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Posted 10/23/2015 6:05 PM (GMT -6)
So I finally got in an appointment with a cleveland clinic dr. Young, nice guy. I didn't have to rattle on about my symptoms because he was aware of fibro. Only thing is he suggested trying Cymbalta, with the caveat if I had any issues with it, just call.

I've always been hesitant about any med, but I've been struggling so much lately, I was ready for anything. I admit after he first dose, I felt way less moody and pain was lessened. I was even laughing at jokes this morning. I had side effects though of mild nausea and some dizziness, sleepiness, which I am no fan of.

I've read now that coming off of Cymbalta is horrendous, and side effects are bad, although often dissipate. I've been extremely depressed some days, irritable, and anxious, (even about stupid little things like going out to the grocery store), and I really need a boost. And a cottage by the sea isn't happening anytime soon.

Any thoughts about Cymbalta from anyone?

T

Post Edited (tangodancer101) : 10/23/2015 6:08:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/23/2015 6:22 PM (GMT -6)
Constipation was my greatest issue and felt feeling less,overall good medication ,my crying reduced.

Body pain and depression is what it works for not for anxiety,I am now on Lexapro and Pristiq next week.

You might like this med.

Good luck.
Posted 10/23/2015 11:04 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Rockon,as you remind me of so many issues I have right now with sleep.
You are right on,Cymbalta made my vision weird and I forgot to tell my doc ant it.
Since I am off of it ,no more vision issues.

It's strange meds but helped me with my depression for sure.
I hate to keep on trying meds....and moving to a new home or city or both is definitely not good for anxiety.
Hope you doing well...
Tango dancer...hope you find answers you looking for .
Posted 10/24/2015 12:52 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks Rockon, for all the info. I'll check it out. And I'll keep an eye on the eye issues!

Thanks Cilly. I'm sorry. Yes,jumping around with meds is so frustrating.

This is day 3 on cymbalta and for once I'm up in the morning without feeling like a monster. I even got up before my a,larm. It was easier to teach class because I was in a happier mood. I felt a flare coming on during hour two, so I popped a quick Tylenol and I was fine for hour 3. I don't seem as crazy super sensitive to everything, sound, light, (people in general, lol). Boy, I hope this trend keeps up!

It really makes me wonder what is going on this crazy brain of mine!

T
Posted 10/24/2015 5:44 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Tango,
Cymbalta really did help me quite a bit….for over a year; and then it stopped helping about 75% or so. I decided to get off of it since it was not helping much.
REALLY HARD to come off. I felt sick and dizzy for months even though I titrated it down very slowly.
My advice is to use it if you have already started it. You will most likely feel much better, and maybe for a very long time. My sister has been on it for years, and it still helps her.
Just know that you might be one of the unlucky ones who has trouble when it is time to stop it.
HEART
Posted 10/24/2015 6:55 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Heart,
Thanks for the update. It seems a real range of reactions. Did your doctor give you anything else as replacement? Or to help with those symptoms?

It is so nice to feel bouts of normal. I hope it lasts for a while....
T
Posted 10/25/2015 4:23 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Tangodancer, my advice is to be careful with cymbalta. My mother and I both had bad reactions.

At first, the intial low dose seemed ok but the pain came back so the doctor increased the dose. And then I noticed extreme uncontrollable moods. The smallest things would turn into an angry rage, not fun. i could tell that it was unhealthy for me. years later a different doc prescribed it to my mom and she went through the same thing.

It may work for you but please be careful . I don't remember difficulty stopping cymbalta but I was only taking it for a few months at a low dose.
Posted 10/25/2015 8:37 PM (GMT -6)
Yes, Tango,
I wanted to just kind of get back in touch with what I was like without any medications. It was not pretty, but I do that every few years just to check in with my unmedicated self.
After that time, my doctor offered me the generic version of prozac, called fluoxetine. She thought it would also calm the terrible hot flashes I was having from menopause. It really helped that, and did make the fibro pain more bearable as well. I have been on that for almost a year now, and it is still doing pretty good for me.
My advice for you is to use the cymbalta and be grateful for what it is accomplishing to make your life better, but know that you might have a struggle if you ever need to stop it. It sounds like the fibro is really affecting your life and the decisions you are making. It is at that point when a medicine is worth taking if it helps rebalance your life, even partially.
Blessings to you,
HEART
Posted 10/26/2015 10:17 AM (GMT -6)
I have been on Cymbalta since 2009 and it has made me feel SO much better! I also take Buspar with it and that leveled out things nicely. Still have fibro, still have flares, but the pain has been ratcheted down and I sleep better.

