cymbalta
 

docs all think it is the new great deal, but the internet says different from many people's experience. I have been withdrawn from other drugs before, plus had neg reactions to many.
Is anyonw on this for nerve pain? and what is it doing?
thanks
steff

I swear I was the first one on Cymbalta when samples were given by docs. It actually made my nerve pain worse instead of better and it did NOT help my depression in any way.
I would stay away from this drug. I know it has helped some people here but I was on 90mgs a day and got no relief. Luckily coming off it was not a big deal for me, like it has been for others.
For those who Cymbalta has helped I wish you all the best with it.

I tried it last year. Still have the bottle of samples. I'm sensitive to meds and this one made me sleep, for a long time. I stopped after 2 days because I thought if I took any more, I'd never wake up. Not thinking it helped except to make me unconscious of the pain and depression. I'm still stuggling with pain, but Lexapro had so improved my spirits. It took 6 tough weeks of trial and error but nausea is under control and falling asleep sitting up is done too.

Good luck. :hug:

I agree Lexapro is a much better drug. I take Celexa now because of the copay but I feel good on that too.

cymbalta nerve pain
 

does the lexapro help with pain-i dont care if i am depressed-if i am noto in pain i will be able to have some joy
s

Hi Steff
I'm sorry for you pain, Well, I'm not sure if Lexapro helps with pain. I am in such pain, but now that I am feeling more positive, it doesn't drag my mood down constantly. Not to say, I don't have my moments but I get through the day a bit easier. I'd say try it. I've found meds effect everyone a bit differently. Wishing you joy.
:hug:

No Lexapro does not help with pain just depressive symptoms.
But if you are looking to feel better mentally it is a good drug to go to.
As for your pain Steff, you need to think of a plan for yourself. Pain meds don't do it all. I found that out the hard way.

plan
 

i know all about a plan. for 20 years i had a plan with my level 5 fibro pain-no or little drugs-keep busy with family faith adn friends-
my pain now is from prolotherapy shots that burned my nerve and it so bad i cannot think after walking to the bathroom.
so there is not family (dont want to be around me) no friends (cant go out) and faith is gone. i dont need to worry about hell i am in it.
thanks for the idea.
i dont know what to do--who to trust-everyone has hurt me including docs.
steff

Sorry Steff. I didn't mean to offend. Some people seem to think that meds are the end all, be all for help and I just wanted to make sure that you know its not true. But it seems you are a veteran CPer just like me.
I too have lost friends and family and it stinks. But now you have us here! Feel free to talk to us as friends. We are here for you. You don't have to explain, we understand.:grouphug:

This didn't help my nerve pain (RSD), it did help my headaches for a while... then, it didn't help at all.

I have heard of it helping nerve pain (like RSD)...

HTH! :hug:

I have taken Cymbalta for the past three years with good success. It does a great job on my neuropathic pain and I do get an evening out of my mood with it. It does make me sleepy and I have gained 30lbs with it.

My wife tried it and even with good pain relief had to stop because she was having trouble urinating [a common problem with it].

It seems to be a med that many people can't tolerate but gives very good pain relief for those that can tolerate it.

My experience with Cymbalta has been very good. I've been taking it for 3 years or so, and I've found it works very well for my depression! As good, or better than Prozac, which was one of the best anti-depressants I had taken up to now. I'm a veteran CP'er like many others here. I've been taking MS Contin and Lortab 10's for a couple of years now, and have weaned off both in the last month. I do believe the pain killer benefits of Cymbalta is helping at this time. While I'm not completely painfree, I have many pain generators, I find my pain levels tolerable.

Personally speaking, it has usually taken 3-4 weeks of sometimes unpleasant side effects to put up with, before the full benefit could be found. Sometimes it simply didn't work, but I firmly believe that in order to know if a med is going to work, you have to take it for more than a couple of days...IMHO.

I wish you the best in finding what works for you Steff!
~Kimmy

cymbalta
 

My Nuerosurgeon wont prescribe it to any of his patients . Made me go crazy

I take 90 mgs
 

I take 90 mgs and have for a year but more for depression than for pain. It has not helped for pain. Same with Lyrica but the docs want me to stay on both saying that I would feel the difference if I went off of them. I am considering have a SCS implanted and if I get some relief from that, then we would look at my current meds. So I guess I will wait bringing up another talk about Cymbalta and Lyrica until decisions are made on the implant.

Take care,
Nancy-H

I've been taking Cymbalta for over 3 yrs now. Only 30mgs at bedtime. It took my right butt cheek pain away instantly. Recently I developed really bad anxiety and panic attacks, my PCP upped it to 40mgs saying "I was getting a two for one med with cymbalta", and my pain doc decided to increase it to 60mgs at bedtime thinking 40mgs would do nothing to help. I couldn't handle 60mgs, it kept me up all night long with insomnia and sleepy all day after being on it for a month.

I thought it would be easier just to have me take it in the am, but pain doc said, "no" and put me back on 30mgs at bedtime. :confused: For me it works in low doses on my nerve pain. My moods(depression, anxiety and panic) it has not helped. :(

Good Luck,
Bec

I've took Cymbalta for at least 3 years now. I couldn't tell it was doing anything for me & my Dr. just upped my dose another 30 mgs. so I am getting 90 mgs a day now. It doesn't help my nerves any that I can tell but for depression it may be helping some. I don't sleep any better on it at all. We seem to be a little different on these drugs.
Fancylady

Cymbalta (60 mg twice a day) decreased my appetite, which was a great side effect for me.

I can't say that it decreased my overall pain level, but it did a great job controlling the intermittent "shooters" than I get (a 5 second zap of pain level 10) over and above my regular /constant pain. It also worked well on my depression.

It did make me sleepy.

I stopped it because of pressure from my husband who felt it "made me crazy" because I forced him to go to marraige counseling in an attempt to get control over one aspect of my life :p (You don't want to know how unsuccessful that counseling has been :winky:)