I know it's hard to get off of, so that's why I'm asking!!
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I just came off it about two months ago after being on it for years. There was nothing to tapering down and stopping it.
But I'm one that can easily come off all drugs with tapering method.
If you are using for pain, dosages need to be pretty high to have effect on pain. That high dosage made me "high".
For depression it worked for a long period at 60mg then when I lowered dose down to 30mg, I wondered if it was a rx I could eliminate?
I eventually felt it wasn't helping me and that's why I came off it. I noted no change after stopping it.
Pam
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks! I am taking it for pain and I think it's helping. (pretty sure) I'm only on 30mg a day right now. Working my way up to 30mg twice a day.
With my dry eyes and mouth, it's a bit tough. I hope it will get better as my body adjusts.
I've failed neurontin, Lyrica and pain pills. Can't do it. The Cymbalta is causing me some stomach pain, so I don't know how long I'll last on it.
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Lymetoo,
What did neurontin do to you?
I use it at night to help sleep (300mg per night)
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Made me retain fluid and I could feel it around my heart. I had trouble breathing. Really scary! It works, though. (darn)
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Well, THAT explains a lot regarding why Neurontin made vertigo spin out of orbit for me. Water retention is not a good thing for anyone with inner or middle ear issue.
Apparently, Cymbalta also has side-effects that can include fluid retention (from a Google cross search).
Topic: Looking for long term pain management -
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
cymbalta like other psyc drugs made me feel like my feet wernt touching ground. thers something about me that cant take those drugs.
i sure do hope you can take it tho and it helps
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thanks kayak and keeb...
I think I did have some fluid retention the other day from it. Or I ate too much salt.. dunno.
When I crank up the dosage it may cause trouble. Hoping not!
Posted by lostlyme (Member # 38561) on :
Hello new here. I been using cymbalta since oct 2011 started out with 30 mg for pain management and took that to 90 mg a day and it helps. prior to 2011 i was on meloxicam and that did more harm on my joints because that is one of the side effects joint pain
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Thank you! and WELCOME!! Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
I was just looking into Cymbalt myself last night. I doubt I could handle it, as when I tried once years ago--just 2 doses I think(!!), I got horrific, head-banging migraines from it that nothing could touch. That happens for me with about 80% of meds that I try, esp anti-depressants----arghhhh!
I need something badly though. The idea of help with pain and anti-depressant was good though.
I hope it works for you. Do you know the origin of your pain, ie, osteoarthritis, nerve damage, old Lyme damage, etc.? Different meds work on different kinds of pain. Of course, it may be a combo.
Are you sure that you don't have any infection again? (How can anyone be entirely sure??).
Too bad about the neurontin. It does help. Have you tried something like D-Flame (Now Foods brand). It's modeled after Zyflammend, which is quite helpful, but rather expensive. The D-Flame is much cheaper. It takes time to take effect, and you would probably want to double the dose (4 caps per day), but work up to it. It may not be sufficient, but a help, along with other things.
Then, there are the usual suspects: high doses of fish oil and magnesium. Again, may not do everything, but can help a lot.
One other thing I use is Lidoderm patches. It's lidocaine (same as novacaine) in patches that you apply for up to 12 hours per day. They help quite a bit. I use a head band to keep one on my neck, as the sticky part doesn't always stick enough otherwise there. They're rx. You can use up to 3 per day.
Posted by jlcd1 (Member # 18138) on :
I took it about 4 yrs ago for "fibromyalgia" for about a year, before I knew what was really wrong with me. I liked it, at first it made my anxiety 100 times worse then it was, but after a month I was fine, and after the 3rd day it took my nerve pain away.
I only took 60 a day. When I found out I was pregnant I had to go off and it was hard. My doctor had me off in a week and I was dizzy for almost 3 months after that. But that could have been one of my infections to.
good luck with it, it helps a lot of people.
Posted by Richard1062 (Member # 19233) on :
Good results with daughter, who is an adult. She is usually extremely over-sensitive to prescription drugs, but she can tolerate Cymbalta. She took 20 mg per day & it helped a lot with anxiety. Generally helped her to be a little happier & more positive, which was a huge benefit to our family.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My main pain issue is/was neuropathy in my feet...actually one foot. I think it was brought on by plantar fasciitis which no one seems to be able to fix. The Cymbalta is already taking care of the neruopathy for the most part.
Then I also have a bulging disc in my neck and back. Injured myself last year.
