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Cymbalta... side effects?

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Posted 4/20/2011 7:33 AM (GMT -8)

Hi there,

I was diagnosed by my family physician on March 29th, 2011 with Fibro, and at that time responed to 11 of the 18 trigger points.  She has referred me to a Rheumatologist who I see on April 27th.

The pain and discomfort has been so bad over the last three weeks that I returned to my family physician in tears on April 14th.  She tested me again and found that I was responding to 17 of the 18 trigger points.  She felt compelled to start me on some medication to give me some releif of the pain and mental anxiety that was now also present.

I've been on Cymbalta for six days now, and I've still having some side-effects and wondered if anyone else has experienced anything like this... mainly "the jitters" (like I've taken too many puffs off my Ventolin inhaler), dizziness and feeling like I'm floating, nausea with some gastrointestinal "issues", not being able to sleep at night and not being able to lay still in bed, and the feeling of being too hot and having the constant sweats. 

Anyone else have these issues?  Seeing the Rheumatologist for the first time on April 27th, so hopin gfor some feedback on this from her then, but just wondered if anyone else has had these side-effects.  Also,  can anyone give me an idea what I should expect from my first Rheumatologist appointment?

Thanks for reading.

Kristo

Posted 4/20/2011 8:51 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Kristo,

It should take a couple of weeks for the side effects to go away, so try to be patient. You will get there. I am sure. It takes six to eight weeks for it to reach it's full potential. Cymbalta is like an antidepressant.

I haven't been to a reumy myself, but there are others on here who can give you advice.

Best wishes,

Hugs, Karen
Posted 4/20/2011 8:54 AM (GMT -8)
I don't take medication like this but I did check and your symptoms are like the side effects of Cymbalta.  Take a look.

 

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/cymbalta-side-effects.html

 

Sherrine

Posted 4/20/2011 2:46 PM (GMT -8)
My mom had a side effect from Cymbalta that caused big problems in her life. Cymbalta can cause reckless behavior - gambling, reckless sex, etc.

This medication cause my mom to become very reckless with her money. She spent thousands of dollars, maxed out her credit card, and has nothing to show for it. She did this in just a few months and didn't realize what she was doing. She is on disability so it will probably take her the rest of her life to pay it off.

Had she and the family been aware of this possible side effect, we could have caught it earlier.

Just be careful and keep an eye on your finances while on this med.
Posted 4/20/2011 2:47 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Kristo,

I was diagnosed with Fibro just over a month ago. My Rheumatologist prescribed Lyrica to me so I have not had any experience with Cymbalta. However, the Lyrica is giving me fits. My body just can't seem to get used to it; the side effects are awful to say the least. Everyone reacts differently to different meds. I really hope your Rheum doc and you can find a medication that fits you. Its hard to feel like crap all the time only to have a medication make you feel worse than you did before (if that's possible with fibro). Good luck to you!

Jen
*****************************************************
Hypothyroidism, Fibromyalgia, Depression, Anxiety, High Blood Pressure
Posted 4/20/2011 2:50 PM (GMT -8)
I would call your Dr. and let them know . I had a severe reaction to cymbalta. They called it serotonin syndrom. I was glad I was in the hospital when I started my first dose. I almost ended up in ICU. You are probably have the normal side effedts, but I would let them know. My reaction happended on the 1st and 2nd dose. I had this horrible thing going on in my head. Hard to describe it. I became so senstive to noise, even a door opening I would jump literally out of the bed. My hearing magnifired so much. To this day I have problems with sound now. The Dr. gave me a dose of Ativan shot to reverse it. I dont want to scare you, but be aware of side effects. My dr's gave me info. on the syndrom becasue it can be life threatening for future meds being precribed to me. I have never heard of it before.
Posted 4/21/2011 4:25 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for all the replies folks... it seems that some of you have definitely had some negative (and some very scary) experiences with the various medications used for Fibro. 

All I can say is I'm glad I was on a few days of medical leave when I started this medication, at least I kinda' know about the side-effects now.  I just got back to work yesterday after 3 days off, and had a really long day with the dizziness and jitters (not to mention the sweating pools at my desk)... I can't imagine if I had started taking this stuff and gone to work the next day... what a nightmare!

