Duloxetine/Cymbalta : Needs some experience... - AMN EASIER

AMN EASIER

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Duloxetine/Cymbalta

Seifert_09 profile image
11 Replies

Needs some experience stories.

I am now prescribed this by my neurologist. So far all I can tell is I’m getting some headaches and what I think is pain relief. The info I read is either. This drug helps quite a bit or it’s the devil and run for hills . Now I know everybody is different, but I’d like some fellow AMNr’s feedback and advice . This is week 3 taking 30mg every morning.

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Seifert_09 profile image
Seifert_09
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11 Replies
bluejadedwho profile image
bluejadedwho

What is the rationale of taking this medication?

Seifert_09 profile image
Seifert_09 in reply to bluejadedwho

Used to treat neuropathy pain.

Vanliz profile image
Vanliz

My husband has been on for 2 months now and is up to 20mg twice daily and looking to increase soon. No real issues yo speak of but no major pain relief yet. We usually give a good 6 months begore we judge effect

tieaknot profile image
tieaknot in reply to Vanliz

I would hang in there and give it a good try if you can. You will hear horror stories and some “wonder drug” stories so just keep your own notes of how you react.

I, for one, couldn’t tolerate it. I never made it more than 2 weeks (tried it twice with same results) because of severe nausea and believe it or not, suicidal thoughts! It was weird because there was no depression involved in these thoughts...simply matter of fact things like “huh...I don’t have the kids in the car...I could drive off this bridge right now” or “I could just do X,Y,Z and be done”, and it seemed like a good idea! That scared the heck out of me!

I knew it wasn’t normal and wasn’t me. I had no desire to die. I am desperate to LIVE! I knew it had to be the medicine. So luckily I paid close attention, stopped the Cymbalta immediately when I realized what was happening and within less than a week, those thoughts were completely gone. I never had that reaction to any other medication (and I’ve tried a lot of them!) but I now see how people can do things completely out of character if they don’t recognize what is happening. Scary stuff!

I don’t say this to scare you. I just want people to know that any of these medicines can rarely cause a reaction like that and to just be very aware of any changes in case they occur.

That said, I had good result for pain with a cousin of this drug (another snri venlafaxine) but couldn’t handle the side effects (normal stuff like constipation or insomnia).

This class of meds is technically in an “antidepressant” category but seems to be able to help pain signals originating in the spinal cord (on a broken feedback loop).

I am super sensitive to side effects and there is very little I can tolerate.

Tramadol (pain med) is molecularly very similar to venlafaxine (Effexor) which is similar to Cymbalta. Tramadol was the best med for my neuropathic pain by far. (Better than the heavy duty opioids I was on after cardiac surgery) but again, after a while I couldn’t tolerate the side effects for long. It also helped mood and energy for me even though it wasn’t the intended purpose.

Just to give you some different ideas if the Cymbalta doesn’t work out.

My long winded response is just to say, give it a good try, and be very vigilant and be aware of how you feel and know that everyone responds differently. I hope it works great for you!!

bluejadedwho profile image
bluejadedwho in reply to tieaknot

I would stay away from Effexor. I have two ex-girlfriend‘s that it made ridiculously violent. It is getting banned in a lot of countries because it leads to violence.

tieaknot profile image
tieaknot in reply to bluejadedwho

Bluejadedwho...it has helped a lot of people too. I don’t think telling anyone to “stay away” from anything is a good idea. What works for one may not work for another and vice versa. There are already limited options in our situation that anything should be considered as worthy of a try. People should be aware of possible side effects and be vigilant, absolutely, but telling someone to avoid a potentially helpful med is not the way to go.(Maybe I am biased as a trained medical professional but I’ve been on both sides of the coin and know that everyone responds differently).

monkeybus profile image
monkeybus in reply to tieaknot

Nice use of the word "heck".

Tamiflu can cause suicidal thoughts in teenagers as well.

Mind how you go, folks. Personally, I'll take anything. As long as it gets the job done.

mariagno profile image
mariagno

Cymbalta is an antidepressant or neuropathy.

With any antidepressant make sure you have someone monitoring your mood. A family member or friend that knows how you behave and your general daily mood is important.

Also, starting and stopping should be tapered.

I tried bupropion a few years ago and hated how I felt. They kept raising the dosage until my wife said she no longer recognized me.

It had dulled enthusiasm and had made me angry.

I went back to gabapentin.

Lyrica might be a choice, too.

My family doctor said often neurologists throw antidepressants as the first line because they think the pain and depression are linked.

I will only say again, make sure you have someone you see daily keep an eye on things.

monkeybus profile image
monkeybus

Saw my neurologist today. He offered me some Cymbalta. I was tempted to give it a go.

I'll stick with Lyrica for now.

Leonetho profile image
Leonetho

Hi

just reading this. I am on120mg of Cymbalta and 150mg of Lyrica and I am the best I have felt since all my symptoms began 10 years ago.

Hope it worked for you Seifert_09

Leonie ♡

Leonie profile image
Leonie in reply to Leonetho

Sorry this person is me Leonie.

I lost my login details and now inadvertently joined again.

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