grateful that I was cognizant of my state of mind enough to realize what was happening, and quickly called my doc, who took me off it right away (I hadn't been taking it long enough to need to 'ween off it' yet).

So if you decide to go with it, I just suggest to be cautious. But I hope you find relief, and don't have the same experience I did, because I'm told it is very helpful for many people! Best of luck to you!

:)