Cymbalta Reviews (Page 4) (Top voted first)

Has anyone been prescribed this medication for back pain?

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Cymbalta was originally intended to be an antidepressant, it only works on certain types of pain for certain people, the rate for that is actually 50%, so it will not work for everyone.

Valarie, you need to speak to your doctor and let them know you are not having any success with it.

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I am 22, and I have severe back and knee pain. I feel like the doctors I've seen don't believe me. My doctor prescribed me Cymbalta 2 weeks ago, and I feel nothing except more pain. Not only has it not helped the pain, but now it's affecting my ability to sleep. Also, because none of the doctors would give me anything that seemed to adequately help the pain, I had to quit my job. Now, I just don't lnow what to do. I appreciate any suggestions.

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Well first off, 2 weeks is not enough time to try the Cymbalta and see if it will help you, it takes at least a month to reach a therapeutic dose in your body.

The problem with it, and I will admit that it did not work for me at all even though I tried it for several months, but it is not a medication that works for everyone anyway.

It only helps with certain types of nerve pain. If something else is causing your pain, other than nerve damage, such as slipped discs, degenerative disc disease, arthritis or whatever, it will not help.

The basic problem you are facing here is the due to the new DEA and FDA regulations, most doctor's are almost terrified to prescribe narcotics to treat pain, unless they can actually see a definitive reason for that person to be in pain.

Anytime they right any type of prescription for a controlled substance, they have to keep a log of it and regularly turn over those logs to the government. If someone feels that the problem that patient has was not serious or bad enough to warrant those prescriptions, then the doctor has to answer for that. They risk severe fines and loss of their license to practice medicine.

Not to mention their liability if someone ends up addicted or overdosing on such meds.

Really, they should be running some tests to see what is causing your pain and what can be done to fix your problems. There are milder meds they can use in the meantime to help ease your pain.

If this doctor is just not helping, then it is definitely time to switch.

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I have degenerative disc disease in my lower back and cymbalta has heped me wonderfully with the pain

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i have been taking this since October 2006. It has been a life safer. I could not tell you how much pain I was in prior. It hasn't taken all the pain away but about 90%. I feel like a new person.

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I started th3 30mg Cymbalta last Thursday. It was prescribed for back pain and being sluggish. It deffinately has stopped the pain, but I have been quite hyper and have lost 5 pounds which is a good thing. It is starting to calm a littel more in my system, but eventually they want me to move to 60. It has almost been a week, no pain but very hyper.

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I was prescribed Cymbalta on the eighth+th week after I broke my should. Nothing was touching the pain, not morphine, not oxycontin. I was becoming very drepressed over the pain and because of the pain my blood pressure had shot up to 180/110 (my normal is 105/65). My doctor put me on Zoloft and after walking through life like a zombe (my PT said I looked like a deer caught in the headlights)for 5 days I asked if I could try Cymbalta. I had seen the add on TV and have Fibromyalgia and had been thinking about giving it a try. On day 4 my broken shoulder pain was gone and the pain from 3 herniated discs in my neck was vastly improved. I am taking 30 mg and am suppose to bump up to 60 mg but hasitate because of reading negative info about Cymbalta withdrawl. I don't plan to stop but some of these people said because of other problems they had to. The withdrawl scares me, I have been on 2 months.

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Marcia, if 30mg is doing well for you I would tell your doctor you wanted to stay at 30mg. It is your choice! If you are unable to control the pain and must increase dosage usually it is worth it to increase. You will know what is right for you.I have dealt with withdrawl from narcotic pain medication and if you allow yourself an extended period of time to step down off the medication I think you will be fine. I don't know Cymbalta, but if you told your doctor you wanted a very gradual reduction they would know the right steps for you. Some doctors may try to rush it but nobody knows your body better than you. You'll know how much time you can go when stepping down to get off the medicine. Patience to allow your body to adapt to a change in medication, sometimes over as long as a month or two, should reduce withdrawls. Well, that's my two cents. Total healing to you and goodluck.

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I also have been taking Cymbalta for 7 years because of numbness, pain, and a burning sensation from Guillian Barre syndrome>it caused me to be totally paralyzed and short of breathe for several months. My rehab was very extensive and long. Anyway, I'm not sure why your having numbness except that it could be caused from your back pain. That happens often, that is if it is LBP that you have. I can't go off of Cymbalta because my body starts to go numb and very painful within hours of stopping it. I have gained a lot of weight but it's better then being in excruciating pain. So i keep taking it. You also might need a higher dose. I hope this helps you and good luck. Hopefully you have a good doctor.

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It raised my pulse rate by about 10bpm. That didn't cause any problems as ir brought it into the low 80s which my body could handle. I think my bp went up a little bit too.

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Hello..I am suffering with hip pain, leg and back pain....it is terrible...i am undiagnosed,(sp) due to lack of Insurance.....also suffer with chronic insomnia.... I take seroquel, for sleep, and it works like a dream....no depression, or any side effects, other than weight gain..will cymbalta be compatible with seroquel....I take pain meds, and am concerned about liver disorder, anyway....what do you think?

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It is designed to release in your GI tract where the ph level is 5.5 or higher. You cannot crush it, it could be dangerous for you.

