[Vanilla Bean]

I am 5 months post concussion. Had been doing well on complete rest, no work no school. Recently had two setbacks caused by everyday stress. My neurologist thinks it's time for Cymbalta for 12-18 months and thinks it will be a positive step in the right direction. Two questions:

Should I start Cymbalta?
Does Cymbalta hinder the natural healing process?

Thanks all,

VB

[mouse1]

Cymbalta really helped my mood, sleep, headaches and other symptoms reduce. I only needed 30mg.

I stopped it in the Autumn and I started getting constant numbness in my teeth, headache, and became quite grumpy. I also had a collapse during this period.

I recommenced it and symptoms have gone again. I now exercise intensly three times a week now, which is a massive step forward.

The fact that I have symptoms without Cymbalta has led to doctors finally questioning why? So I now have an EEG, MRI brain and cardio test whilst exercising to be scheduled. If they cannot find anything I will be referred to a Neurologist.

It doesn't help everyone, but for me it did.

[NormaW]

I started talking Cymbalta 30 mg in September. I found an almost instant change in my mood. Someone said it has an immediate result for anxiety but depression takes awhile.

I experience quite a bit of nausea in the first two weeks and sleeping more than usually but it got better.

While my mood was improved I was still experiencing headaches which have not gone away since my accident.

I started talking 60 mg 3 weeks ago to see if that would help. Oddly I feel more depressed at this dosage (not sure why).

I think it is worth the effort to go on it, so that you can at least eliminate anxiety and depression and it may work on your headaches as well.

I just started osteopath adjustments to my head (occipital bone) and I am have symptoms I think from that so it is now hard to figure out if it is the Cymbalta or the adjustments.

Good luck, I personally think it is worth a try, I also tried amitriptolene last year and all I did was sleep non stop but that does work for some people.

[Mark in Idaho]

My doc put me on Celexa a few weeks ago. I have been doing great on it.

[Vanilla Bean]

Does anyone know if taking these medications affects the natural healing process?

[mouse1]

I don't know. I do know that anxiety about symptoms and being in pain is not condusive to healing with PCS. Medication can help control this, I suffered for too long without medication

Cymbalta instantly helped reduce insomnia, headache, pain and lifted my mood. I also needed Sumatripan to help resolve the post concussion migraines I had.

Now 13 months since injury I am working full time in a demanding job and exercising full pelt in the gym three times a week. This time last year I was suffering terribly and wondered if I woukd ever get the life I knew back again. I can assure you I now have my life back!

[Mokey]

glad to hear you are feeling better, mouse1. How long do you think you will continue on Cymbalta? will you try to stop again in the near future given your experience in the fall?

[mouse1]

Originally Posted by Mokey

glad to hear you are feeling better, mouse1. How long do you think you will continue on Cymbalta? will you try to stop again in the near future given your experience in the fall?

I have just got it for three more months and by that stage should have the results back. It is keeping things ticking over, but I would like to be off it by the summer if I can.