If I have an infection, then I will need to Rife. Can't do herbs or abx.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by jlcd1:
My doctor had me off in a week and I was dizzy for almost 3 months after that. But that could have been one of my infections to.
- I'll bet it was from going off the Cymbalta. When about 12 hrs go by, I begin to feel dizzy... I may take a second dose tonight and see how it goes.
Posted by WendyK (Member # 18918) on :
I tried cymbalta for depression, and it actually messed me up pretty bad - made the depression much worse! So that one wasn't right for me. I didn't know it is used for pain management.
I have a hard time with plantar fasciitis since my last pregnancy (pre-lyme/bart/babs). The ONLY thing that finally made it go away, was wearing the custom orthotics I got, every day, all the time. When I recently lost one, I was great for a whole 3 weeks with none before the pain came back - just ordered another set! The OTC ones just don't cut it. Good luck!
Posted by Kudzuslipper (Member # 31915) on :
I just started Cymbalta at the end of may. may was a horrid month for me... I had all over pain and could not stop crying. I had been on Celexa for 10 years. I did a clean switch. I had some fascinating, terrifying and amusing dreams for the first week (including one about lying on a bedspread made of grass and watching a tick with a little flag with the number 5 on it crawling towards me...lol)
But my pain lessened by 1/2 on the 2nd day. And got better from there, the crying stopped a week or so later.
Since then, I have days where I hurt a bit...but on most days I forget to take my tramadol... I wonder about going up inn dose (I am 30). But I think I will stay here for now.
Tutu, did you ever try the neurogen cream for your feet? It smells but it really works, I am amazed.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Kudzu .. no, I didn't order it yet. My husband goes back to work soon. I've been switching between arnica gel and biofreeze.
Wendy.. I got custom orthotics 12 days ago and it made me worse by the 5th day. I will meet with the owner of the company on Thursday. I think they will have to do them over.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Plantar fascitis---the best thing (besides dealing with Bart, if it is a player) would be to do deep fascial release work. If you can get a referral to someone good for that---both on the feet, but also the legs, back, etc.
You could also get a footsie-roller and use that. You'd probably have to start with a towel or wash cloth over it, and be gingerly with it at first, and very slowly increase the pressure over time.
Prolotherapy helps a lot with it also (also other musculoskeletal pain). Go to GetProlo.com for lots of info and referrals to drs who do it in your area. I've done it tons and know many of the top Prolo docs in the country (don't know Texas, however).
Lymetoo, just curious---did you get rid of your Lyme & co through abx or other means, like rife and herbs? There is no magic bullet, is there?!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My dr said my feet were too inflamed for deep massage or reflexology.
I tried again today to do the roller thing. It just aggravates it more.
Prolotherapy right now would send me over the edge. I've had tons of it done.
I got rid of Lyme & Co with 4 yrs of abx. Then I bought a rife machine and used it for about 5 yrs. Whenever I rife, I don't feel a herx, so it makes me think it's not the Lyme.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Arghhh! Sounds really painful! I'm glad that the Cymbalta is beginning to help.
It makes me think maybe I should try it again, but with a miniscule dose.
I'm curious if Cymbalta is really better for pain than Effexor or not. I know that it is approved for all kinds of pain conditions where Effexor is not. But they are both SSNRI's with probably pretty similar actions (and of course, Effexor is generic). One study I saw last night said that there was no difference between the two in terms of pain relief and depression relief---at least in the study comparing the two.
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Epsom salts soaks 4x/day may help reduce the inflammation. Also, ice cube gentle massages or putting ice packs on the feet for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours may help reduce inflammation.
If nerve pain is the culprit, antihistamines (such as Benadryl) may help -- they helped me more than any other pain killer when I had RSD...
Also if you can use homeopathic medicine, may find some help from homeopathic bryonia - it is for sprains/strains & other joint injuries that get worse from movement/use...
Also, might try Vitamin B12 shots or sublingual supplements, and lots of magnesium supplements...
Oh, and if you can do essential oils, Peppermint oil is very gentle anti-inflammatory, as is Lavender. Can apply these oils (diluted 1:1 with olive or coconut oil) directly to the area affected on your feet.
Bartonella also can contribute to foot inflammation, so maybe Rifing for Bart. would help?
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
Been on 60 of Cymbalta for a couple of years, no problems.
Posted by Roger1700 (Member # 29719) on :
Had horrible night sweats and leg kicks while on it.. only took it for about 3 weeks.. leg would literally kick across the bed while sleeping, relaxing.
