Wanted: What is your 'track' record now taking Cymbalta? Or, what did you experience while taking Cymbalta in past? Last, was approved 4-5 years ago for diabetic neuropathy and wondering if blogger responding is a diabetic? Am newbie to Sjogren's World Forum but no newbie to SS as was diagnosed in 1995 at John Hopkins by optomology department. Thank you in advance for the time and effort you spend to 'blog' about you and Cymbalta.
i dont suggest cymbalta i only took 1 30mg dose and 6 hours later my vision started getting extremely blurry so i checked them in the mirror and my pupils were completely dialated i didnt know they were like that and i had been outside all day so i think i scortched (sp) my eyes i already have optic neuritis and what ever that medicine did to me made my vision worse. my heart was racing for about 24 hrs after taking it. it may effect you differently i am just letting you know i wish someone would have warned me before it destroyed my vision. i did research and found it can increase the pressure in your eyes and cause pupil dialation so if you do have vision problems check with your opti first
good luck
I've been taking Cymbalta for some time now and haven't noticed any adverse symptoms. However, I did see a commercial for Cymbalta the other day that warned about liver complications and Cymbalta. As my liver enzymes have been elevated and I'm scheduled for a liver biopsy I'm anxious to ask my rhumy if this has been considered as a possible culprit.
Steve
I take it,, 60 mg daily,, dont know if its helping of not for neuropathy,, I dont think it is,, nothing seems to be working now
I just saw my rheumy a few days ago and she said there is a new fibro med called "Savella "that has been working great on all types of pain. including neuropathy..alot of her other patients tried it and loved it!!! she gave me a sample, havent tried it yet. I too have chronic-head to toe neuropathy pain, but not taking any meds for it because im too afraid of the side effects. I guess this is not an anti-depressant either..just an FYI...
The Cymbalta is mainly for depression and pain. I have head to toe neuropathies but I don't consider myself in pain. Its the lack of pain that I worry about as so many things have no feeling. The thing I currently have my eye on is balance. I've started to notice some balance problems and just keeping my good eye on it and trying to figure out if its my imagination.
Steve
I currently take the 60mp Cymbalta for my Fibromyalgia pain. It has helped with that. How ever I had to start taking Gabapentin for the nerve pain that can be severe, especially up and down my right side. That helped for awhile but I've had to increase to the max dose and now the more consistant numb and tingly right side is coming back. :( I so hope that the Rheumy has an answer for me. I keep telling myself that I only have 27 more days and I get to see her and get her opinion. I pray that its a trip that's worth it. We have to travel over 2 hours to get there. So we get to make a day out of it. :) My internal med dr. has been good about finding other meds that might work, but we're waiting to see what the rheumy says and what all the test pin point.
Good luck and good luck choosing a med. Every med that we'll be given the option to take will have warnings and some pretty bad side effects. As long as you follow your drs instructions and the dosage in is a small amount of people that react to the meds. You have to choose for yourself whats going to work for you. I need to function to be at work and with my 3 young boys. My pain from SJS and Raynauds was just too much for Advil and my diet to take care by itself.
Hugs,
Leslie
I understand you wanted to get something out of your appointment. It takes 2 and a half hours for me and since I can't drive any longer I'm paying a friend to drive me so I especially hope that my appointment is worthwhile. I have one next Tuesday and I've got a list of things to discuss.
I took Cymbalta for neuropathy and it was great. I was able to cut my dose of gabapentin. But it dried the mucus in my lungs and I had trouble breathing and I had to quit. Going off the medication was a very unpleasant experience even though I tapered off by 5mg a week. I will never take another SSRI.
Leslie,
I also maxed out of gabapentin. When it works it is great but then you get used to the dose. My doctor added Klonopin. I take 1.5 mg at night. I have been doing well for over a year on the two together. Klonopin also has the side effect of increasing saliva production. That has been helpful. Plus I go to sleep and don't feel anything. The only problem is if I wake up and have to go the bathroom at night, I run into walls. Plus, I have to be careful if I take a nap in the daytime as I have a tendency to get sleep paralysis. Now, my neuropathy is so bad that I don't care if I run into walls or forget how to use a can opener, I just want it to stop. I wish I could take the Cymbalta. But if you can't breathe nothing else matters ( the American Lung Association motto).
Hi, I started taking Cymbalta about 5 weeks ago. It did help some with the fibromyalgia and Sjogren's pain, but the most important thing that it did for me is relax my body so I get a more relaxed and deeper sleep. I have not been able to get restful sleep in years....just toss and turn and look at the clock all night. Found that the Cymbalta made me enjoy going to bed again. I have also found that since I am sleeping better my daytime memory has imporved....I can remember names of people better. No other side effects except that I am hungry all of the time. Don't know if it is from the Cymbalta. I take 30mg. twice a day. It is worth a try.
