Anyone have any experiences, good or bad with cymbalta? I have a prescription that I've not filled, but am supposed to. I've not had good experiences with anti depressants so far, so I'm unconvinced whether I'm going to fill the script or not.... Looking to hear the good and bad.
Starr

Starr,

How are you doing?

Anti-depressants have one thing in common. They tend to have different effects on different people. One needs to try the various meds long enough to see it the body and brain adjusts to tolerate the med. Hopefully, you will be able to find one that works without extreme side-effects.

My best to you.

I tried three different medications for depression, before I found one that I did tolerate, and that made a difference. I now take Zoloft. The medication you mentioned seemed to make me crabby, and I didn't feel very good. Each person reacts to these medications differently. I tried the meds. for several months, and allowed my doctor to try with good success after a trial and error. Hang in there. Have been on this now for two years. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Thanks Ginnie for your thoughts! I'm glad you found one that works well for you!

Hi Mark,
I'm doing about the same as always, not too much has changed, except now I've been to the brain injury rehab clinic twice. The physiatrist is one of the top guys in the country, probably North America, so I figure I at least got lucky to land there!

Physiatrist diagnosed occipital neuralgia and prescribed topomax... very low dose though because he feels I'm super sensitive to medication. I've not noticed any improvement, but I've not noticed any side effects either.

He's also suggested cortisone shots for the occipital neuralgia which kinda freak me out, but if they would help? I just wonder how much the actual shots hurt??

He sent me to physio for vestibular rehab, but they are doing gait retraining first, using the cane keeps me upright a bit more often! Once my gait is a bit less wonky, they will do the vestibular testing and see if the rehab is necessary.

Also seeing a rehab psychologist that specializes in brain injuries and her focus is identifying trouble areas (deficits: cognitive, emotional & social) and coming up with strategies for dealing with them. Practical coping strategies. She also assists in navigating the health care system, clarifying roles and treatments as needed, basically guiding you through the process in any way that might be needed.

I guess as far as the anti depressants go, they just scare me a bit. Having felt so much worse taking different ones, I worry about going through that again. Its like the devil you know (going without) rather than trying the devil you don't (the cymbalta), make sense?

Family is less and less patient as time goes on, they expect more and more. Like shouldn't I be healed already? I'm sure they are frustrated. I am frustrated. Not sure how that's all going to turn out yet.

I've found it remarkable the number of people that I thought I was close with, that I've helped and supported over the years who have vanished during this... I understand I'm not that fun to be around and people are impatient waiting for me to speak and I walk too slowly and sometimes I'm cranky and miserable.

But all those times I supported and helped them through things, they weren't great fun to be around either. Oh well, I guess this is how you find out who really cares and who really matters. Certainly interesting.

Maybe I will phone my rehab nurse tomorrow and tell her about my cymbalta worries and she will remind me why its a good idea to try it. Because right now, I feel I've lost so much that I'm not willing to let a drug take anything else away from me.

Thanks for listening.
Starr

Starr,

They often give you a shot of anesthetic before giving the cortisone shot.

It sounds like you at least have been making some progress with the system. Your rehab psych sounds great. Good to have someone in your corner.

Keep in mind that finding a anti-depressant that you can tolerate may also help you be more tolerable by your family and friends. Cymbalta is helpful with diabetic neuralgia. I wonder if it will help with occipital neuralgia.

I have a new symptoms that started a few weeks ago. Peripheral neuralgia. My feet start feeling hot and sometimes very hot late in the evening and sometimes through the night. I have not been checked by a doctor yet. Trying to avoid the high co-pay to see a specialist. In fact, my right foot just started feeling hot while I am typing this. The fact that it is different between my right and left foot makes me think it has to do with my neck.

So, anyway, give the Cymbalta a try. Try to get your family and friends to give some grace while you try to adjust to it. Explain that they may benefit from how it helps you.

My best to you.

