Dearest Angels,
I've been taking Cymbalta for pain (arthritis and neuropathy).
But I think I was becoming allergic to it.
Without it, however, my pain is pretty wearing, to say the least.
And I do take Aleve and Tylenol, but I can't take any other pain meds (like codeine or vicodan or etc).
I've read the Tricyclics are the best antidepressant for pain, better than Cymbalta (according to the Mayo web site)
I've never taken them.
I also took Trileptal (anti convulsant) for pain, but stopped because I thought it was suppressing my immune system. Stopping didn't help, so maybe I should start again, I'm just confused and tired.
Do any of you have experience with Tricyclics, or any of the anticonvulsants, for pain?
Comments, experience, whatever, would be so helpful.
I see my Rheumy on Thursday, and I'll ask her too.
Hugs
Elaine
I have trouble with side effects. Tricyclics make me severely depressed. Cymbalta ads say that it makes you very dizzy. Neurotin (lyrica) gives me TIA symptoms. Please check the side effects, interactions, and counter indications before starting any new drug or supplement.
Elaine,
Years ago, before my Sjogrens diagnosis, I used Nortriptyline for prevention of migraines and fibromyalgia pain. It worked very well and helped me sleep better but it is VERY drying. There is no way I could take it now with my eyes and mouth. I can't remember how dry you are but seemed to remember you take Salagen.
Good luck.
Anna
I take trazodone. It helps some with pain. It is drying, but I'm used to it. Your body adjusts to some extent.
I couldn't take Cymbalta either. Killed my poor stomach.
There are not many antidepressants that don't cause more dryness--some people have more problems with it than others.
I would advise you to try it for the pain. My hubby takes the Elavil or amitryptylene and if he forgets to take it at night his pain level is very high. Most people take 25 mgm at bedtime but I have known of some people that take 50 or 75 mgm at bedtime for neuropathy. My sjoggie friend takes 75 mgm and she doesn't complain about excessive dryness. She has lost her teeth due tothe sjogrens so she is dry.
Keep in mind that when you take other meds for pain or gabapentin there is a tendency for all these pills to enhance each others effect---which is probably good. My hubby suffers a lot with the neuropathy below his knees into his feet. He takes a narcotic pain pill, gabapentin and amitryptilene at bedtime. When I go in to check on his he is sleeping hard but he is often still laying with his feet exposed and wiggling. He wiggles his feet when the pain is bad. Without these 3 meds he would not be able to have any quality of life.
So I say "go for it". I will tell you that as a nurse I saw a lot of amitriptylene taken at this lower dose for neuropathy over the years and most people tolerated it well and had pain relief. Keep in mind that there are those few people who will have trouble taking a med and have to stop. Will hope that you get some relief. IRish
Years ago when I unknowingly was in a flare (before I was diagnosed with Sjogren's) one symptom I had was tinnitus. I went to an ear/hearing specialist, who prescribed amitriptyline to help the symptoms. It did help somewhat, but was very drying. After being diagnosed with SJS this year, My Rheumy said "NO" to any of the tricylics as he thought they were too drying. He also nixed Trazodone for insomnia as he said it was too drying also! But then, my sicca symptoms are pretty bad.
I would suggest you try amytriptaline, it has worked really well for me, helping with both the pain and sleeping problems. I take 25 mg and have not had any side effects. I do remember being a bit sleepy for the first few days, but nothing major and the sleepiness soon wore off.
I am very sensitive to meds, anti depressants in particular, and have not been able to tolerate any others apart from amytriptaline.
Hope this is of some help to you x
WHAT a help!
I went back to the cymbalta in desperation yesterday.
But I will ask my Rheumy about amatrypailine specifically.
I NEVER forget to take my medications, but once in a while I take the evening instead of the morning!
Probably worse than forgetting!
Oh well, we keep on keeping on.
It is lovely to have the pain gone right now, and no itching setting in yet!
Elaine
I'll keep you posted, of course.
I am terribly allergic to them. Was given them before was dx'd to help with the pain. Had HORRENDOUS charley horses and had to be carried to my car, then carried into the house. They waited a week, tried another kind, same thing happened. Never before or since so .... was so disappointed as I had such hope they would help me. They do so many. Good luck!
Hi, I think you should go for it.
I used to take a tiny amount of Elavil (6.25 - 12.5 mg) years ago. Increasing the dosage would give me a hangover effect. Elavil was great for pain and sleep.
The downsides are mouth dryness which you can offset with Evoxac, and constipation which can be offset with miralax.
Good luck
Tricyclics are VERY drying. I took them for depression. They worked for the depression, but my mouth was beyond merely dry. A lower dose might help. Also, use Biotene if that is a huge problem. I was not diagnosed with Sjogren's when I got the tricyclic. However, it might not be a problem for you, so you may as well give it an optimistic try.
Sharon
Somewhere in the back of my fuzzy brain I seem to recall that there are additional warnings and concerns for those over 65 taking tricyclics. Not sure if this is for all over 65s or those with specific medical issues but do research this or ask a pharmacist .
I assume there is a reason that you can't take antiinflammatories (NSAIDs), perhaps because of bleeding, ulcers, or heart issues. Am I right?
Becky
hi, just catching up.
I do take NSAIDS, bjnc, I take ALEVE, and Omeprazole to offset the irritation.
I can't take codeine based stuff, so none of the heavy hitters for pain.
But my rheumy said that The tricyclics are too drying.
So I'm back on the Cymbalta which really does a good job.
So far so good, I guess.
Thanks for all the support and advice.
Hugs
Elaine
I've been on lyrica (75mg 2x/day) for about five years without any known side effects. I don't take it for pain (I take it for control of partial/breakthrough seizures, on top of keppra), which makes me wonder how much pain I am REALLY experiencing when I feel achy and hurt all over (like last week)! But as far as medicines go, it's been fine for me.