Other than pain Cymbalta is used to treat generalized anxiety dissorder and depression. Lesley
Hi Sweet Lesley, You are just the one I have been waiting to hear from. Am due to go back to Duke University Med. Ctr. a 300 mile drive from my home in late October. Was prescribed Cymbalta by neurologist there after referrral by my regular Duke rhemu. that I have been seeing for a number of years. Am going to talk with my local primary physician at July 7 appt. to see if she is willing to closely monitor me as it is 4 months before I am to return to Duke. A little too long for me as I have bouts of what I call 'total frustration' from having to deal with SS, Fibro and now contstant pain since May a year ago in my toes, feet, legs, fingers and hands. The depression part and suicide tendency concerns me. May suggest to my primary physician that I start in Sept and take it until I return to Duke in late Oct and possibly that way, Duke can see for themselves how Cymbalta is affecting me after a month on it. You think this might be wise thinking?
Thought it was plantar fascisatis from too much walking on treadmill trying to loose weight. Started water aerobics three times a week and am now suspecting I pushed myself too fast to keep up with other classmates. All the 'jumping ' around has set off back pain which has been an issue with me since teenage years. Though, after many years of being able to cope with home remedies; this time have had MRI's, nerve-ending conduction test and regurlar x-rays that are indicating widespread degenerative OA throughout spine w/ spinal stenosis in lower back and ceverial area. I still wondering about the numb feet, toes, hands, fingers, and even tongue... really, just what is it...suggested preprephial neur, now fibro, along with OA and spinal degenerativeness... or, possibly a combination of several. Goodness, no wonder....frustration... And, realize I live 24/7 with myself and the ultimate decision is mine to make. A note to others; trying to keep all this 'stuff' coordinated between my rural area medical team and the DUMC in NC is fast becoming very taxing on mind, body and also my spirit as more and more health issues are continuing to surface as I age.
And, in closing,Lesly, thanks so much for taking of your valuable time to send me your comments.
Lesley, a note of possible interest to you. I was diagnosed a couple years ago with sleep apnea and yes, this CPAP machine certainly helps me get quality sleep though only drawback is must 'kinda' be stationary and not move much during sleep and I am soooooooo stiff when arising in the morning. You snore???
I tried Cymbalta and I liked it at first, It seemed to help, and it helped my depression a lot. It made my head feel like something was crawling on me all the time. Then it dried my eyes and mouth so much that I was having trouble seeing and swallowing But the kicker was that I gained 30 Lbs in a matter of weeks. So I stopped taking it. I also tried lyrica and could not tolerate that either. I have foot drop with peripheral nerouphy in my right leg. I have a leg brace and that stops me from falling over all the time. But if I walk any distance I am in screaming pain.
I stopped seeing that neuro. So I use lidoderm pads and that helps the pain a little.
I had also tried therapy in the beginning. I have other problems and that helps keep my mind off the pain. I have numbness in my left hand that feels very similar to what was going on with my right foot before i lost feeling in my foot, I have an EMG next week. I don't think it is carpal tunnel. I had that on the right hand but this feels different. But it is nice to think that someday I will hear of something that has worked for someone, and maybe try it myself.
Good luck with the Cymbalta, I hope it works for you.
Jules, My cats have loads to say about my not 'keepint in step' to their liking; what about yours???
Thanks for your info about Cymbalta. Thought and thought about this and slept on it several nights... and, took my first 20 mg this afternoon. So far, so good... at it bedtime, now the real test comes. Can I sleep??? Decision time - usually take .5 Xanax to get me 'in the notion' of sleeping with this d... CPAP machine. Not my favorite sleep buddy BUT sleep much better when have it on w/the humidifier part turned on. Cat Lover in TN :-* :-* :-*
I have been on numerous medications for chronic pain from neuropathy in my legs and hands. Cymbalta, for me, was one of the worse meds I have ever taken. I am usually a very upbeat person and within a couple of days I could feel the difference in my mood. I was not depressed per say but I was very apathetic. I had absolutely no interest in doing anything. Then the stomach issues began. The little bit I ate immediately upset my stomach and caused problems for hours. My neuro kept me on it for a couple of months to see if with time the problems would mellow out and it would help the pain. I was having so many problems, I never could go above the lowest dosage. So after being miserable for a couple of months and getting no relief from the pain, I was slowly taken off of this medication.
My sister is going through many of the spine issues that you are having. Her specialist has she suggested she get an exercise ball (the type you balance on) and use it as much as possible everyday. She has gotten the type that sits in a chair and it seems to be helping her. She will gladly bounce on this for awhile if it will help delay any type of back surgery.
Joy
Yeah I am a cat lover, sometimes they are better than any medicine, you can get. We have 2 boy cats and a kitten.
Squirty Einstein, Zigzagnut, and Rufus Midnight. Squirty and Ziggy keep the kitten in line. It will soon be time to have Rufus neutered, He is about 3 or 4 months old. We also have a 19 year old cat named Tillie. She is blind and deaf, but still in good health for her age.
So tell me about your cat family?
I liked the Cymbalta as far as depression goes, it helped a lot until I gained the weight. That depressed me. Now I take Zoloft for depression. It seems to keep me even.
I have a CPAP too. Sometimes it is really hard to fall asleep with it, but I do sleep relaxation where I relax my feet and toes and work my way up my body. Sometimes it takes two or three times till I get to sleep and sometimes I don't even make it past my ribcage. Of course Darvacet helps too.
Jules