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Q. My doctor prescribed Cymbalta for the pain of fibromyalgia, but it did not alleviate the pain at all. Instead, it made me feel like a zombie. I had no energy or motivation, but I did have insomnia.
The worst thing was stopping the drug. I had anxiety, panic, awful dizziness, increased pain and even more insomnia for weeks. Please warn your readers.
A. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) was originally approved as an antidepressant. More recently, however, it has been promoted for chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, neuropathy and lower back problems.
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics (May 2, 2011) concluded, "Duloxetine's (Cymbalta) superiority over placebo for treatment of chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis appears to be modest at best."
Other readers also report difficulty stopping Cymbalta. One woman wrote, "Our daughter's life has almost been ruined in her attempt to withdraw from that drug. She is almost an invalid as a result. Kindly send me your Guide to Dealing with Depression and any information on withdrawing from Cymbalta."
Suddenly stopping drugs such as citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) and venlafaxine (Effexor) can lead to disorientation, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, headaches and other symptoms of withdrawal. We discuss this problem in our Guide. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (64 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. E-7, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded for $2 here.
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I was on Cymbalta for 2 and half weeks and stopped due to the side effects. I originally started taking it for fibromyalgia and it did help with the nerve pain. The only problem was the inability to sleep and feel good sexually. Now that I have stopped, it is even worse.
I have gotten over hugging the toilet, butt cannot deal with the constant need to scratch my flesh off. It is unbearable... This really was the worst drug decision I have ever made. Please advise me if you know how to get rid of this itching! I have tried EVERYTHING... antihistamines,hydration, vinegar, sleeping pills, getting VERY drunk...etc.
Excuse me, but who on earth is in that PHOTO and why is it posted to your website? Is this supposed to be a photo of the "zombie" symptoms she is speaking of? If so, I find it very disturbing, This woman looks like she is dying or was badly beaten. My vote: Take it down.
My doctor prescribed Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia and it did help at first. After awhile though it stopped helping that pain and my doctor wanted to double my dosage (I was on the lowest dose) but I decided I did not want to do that. I continued taking the low dose for probably another year.
When I decided to stop taking it my doctor told me to take one pill every other day for 10 days then stop. I felt so awful just cutting back that I knew better than to just stop after the 10 days. It took me about 6months to get off it completely and it was horrible! I advise anyone taking any of these meds and who want to get off them to start VERY slowly and take your time.
The withdrawal is very difficult and you should ask your doctor to please work with you to stop. Mine wanted to give me another prescription to help me stop the Cymbalta but thankfully I choose not to do that and I am so thankful I did not! I now just take VitD-3 and all natural supplements and am doing okay. And I no longer feel like a zombie!
Guess I was lucky! Five yrs ago after major spine surgery, I was put on Cymbalta for PTSS as the m.d. thought that I was depressed. After six months of not knowing if it was really helping, I slowly & carefully came off it on my own with no withdrawal symptoms at all.
Lately, with an increase in neuropathy pain, due in part to the back surgery & part to a previous hip replacement, I have been thinking of asking for it again. (Neurontin isn't helping) Also, was thinking of asking the m.d. if Lyrica might work better. After hearing recent horror stories, I think that I will tough through the neuropathy pain & stay with the soap beneath the sheets--which really has helped with the nighttime pains!
I need to ask BA how the soap under the sheets helps with neuropathy pain.
I have found relief from terrible itching, that did not respond to antihistamines. I have been gluten free for 3 months. It has made a huge difference. I do not have Celiacs, but must have a allergy to wheat or gluten. Good Luck
TO PD: i think the picture is from hollowin?,?
As a Cymbalta user, I found this entry interesting. But I was instantly turned off by the unprofessional and grotesque zombie photo that accompanied it. There is nothing funny about fibromyalgia nor the side effects of Cymbalta, as I'm sure you're aware. If this is the sort of trashy pop culture treatment The Peoples Pharmacy is headed for, count me out. Medicine and medical problems are serious, and a casual yet professional approach has been the successful hallmark for the site -- it would be a shame to see it degraded like this.
