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Changed to Cymbalta /Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia

Lizzy-m profile image
6 Replies

I hope you lovely people are keeping as well as you can. My post this time is about Cymbalta/Duloxetine. I had been taking Fluoxetine on and off ( more often on) for the last 20 years. I have now been changed to Duloxetine on the advice of the Pain Management Consultant I met with last week regarding how to cope with Fybromyalgia.

Today is my first day on them and I was hoping that some of you might let me know how you got on with this drug, I have been given it as apparently it doubles as Pain Relief and an Anti Depressant.

The fluoxetine definitely helped me cope with depression and as I am sure many of you will understand that I am more than a little anxious about changing, as is my poor husband (he witnessed the aftermath when I very stupidly came off them as a trial to see if I could cope without any anti depression medication, needless to say I couldn't ).

I would be very grateful of any experiences you may have had with taking Cymbalta/Duloxetine

I have been signed off work these past couple of weeks and am still trying g to recover from the worse Fibromyalgia Flare Up ever, each time gets worse than the last, I am asking myself is this what I have to look forward to, I am recently diagnosed and have yet come to terms with this. I don't know if I ever will.

Sending love xxxxx

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Lizzy-m
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6 Replies
Dionne0208 profile image
Dionne0208

Hi I changed from fluoxetine 40mg to duloxertine 120mg a couple of years ago, I find them quite similar to each other were depression is concerned if anything I've found duloxertine better, it took a few weeks to get on with duloxertine as at first I felt quite weird and not with it, but now I do think they make a difference, all the luck with them and let us know how you get on, sending love and wishes xx

Angelseven profile image
Angelseven

Hi Lizzy

I have been on Duloxetine for around 3 years now and find it suits me fine - it helps with pain relief and of course depression. I am on 60 mg a day which I take in the morning as it seems to suit me better. I tried taking it at night but found that it kept me awake.

It mostly helps with pain relief during the day which would be much worse (especially during a flare up) without it - I then top up with co codamol at night or when needed.

I don't seem to have any side effects from it thank goodness although I do know that it doesn't suit everyone.

I have tried almost all there is in terms of medications and the above is what suits me best as I seem to be so sensitive to most of them. I had horrible side effects with tramadol and gabapentin and more.

Fibromyalgia is very very difficult to come to terms with - I just make the most of good days to be honest and if I need to rest I do. Pacing yourself when possible is key in managing the fatigue and flare ups.

All the best and hope that this works out for you.

Jane

rosewine profile image
rosewine

Unfortunately Duloxotine didn't suit me at all very bad side effects but I have had problems with all the antidepressants I have tried so it must be me😦. I do hope it suits you and helps.x

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi Lizzy-m

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I have never taken this medication myself but I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck and please take care of yourself my friend.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

Kapalua profile image
Kapalua

Hi, I started taking Duloxetine/ Cymbalta 8 years ago. I had a huge problem with side effects when I started ,then after a while I realized it wasn't helping the fibromyalgia pain. I have been tapering off it for over 2 years and have had terrible side effects. I can only reduce by 0.5 mg per month ( I use compounded Cymbalta ) and even with such a low decrease it is still horrible. I think I have an extremely sensitive brain because I get side effects from everything. I hope you have good experiences and it helps your pain.

Lizzy-m profile image
Lizzy-m

Thank you for your reply, unfortunately or maybe fortunately i couldn't stand the side effects and they did nothing at all to ease my pain, I was like a zombie and my mood was so low it was horrendous. I am now back onto the trusty fluoxetine. Still no help with pain but it is starting to look like I have rheumatoid arthritis so am seeing the rheumatologist on the 18th hopefully then I will finally get the proper medication.

Good luck with coming off the drug you do have my every sympathy, I hope too that you find relief xx

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