Also had convulsion like muscle problems when trying to sit up after sleeping. Would shake like crazy.
Neurontin makes me feel like I'm passing out, dizzy. lasts about 5 seconds and goes away, about 10 times a day. 300mg X3
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
Love it. Been on it for years. I was on 90 but just tapered down to 60 as the IV meds are working. It cut my pain in half and also eliminated any depression or anxiety I had at the time.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Wow, Tracy, and others, that's impressive! I am still curious if Effexor has a similar action or not (it would be so much less expensive). Not clear.
But yes, when infection is the source of the pain, treatment helps more; I'll testify to that! Good to hear that you have progress, Tracy.
[ 08-15-2012, 12:36 PM: Message edited by: Rumigirl ]
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Can't do ice.. Raynaud's.
Will try more epsom salt baths. Used to do them each night. No miracle there.
Have been doing B12 .. hope to get a script for the methyl version soon. Essential oils sound good!
Didn't have bart, hope I still don't!! It all started with new orthotics that were not right for me. Screwed up my feet big time. Still messing with that.
Roger, that's very scary about the neurontin.
Rumi.. I have no clue on the Effexor.
Posted by DanP (Member # 7501) on :
The gp started me on cymbalta just 3 weeks ago for 1) depression because of continuing bad lower right back and hip pain which when bad fouls my mood
and 2) because the pain is the only thing left that continues to plague me and he said Cymbalta provides relief to some people
(my sister who is a nurse practitioner is on welbutrin and she recommended that but when i asked for it he suggested cymbalta - she said it figures a male doctor would give me what i didn't ask for!!)))
the first week i felt like i was in a wind tunnel during conversations but that's gone away - i did see some relief for about 2.5 weeks, and i was on vacation for the last half of that....but now that i'm back at my desk and in the gym and at home...the same lower right back ache and hip pain is back...so i know he's going to suggest moving from 30mg a day to 60 before stopping completely
and i am toying with stopping because i'd rather have a sex drive and take pain meds when the pain is bad then take it and have no sex drive and still have to take the pain meds when the pain is bad...
sorry for the ramble - My mood definitely doesn't get as black when the pain is worse on the cymbalta tho
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
It seems to have helped my back pain a little. I tried 60mg the other day and my throat was horribly dry all day. No amount of water would "fix it."
I hear ya Dan on the sex drive. It's worse on a man!
I had gotten to the point of taking pain pills twice a day and they ate my stomach. The Cymbalta is a little rough on it too, but better.
Posted by Anissahope4healing (Member # 39221) on :
Hi everyone! New here.
I was reading about the anti-depressants and wanted to share that when I was on Celexa a couple years ago my sex drive was minimal (not as bad as when I was on Prozac), but my dr at the time prescribed me Buspar for anxiety.
I think it was 15 mg 3 times a day. I would have to double check on that- BUT after adding the Buspar... I was able to he-hem...
I have also heard that adding Wellbutrin to an SSRI can help with sex drive.
Not that I am pushing for more drugs on anyone. But if we can find a combo that works for pain/depression/and libido...maybe it is a possibility.
You all know this but always make sure to check for drug/herb interactions.
Posted by kidsgotlyme (Member # 23691) on :
The doc tried my DD on this a couple of months ago specifically for pain. She took it for two days and couldn't sleep at all so we stopped it. I was really hoping that it would help her.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
OH.. I never updated... I lasted three weeks on it... ATE MY STOMACH.
Posted by Anissahope4healing (Member # 39221) on :
I was reading in past posts about what helped others and a few said lithium orotate- I believe it was 5mg 3 times a day, from a trusted and third party tested company.
I went to iher.com and typed it in their "search". I read a lot of reviews on a number of formulas- Drs. Best.
It is natural and seems to help many people. I think I am going to give it a try, after I make sure it doesn't hv any bad reactions to what I am taking now.
Also on Dr. B's supplement list- I will need to double check but there was one supplement he said most of the patients felt quick or immediate response. I will look for that info tomorrow or later today.
It is 12:23am here EST. I hope something whether natural or conventional will work for you all.
Also my Vit D was low, Iodine, and B-12. My dr gave me. Vit D shot because it couldn't be put in an IV, but he did give me Vit. C, and sorry I can't remember what else.. My memory has been affected.
But pls check your Vit levels. Everything can add to us and your DD Kidsgotlyme, and make us feel depressed, fatigued, and so on.
I hope you can find relief for her. And TuTU that would be awful if the combo ate up your stomach.
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