I will keep my eye on the continuing side-effects and will let the Rheumatologist know when I see her next week.  Thanks for the informaiton and support folks... this forum is so supportive and helpful!

Take care.

Kristo

Posted 4/21/2011 4:36 AM (GMT -8)
I did not do well on Cymbalta. And please, watch out if you miss a dose. You will be extremely dizzy. I got very depressed while on that drug and ended up in the hospital twice in two months. I know it works for some folks, but for me, it was not good.
Posted 4/21/2011 10:50 AM (GMT -8)
I had an awful rxn to Cymbalta. I took it for over 6 months, just to be sure it was the med and not something else.

Sweating (even in a cool room)
Restlessness
Anxiety and Anger
No discernible lessening of pain
Weight gain

Every body is different. But I had a very negative rxn to it, and was, in fact, very negative while taking it.
Posted 5/3/2011 7:19 AM (GMT -8)
So just an update to my earlier posts on this thread... Saw the Rheumatologist last week... left with more questions than I went with... she's not convinced that whatever I'm going through is Fibro.  She did a full history with me and gave me a look over and the trigger point test again, but is not sure that I "fit the bill" for Fibro.  I mentioned to her that I had started the Cymbalta (30mg x1 a day), and that the symptoms were worse the week before and during my period, and that unfortunately she was seeing me at my best, but she seems to think that my isues are more hormonal... like a hormonal imbalance or early menopause (I should mention that I am only 34).  So off to the GP I go again to get my Birth Control pill changed and to further investigate.  I'm not entirely sure that agree with the Rheumatologist... I still get some of the aches and pains and other symptoms that I had before, but the Cymbalta seems to be helping with the problems... although again... I'm starting to get some of the symptoms this week, and am expecting my period next week, so I guess I'll see what happens next week. As an aside... the side-effects I was having from the Cymbalta when I started 3 weeks ago still persist, although not as strong as before... except the feverish sweating and the dreaded diarrhea, which is much worse... I have it throughout the day and it is watery, foul smelling, with mucous and tinged with some blood.  I'm seeing my GP next Monday to follow-up with this... maybe its causing some IBS...? Anyone have any experiences like this with Cymbalta and "the runs"? Thanks for reading. Kristo
Posted 5/3/2011 4:58 PM (GMT -8)
I'm on cymbalta and lyrica. I had all the side effects you mentioned and they went away after a month. I'm currently on 150 mg lyrica and 60 mg cymbalta. I sleep well at night now but only after "playing" with the times of day that I take my meds. I take lyrica 8am, 2:30pm. bedtime. I take cymbalta 2:30 pm. I don't have a very bad reaction if I miss a dose. Mostly a headache. I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to take my medicine. I strongly urge you to find out for yourself what it does. For me, it's been a miracle. I am almost 100% pain free but I had to go through a 4month trial and error period to find what was best for times to take my meds. I should also mention that I take 3mg melitonin. Helps me get a wonderful restful feeling sleep. Don't give up. IT's worth the several months of trial and error and discomfort you might go through to get to the point where you might be almost pain free. I also take yaz for BC and am slowly weaning myself off Ambien. That's it. I am finally back to work full time. I get a little sorer than I used to but I am also on my feet ALL DAY and I feel great in the mornings after I have rested my legs/body.

Good luck to you. Remember, everyone is different. Don't make the mistake that I ~almost~ made and avoiding these meds because someone else had a bad reaction. I am SOOO thankful I am taking them now. Almost forgot what it feels like to feel "normal" :-)!!
Posted 5/4/2011 6:35 AM (GMT -8)
I'm sorry you're having these side effects. The only side effect I had on Cymbalta was sweating like crazy for 2 weeks and then it stopped.
Posted 9/27/2013 12:31 PM (GMT -8)
I took last 30 mg CYMBALTA yesterday - 2 weeks of it, and I quit! It is tearing me up so bad I am scared what upping it to 60 mg would do. I feel like I am pumped full of air, excruciating rolling pains and spasms in my stomach, diaphragm and back. It is worse if I am not moving around. I am popping GasX but it isn't going away.

My question is, does anyone know how long this is going to last? I thought I would stop before I got up to 60 mg, maybe getting off it wouldn't be so bad?

I really wanted to give it a chance to work, but this is SO BAD and I can't deal with it.
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