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this drug is magical. my back pain and other pains caused by osteoarthritis simply disappeared after two weeks of taking this medicine 40 mg daily........you need to continue taking this medicine as it cures nothing. But the quality of your simply improves beyond imagination.

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Hi everyone! I am new to this topic. So I've had everything from chemo in '07-'08, then Zoloft (made cleaning OCD worse), Wellbutrin (increased anxiety/deer in headlights eyes), Ativan (great!), Xanax (good!), Buspar (???), Gabapentin/Neurontin (drunk), HCG homeopathic diet (later huge fail!), Viibryd guinea pig (hell w/ sleep paralysis & discontinuation syndrome), Prozac (zombie), Gralise (???) and now Cymbalta!

I started on the Cymbalta weeks ago in order to have less depression, anxiety, & then pain relief from my peripheral neuropathy. But the only thing the CYM. has helped w/ is my Spondolythesis! (L5-L6) & less neck pain. So that has been a welcome surprise. I read about it helping w/ back pain after the fact & then made the connection.

But I've had a few upsetting dreams. And I could sleep 20 hrs. off & on in a 24 hr. period. Prozac made me not care about anything & it helped w/ the neg. thoughts. CYM. is a little like that, but since I end up sleeping more now, it's like a way for me to escape any neg. feelings. But this is no way to live.

I started removing (eyeballing) about 30-50 tiny beads from the capsule on a couple occasions in the past two weeks & then end up going back to 60 mg. I only took 30 mg. for a couple of days after stopping the Prozac, because after seeing a pain mgmt. dr., I was desperate to feel better. My in office questionnaire while on Prozac was as if I wasn't even on an anti-d. I can completely see how people can become suicidal on Prozac. Or divorce the one they love. : 0 I will never try Prozac again. I think it works too well. That's the problem. Hence, zombie.

So that's where I am at w/ the Cymbalta. I don't know what I am taking yet. Leaning towards weaning, because of the fatigue & lack of libido. I am able to cope with different situations better, but I've also lost any excitement over anything in life. I look forward to nothing. Feelings of panic still creep in & then a somber song will make me cry.

Lets just say that those people you see in Walmart in their pajamas...well they are most definitely on an anti-depressant! That is not like me to do this, but I did & I am so embarrassed! (Pj pants....jacket)....

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Ive just started taking 30mg of a generic brand of cymbalta made by teva.ive only taken it for four days and have severe nausea feels like i may vomit everytime i yawn.and the headaches are unbearable..and i can barely stay woke.i know it takes time for your body to get used to it i guess.does anyone have these problems and how long before they subsided cause frankly id rather be depressed than go through these symptoms

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I was previously on cymbalta and it worked very well for me. I stopped taking it because I felt I didn't need it any longer, my doctor didn't know I stopped until I told her. She wants me back on it because I'm again declining (emotinally and physically) since stopping the medicine. I know this medicine works very well for me but now I have a big fear of starting it again. The fear brings on anxiety and panic (thank goodness no panic attacks yet, they're so bad!). I don't know why I'm afraid of starting it again but I do know that starting off of my medicine is not an option anymore. Can someone please help?!

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Yes...approx. 6 weeks ago. Did not see much improvement until about 4-5 weeks, and I noticed my activity level had improved. I went from being able to walk about a half mile, without significant back pain to walking a mile or more. However, it has not been without side effects. I have tremors in my hands, and more headaches than normal, but for now, I am continuing the drug, since my back pain was so limiting my activity.....and I am enjoying the freedom of being able to walk and shop without having to rest every fifteen minutes.

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I have been put on duloxetine for fibromyalgia. Anyone know if it causes weight gain or cause trouble sleeping? Does anyone know if it actually helps the pain? I’m on 30 mg.

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Re: Deanie (# 80)

I was prescribed the same for nerve pain, and was on it for a few months. Did not like the side effects. Also, the side effects of quitting are quite challenging. After being off it for over two months, I feel it may have helped a bit with the nerve pain...but the side effects of headaches, insomnia, tummy issues, etc. were worse to deal with than the pain.??????

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Re: Trixy (# 11)

I have the same side effects when not taking any depression meds I’ve been prescribed

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Anyone out know about cymbalta? I've just been put on it a week ago. I was suicidal, not now. They just took me off ...

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I am in the later stages of RSD and have tried ALOT of Rx that haven't helped. Has anyone else taken cymbalta for RS...

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I have been taking Cymbalta for 6 yrs. along with Wellbutrin (150mg) Could it cause sores in my mouth? Could it cause my...

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I gained 68 lbs while on Abilify. Now four years later my weight is still 30 lbs over my normal. I still have some depre...

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I am 34 years old and have been taking anti-depressants for about 3 years. I started on Lexapro, which quit working afte...

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I am looking for someone who has been on this medication for a while. I would like to know how fast it works and if ther...

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I have been on Cymbalta for 7 yrs. For the last 4 yrs I've been on 120mg per day. I have dealt with many, many side ...

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Has anyone else experienced tremors while taking C? I look like I've got the DT's right after I get a dose. Also...

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I had a gastric bypass in 2001. I am on a higher dose of Cymbalta. Does anyone know if the absorption of this medication...

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hello, i am taking 60mg, and it hurts my belly, i don't want to eat or drink and feel nausea when i do try to eat or...

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