It's trial and error as far as meds are concerned. What works for one won't work for another unfortunately.

I hope it is helpful for you.

Barb
Posted 10/26/2015 10:49 AM (GMT -6)
Heart,
Thanks so much for your comment. So kind. For two or three days , I felt so level headed. I drove into the city yesterday and enjoyed myself. Before, it gave me so much anxiety in the traffic and density of houses. I was thinking why did this bother me so much before. And the fibro pain was just sort of in the background.

I'm feeling more side effects as I continue and the insomnia really hit last night, and some more nausea. As I keep reading about the horrors of withdrawal, I am so up in the air about what to do.

T
Posted 10/26/2015 7:31 PM (GMT -6)
I've experienced severe constipation and weight gain on it, but those could be from something else I guess. It hasn't helped my fibro pain at all. I take 60 mg, and I've been on it a year. I recently developed floaters in my eyes, and my vision has gotten worse since I increased to 60 mg. I'm going to titrate and get off of it slowly.
Posted 10/26/2015 8:43 PM (GMT -6)
Medications can be so tricky..but our issues are huge and we do need some kind of help.

Hope you can figure this one out tango

I tend to be med sensitive and have not tried many of these meds.

Its a real balancing act to get some relief, without too much side effect.

Wonder how long it took others to adjust to the medication?
Posted 10/28/2015 8:46 AM (GMT -6)
Thanks for everyone for your comments and input. Cymbalta is so strong I've had to cut down the dose. I notice an effect even if I just break open a capsule and take a few small beads! Probably not even 1 mg!

I do notice my tendonitis has practically disappeared since taking it.

This makes want to research how it works and see if there are natural remedies that do similar things.

T
Posted 11/11/2015 11:41 PM (GMT -6)
I had a hard time coming off Cymbalta. I was on it for about 6 months when it stopped working. I slowly titrated the dose down, and then forgot to take it one night. I ended up in the e.r. with psychiatric symptoms. A psychiatrist put me on low dose Prozac and weaned me off the Cymbalta. I was able to discontinue the Prozac with no problem. So, just be aware that you might need assistance coming off this med.
Posted 11/12/2015 8:46 AM (GMT -6)
Woinarow,
Im Sorry you went through such a struggle. Yes, I'm concerned about issues coming up if I have to go off of cymbalta for some reason. right now, I'm really feeling better, able to go shopping, stand for longer periods of time, take workshops I've been wanting, and I'm way less moody so I'm so glad to have some almost normal days for the first time in years. I hope it lasts a while.

What kind of psychiatric symptoms did you have?

I'm going to discuss the weaning off process with my doctor next appointment to have a future plan in place if needed.
T
Posted 11/12/2015 6:49 PM (GMT -6)
I'm glad it's helping you. Cymbalta really helped my pelvic pain for awhile too. (I wasn't diagnosed with fibromyalgia at the time.)

I was extremely agitated, restless and angry. I was rocking back and forth. I was also paranoid, sure that everyone hated me even the doctor. I was talking about suicide. I scared my poor husband to death since this isn't typical behavior for me. They gave me a strong pschotropic med in the e.r. I don't remember much if the next few days. They talked about admitting me but their psych ward was full and another one in our city wouldn't take me because I have had c. Diff. recently. My husband decided not to take me to another city. The Prozac was the answer though. I had no more trouble after that and had no trouble discontinuing the Prozac. My pain management doctor says some people are very sensitive to serotonergic meds. My regular doctor pointed out that I shouldn't have tried to go off the Cymbalta without help. I hate it when he's right. :)

Ran into this today while reading old posts on this forum.
http://livingwithcfs.com/understanding-antidepressant-withdrawal/
"For those who have difficulty discontinuing antidepressants, Healy recommends a plan that involves converting the dose of the medication a patient is taking to an equivalent dose of Prozac, the rationale being that Prozac’s very long half-life will minimize withdrawal problems. "
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