I agree. The photo is very disturbing looking.
On second thought, I do want to say that I think your photo here is a very bad idea. I wasn't going to say anything, but it bothers me. Am quite surprised at your choice to do this, and hope you've decided it was a mistake you won't ever repeat.
I took cymbalta a year and a half ago, it worked very well then. I started back on it in mid April and what a disaster. I have sleeping problems and grind my teeth at night if I happen to sleep. I feel more tense and uptight. I take it for depression. The only thing different this time is my thyroid is hypo. I didn't really want to go back on it until they got my thyroid right cause that causes a lot of problems with mood and etc.. but no drs. wanted to do that. I even switched drs. cause of them trying to put me back on it. They don't listen to us and it is frustrating. Almost ready to stop doctors all together.
I was on Cymbalta for 3 years for depression, It worked well for me. I got off it slowly. It was uncomfortable but not unbearable. It was worth the withdrawal symptoms for the benefit that I got from it.
I agree that the photo is unprofessional and uncalled for.
I also read the article about suddenly stopping a drug such as Cymbalta. Paxil is also in that group and with the paperwork that comes with many meds, it states do not stop suddenly without consulting your physician.
I chose to go off Paxil as found it no help anymore. I did it on my own but discussed it with my physician and how I would do it. I did it on the "gradual" basis. What was an every day dose, became every other day and then less than that. And during that time I cut them in half so it not only became less often but less dosage. It didn't take as long as I thought it would and it worked.
It became so gradual/and less dosage that at the end my system didn't miss it. When I was off of them, I told my physician... It can be done but by all means, talk it over with our doctor first to see what works best for you as the individual.
I need to find out how the soap under the sheets help for neuropathy. Wonder if it helps for fibromyalgia.
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WORKS BUT MANY PEOPLE FIND IT HELPFUL.
I have been on Cymbalta (60 mg) for two months and also take Hydrocodone (Norco) 7.5 mg for my fibromyalgia. The Cymbalta at first helped immediately but now it doesn't seem to be working at all. I told my doctor and he prescribed 30 mg for a month before I get off the drug. In reading all the comments, however, I think that I probably will (on my own) take the 30 mg of Cymbalta every other day, and then every two days, and so forth, until I stop it completely.
I sure do not want any withdrawal symptoms as those described here. I don't know what to do about the Norco because I still am in much pain most of the week. I do go around feeling like a zombie and am not alert at all. I do not like the feeling at all. Any comments on another med? Anybody know anything about Boswellia?
I have been on 100 mg of Zoloft since 1996 for depression and recently my MD prescribed a change to Cymbalta for chronic pain. I was very hesitant about making the change however I am thrilled!!!!! The pain is better I sleep better and my depression/anxiety is a lot better.
I am on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia and it works wonders with me. I use it in combination with lyrica and skelaxin as well as a pain reliever for particularly bad days, which thank goodness are few and far between. I have not tried to come off of it but I have noticed if I skip a dose I will feel depressive. So far, it has been a miracle drug for me 6 months strong.
Thanks to all for your comments, my doctor want me to start Cymbalta for chronic pain and fibromyalgia, I will not go on it. Up to now, all the medication he had suggested me didn't work (Viox, Celebrex, Lyrica, cortisone injection, etc.). I think I can't trust him anymore.
I took cymbalta for nearly one year for fibromyalgia. I stopped taking it due to the horrible side effects it had on me. I was basically unable to function while taking it and I had the most horrible withdrawal symptoms when I began tapering off it. I would advise anyone that is considering trying this dangerous drug to please do their research. I would never ever take it or anything similar ever again.
Also, I recently found out that the "fibromyalgia" pain I have is actually caused by Peripheral Neuropathy. The P.N. most likely is due to a heridarity neuromuscular disorder that I am being tested for next month. Anyone who has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia needs to keep digging to find the cause of all the pain and fatigue.
