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Cymbalta and paralysis

Posted , 5 users are following.

caroline271
caroline271

Hello to my fibro friends, you may recall that I have joined discussions relating to cymbalta/duloxetine and side effects but principally that in December I was hospitalised due to a severe adverse reaction followed by several episodes of collapsing with paralysis which has traumatised me. My GP, neurologist and ED staff are puzzled by my signs and symptoms but I am convinced that it was the cymbalta that interfered with nerve conduction to the muscles although my theory has been frowned upon. According to the FDA there have been 3 reported cases of paralysis due to cymbalta and I would like to communicate with anyone who either knows someone or has either experienced similar side effects themselves or of any way I can get in touch with someone who has reported their paralysis to the FDA or used the yellow card system in the UK?

Many thanks in advance, Caroline

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Trogford
    Trogford caroline271

    Posted

    I take Cymbalta and was quite concerned to read an article, a link to which is attached below.  Hyponatraemia can cause paralysis.  Anyhow, I thought I would share this and hope it is useful.  I hope it doesnt scare you too much but really you should these things checked out.

    http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?B1=FACEBOOK&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=facebook_article&libid=20104

    • caroline271
      caroline271 Trogford

      Posted

      Many thanks for taking time to reply and to look into hyponatraemia. During my hospital admissions my bloods were checked and my sodium level was ok. I do believe that the cymbalta itself affected the nervous system. At the time it was as though someone had flipped my power switch and my energy zoomed to near zero then I was unable to move and barely speak for about an hour when my muscles slowly began to work again. There are many drugs which can cause this to happen but with cymbalta, this is rare but reported to the FDA.
  • MahiFish
    MahiFish caroline271

    Posted

    I experienced this exact set of symptoms two different times after taking Cymbalta. The first time I ended up in the VA ER, and was released after my body started working again without any idea what caused it. The second time was 4 years later while I was being treated in an inpatient facility, and was prescribed Cymbalta again. The very next day I experienced the exact same thing and went to the ER again. I was taken off Cymbalta, but kept other meds, and haven't experienced anything like that again. It was two of the most terrifying nights of my life.

    • caroline2712
      caroline2712 MahiFish

      Posted

      Hi; I haven't been on the forum for a long time so I apologise for the late reply.  I felt that I had to try to  move on from what happened 2 years ago  so I moved away from the forums  and changed my job.  Things haven't changed; I'm still traumatised by what happened. Every time I pass ED;  see an ambulance  or December  16th arrives; it brings back the events which were the most terrifying I had experienced. It started  when I collapsed then my body started jerking uncontrollably with spasms; fast breathing; high blood pressure and heart rate 178. The paralysis started 6 days after I was taken off cymbalta while in hospital; I collapsed in a bundle on my bed unable to move. I couldn't dpeK aloud; only a whisper and couldn't attract anybody; eventually the nursing staff came to do a drug round. I could hear them talking about me, saying I was over medicated and even though I told them I couldn't move they kept saying I had to help them . I was later discharged. 

      I then collapsed at home  lthe next day ; the ambulance staff  treated me appallingly. One stood by and the other kept shouting at me and telling me to move. I couldn't for almost an hour when my body slowly started to work again. Even the power to speak was affected .  Im still  affected by what happened. and the lack of care  and continuous shouting.  For months I panicked when I saw an ambulance  or ambulance staff. Even now but the panic is less. In my last job I had to call the ambulance team to transfer patients and I would  almost panic, afraid in case it was the team who  shouted at me and talked  about moving me into the dog basket as I was on the floor. When I was taken to ED by another team, the doctors said I could go home even though I couldn't move and needed 2 doctors to support me to examine me.  They just didn't know what was wrong as my blood tests came back ok.   Nobody came back to see me for over an hour so when I could move I left. The staff were busy; we were wondering whether to say  we were going but I felt that they thought I was a fraud.  I'm sure it was drug induced myasthenia caused by the cymbalta. The signs and symptoms tally.  I do hope you recover soon from what happened;did you put in a red card to the FDA? 

      Caroline the 

  • Suzetooz63
    Suzetooz63 caroline271

    Posted

    All these drugs scare me.  I had problems with Cymbalta and Lyrica.  Lyrica was really scary.  I would just suddenly "drop" to the ground (like a mini blackout?).  I am currently not on any RXs but will probably have to try something again since I have been feeling really rough again.  Good luck.

  • kiara92968
    kiara92968 caroline271

    Posted

    Hello. I was recently diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and was prescribed Cymbalta. After a few weeks of taking it, as I had many side affects off the back, I woke up one day and fell. I couldn't get back up. I was taken to the ER in VA and ended getting sent back home without a walker or any help of rehabilitation. Now I am still in the same position and bought my own walker. Its a shame how care providers treat you. Its been a real struggle. I do understand and I will report it to the FDA.

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