Mark,
Your new symptoms must be uncomfortable and a bit worrying. I hope you can find something that gives you some relief.

I'm sure they will give a local anesthetic before the cortisone, I think its just the idea of needles in my head that makes me uncomfortable. Plus, I would hate for anything to make it worse, you know? I'll probably try it. How much worse could it be than on the last visit having the doctor poke every spot on my scalp with a needle to check for sensation... twice?!

Turns out, I have a big numb area on the right side, starting sort of at the back, spreads up over the top to just past the mid line... basically centers over the spot on the top of my head off to the right where I fell and goes slightly towards the back.

I never noticed it until he started poking me with a needle and he kept saying "do you feel this?" and I kept saying "no, are you doing anything??" until he got off the numb area and I said "OW!" a whole bunch! Really strange to have not noticed it.

He actually poked the numb area so much that at the end the rehab nurse had to clean the blood off my scalp! He was bound and determined to get some feeling there!

He's not sure if the nerve was damaged during impact, or if its damaged or trapped from the other end around C2. Either way, he feels that this occipital neuralgia is responsible for some of my headaches, in particular, the one that starts at the back of my head and stabs directly through my head and out my right eye.

Its a brutal pain, but luckily never lasts that long, but can be rather frequent and often makes me make a noise or a face when it happens, so its distracting to others. (I have at least 2 distinct types) Its probably also at least partially responsible for the light sensitivity.

I wouldn't say I have neck pain, really, maybe some tenderness sometimes, but I've had neck pain in the past where it hurts to move your head at all and you end up turning your whole body to look at things and stuff like that... I have nothing like that.

I also filled my prescription for cymbalta (30mgs) and took my first one today. Fingers crossed that #1, it won't make me feel worse and #2, that maybe, just maybe it will do something good.

I've only seen the rehab psych once so far, so we'll see how that works out. At $210 per 50 minute hour I'm hoping she has good, quick, coping strategies to share. I'm fortunate that my husband's insurance covers some of it, but even then, its not cheap. Same with the vestibular therapy / physio!

Be well.
Starr

Starr,

I found Cymbalta very helpful with my PCS symptoms, but feel it has served its purpose now so I am now withdrawing from it.

It really can help improve mood as well as reduce pain, and for me it was the turning point in my recovery.

Initially you may get side effects like nausea, dizzyness etc, but this goes after two weeks, so you need to stick with it.

It feels very strong at first, but this goes after a day or so. In my case, my mood was lifted instantly.

For some people certain side effects do not go away, so it may not be the drug for them.

Another difficulty is discontinuaton syndrome when you stop it, you need to stop gradually.

Good luck, I hope it helps!

Hi mouse,
Glad cymbalta worked for you.

This is an old thread, from almost a year ago. I did not have any success with cymbalta and did not stick with it for very long. I had side effects that were intolerable and stopped using it very quickly.

I also went ahead with the cortisone shot for occipital neuralgia and it had no effect for me, so I didn't get any subsequent shots.

I've had very little success with the various medications and treatments thus far... I'm now 1.5 years after my injury. Just one of the unlucky ones, I suppose... plus extremely sensitive to medications and their side effects even at very low doses.

I've managed to tolerate topamax and now we are attempting to add in nadolol (beta blocker), so we'll see what happens.

Still doing physio to try to fix my gait issues and eventually graduate to not using a cane.

Long slow process.
Starr

I had first tried Cymbalta and I did not make it past a day. It gave me stomach issues. Now I have been on Pristiq which is a SNRI as well. I have been on it for 6month's. It has calmed a lot down with my PCS. I had also had cortisone shots in my neck it helped out a lot as well with the headaches.

Now I have brain aches from trying to do my own cognitive rehabilitation by being back in college with ADA help.

I remember the first day I took the Pristiq it was a feeling like a lot had lifted and more energy etc.

Mark~Sorry to hear about your feet.Mine are always the opposite freezing! From back/neck trauma.

Sorry, not sure how I posted on this thread.