Doctors tell fibro patients that their disorder is not progressive. I now have many, many health issues that I may have been able to prevent or least keep from progressing so severely if I had know what I do now. Everyone needs to be proactive toward their own health and never give up searching for answers.
My neurologist put me on Neurontin and Cymbalta after I was diagnosed in May with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, an auto-immune illness that usually starts after a viral infection. It often begins with tingling and numbness in the feet and progresses rapidly up the legs to the abdomen and arms and hands.
If you're unlucky, it gets into your chest and you will end up on a ventilator for some time. Thankfully, I did not; but I was unable to walk without assistance for several months. IV immunoglobulin treatments and physical therapy have helped immensely; I can walk again without even a cane, although I still have the numbness/tingling in my hands, leg, and feet. I have talked with the doctor about weaning myself off the Cymbalta.
Last month, I went from 30 mg twice a day to once a day (a.m.); this month to 30 mg every other day. I have begun having very vivid dreams, some good and some horrific. No other side effects except some irritability. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? And if so, any advice about dealing with it? I would really appreciate replies.
BA, thanks for your input. I haven't noticed that Cymbalta helps pain, although It has helped me from being depressed during this long recovery process. I'm down to one every other day.
Please let me know whether Lyrica helps you. A good friend who had 2 neck surgeries within the past year was prescribed it last week, and she's a bit concerned too. She says the first full day on the prescribed dosage, she slept almost all the time, although she also said she slept better that night than she has in years. So keep me posted, and I will you, too!
Since my last comments, I have gotten off the Cymbalta entirely. My advice: don't take this drug (there are alternatives) unless you want to be on it the rest of your life, because the withdrawal is HORRIBLE. Not just mood swings, sleepiness, dizziness (from postural hypotension)... but intolerable itching! I itch almost everywhere that I'm not still numb from the Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Sarna helps (it's available OTC), but the only thing that really works for me is 2 Benadryl and sleep. Who can afford to be a Benadryl zombie all the time? UGH!
I have had Fibromyalgia for three years now and nothing helps. Is there anyone that knows of anything other than Lyrica, Cymbalta or the same such drugs. Is there anything Natural that might help? Has anyone had results with anything natural? I was in a car accident that resulted in a herniated disk and that is what they say resulted in my fibromyalgia... any help would be appreciated.
I must have a different tolerance for medicine than most of those who use Cymbalta. I stopped using Paxil because yawning all day MADE me tired. I always get good sleep. However Cymbalta has helped me with depression. When I stop taking it, I don't experience any withdrawals... yet my family knows I haven't taken it because of my quick temper. It does take away your libido....
I have been on Cymbalta for 5 months. I have been taking it to treat my anxiety. It has really helped. I have not experienced any side effects. I sleep better at night which my doctor explained was caused by the anxiety. From the beginning my doctor explained the process of "getting off " of this med. I am very happy with the results and I continue to take 60mg each night.
I take cymbalta for broken back not treated 50 years ago arthritis anxiety and depression 30 mg for 1 month 60mg 2 nd and now 90mg this third mo I am not sure that cymbalta causes me to have bad dreams for about 30 min before I wake up but sure does help back pain I take it in morning wondering if it would be best at night?
After about 4 years of tests, trials, B12 shots, and frustration; I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My main complaint was the fatigue. The pain was pretty bad, but I was used to it. My doctor wanted me to try Cymbalta, saying that 31 is way too young to be in severe pain every day. It helped a little for a while, but my insurance wouldn't cover a dose high enough to really help. Six months later, after gaining 30 pounds and needing to sleep about 16 hours a day, I decided that it isn't worth continuing.
My doctor said I could take one every other day for about a week then stop taking it. He said if it was too hard, I could keep taking it adding more days between doses. It has been 4 days now since my last dose, and I am in more severe pain than I was before I started taking it. That is really my only problem so far. I can deal with it if it doesn't last too long, like more than a couple of weeks. Otherwise I will have to taper off more slowly, but I want to be done with it NOW!
Anyone else experience this pain when coming off? If yes, how long did it last? Please reply. I have kids that want their mommy back and a husband that needs me, too.