questions about cymbalta and celebrex

[trc1962]

The saga of "neuropathic" pain persists and getting me into the neuro has been a fiasco. Back in July I had a skin punch biopsy that essentially was fairly normal so neuro said no emg. My pain has grown and now my rheumy has decided to push for an EMG with the neuro and he finally agreed but not until Nov 2nd - light years away. In the meantime I am teaching my p.e. classes and it was kind of a hard week. The pain I have comes mainly in the day with activity, although I can occasionally have some aching at night if my legs get too warm. I don't have elevated muscle enzymes so rheumy said it can't be muscle. So we are attempting to treat the pain from "day time" and it is hard. I can't take gabapentin, makes me loopy and I couldn't walk normal let alone teach. My insurance company said no to lyrica and I guess that makes you tired also? So now rheumy says Cymbalta, but my mouth is already dry and I take an antidepressant (for mild anxiety and depression) already. I have also heard you don't sleep well on Cymbalta and I have to sleep to work, so that's not good. I suggested Celebrex and the rheumy said we could try it, but had to order it offline as insurance refused that as well. I have been taking my 1/2 mg of clonazepam and breaking it into 4 pieces and taking it throughout the day as it helps with pain and the weird shaking in my neck and shoulders. This is all a mystery and I wish we could just get it solved and get on a plan to make me better! Info on either drug is appreciated. The shaking feeling in my neck is weird and clonazepam really helps that and rheumy doesn't know what it is..

[Jenny]

Instead of Celebrex, which my insurance won't pay for, I take Moloxicam. However, it's for arthritis pain. I'm not sure it will help with neuropathy.

[JoanElizabeth]

Since Celebrex is expensive many insurances require you to try a couple other NSAIDs before they will pay for it. Over the years I have been on about 6 or 7 different ones. Celebrex is what I have been on for the longer, 3 years now I think.

[eija]

trc1962,
I've been on Cymbalta for years now, and I don't find it very drying. Compared to many others, I don't think it has the drying effect at all.


As for its effects on sleep... What I've heard is that it varies a lot. Some people are exhausted when on it, others get rid of at least some of the fatigue. Some use it in the evenings because it makes them sleepy, others in the morning because otherwise it disturbs their sleep. I don't see it having any effect on my sleep - but then again, my sleep has been... well - to put it nicely - out of whack for as long as I can remember. It may make you have vivid dreams at the beginning, but that should go away eventually.


For many Cymbalta is good for pain. For me it's both for pain and depression/anxiety. I have taken it with several other depression meds, too (Venlafaxin, Brintellix, Voxra, to name a few). Even if some of those are marked as unsuitable with Cymbalta. However, when I've had a small dose of both, it's been fine. Also, it could be that you could switch your old antidepressant to Cymbalta and that way treat two things with that one medicine, instead of adding yet another one in your regime.



FWIW, I recommend you to try Cymbalta. It's not for everyone, but for many patients with chronic pain issues it's a life saver. What is it for you, you can't know until you try it yourself.


Edit: Corrected your nick

[jazzlover]

One little problem with Cymbalta. If you ever need or WANT to get off of it... it's very difficult.

[trejonina]

Hi try magnesium chloride for your pain.I''ve heard rave reviews from everyone who takes it in my third world country. and they wouldn't be buying it if it really didn't work. luck

[eija]

One little problem with Cymbalta. If you ever need or WANT to get off of it... it's very difficult.

Not necessarily. Some people get difficult withdrawals (even when forgetting just one dose), some just quit it cold turkey with no problems. In any case, quitting should not be done cold turkey but very, very gradually. I know some people have even counted the grains inside the capsule and then decreased the dose by just one grain every X days.