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Do I take Cymbalta or don't I?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Bdog63
Bdog63

I have recently been prescribed 30 milligrams Cymbalta per day to start. I've been reading so many things many good and many bad about the medication. I have had surgeries in my neck and have broken vertebrae in my back and have been dealing with pain issues for a very long time. Also deal with some depression. I know I have to make the decision for myself but I have a hard time adding another medication that is difficult to stop once you find it doesn't help or that you may have been helped to the point you no longer need it. Doctor consult with neurologist, my family doctor, and Pain Management agree that's Cymbalta may be helpful and I should try it. I don't know if I'm reading too many things on the internet or if I should just give it a try and if it doesn't work hope I can stop. Looking for anybody with a story about their experience with making the decision to start Cymbalta and how it worked for them for depression and or pain. Mostly looking to knock out the depression aspect of things. I have been told I need anoyher neck surgery while at the same time other opinions say the that the chance of fixing my problem is less than 50% through surgery so I have been doing a lot of physical therapy . I'm looking for cymbalta to help with depression and helping with pain would be an added bonus . Any experience that others may have had that we're good or bad please share. Im conflicted in whether to start cymbalta..Thank you

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Stormboy1
    Stormboy1 Bdog63

    Posted

    Hi bdog

    I'm taking duloxetin 30 mg per day for depression, pain, anxiety.

    I have now been on this med for 8 months. I find it helps with depression/anxiety. I was prescribed 30 mg per day with view of increasing to 60 mg per day, but I found on 60 mg I was having nightmares. So went back to 30 mg per day. No more nightmares, but vivid dreams, that's a normal side effect of this med tbh. I have in the past been on 30 mg per day and didn't have any problem giving up!! Everyone's different on any med. it's all to easy to read negative stuff and scare yourself. I can only give you my story of duloxetine and so far so good smile.

    Any side effects go away after around 4 weeks or so. But in my experience they were very mild. Had some sexual side effects i.e. ED. But soon remied that with a trip to the docs and was prescribed viagra. I also sleep well on it. I take my dose in the morning.

    Just in case your wondering if you can drink alcohol. The instructions say No alcohol!! I like a lager now and again. This med is prossesed by liver enzymes hence the no alcohol warning. Suppose it an individuals choice. Feel free to ask me any questions!

    Don't listen to all the horror stories on the internet. There's not many people come on here and give positive postings everything's always negative. There will be many like myself doing well on this med smile

    Gaz

    Scotland

    • Jakemje
      Jakemje Stormboy1

      Posted

      Was this your first antidepressant? If nit, what did you switch from. The reason why I'm asking is my prozac just pooped out, and I was on lexapro for almost a decade and it worked well till it stopped.

      So now I'm looking at cymbalta. Just trying to get some real life advice on it from someone on it

      I mainly suffer from gad and then panic attacks. Really no depression

      Thank you for anything you can tell

      -Matt

    • Stormboy1
      Stormboy1 Jakemje

      Posted

      Hi Jake

      I had tried many antidepressants over the years,but tbh never ever gave any

      Of them a chance,due to the side effects that come with this type of

      Medication. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012, I Also suffer from

      Anxiety/Depression. Duloxetine is the only antidepressant that I have been able

      To tolerate. I only take 30 mg daily and find it makes me less anxious!! And more care

      Free. All in all I find it works fine for me. But as you will be well The internet

      Is full of negative stories about any medication. Everyone is different

      So if your considering taking duloxetine make up your own mind. I found

      The side effects to be very minimal,apart from the sexual side of things

      But that was soon sorted with a trip to the docs smile 30mg is low dose but works

      OK for me, tried 60 mg daily but couldn't tolerate it. So make your own mind up.

      Let me know how you get on.

      Garry

      Scotland

    • Bdog63
      Bdog63 Jakemje

      Posted

      This is the first antidepressant medication I've taken but I'm taking it for musculoskeletal pain after failed surgery Syndrome has now been diagnosed for surgeries in my neck and broken vertebrae in my back. I have been going through 15 years of pain management shots physical therapy Etc. I've been on pain medication to help me work so I can provide but do not want to take any more opiates than I currently take as they become ineffective overtime and I'm looking for some kind of relief other than telling me I need another surgery which after several surgeries and no luck do not want to do. I do suffer from depression because it's very difficult to have had so many things done and things just get worse and more painful so I'm willing to try just about anything before any surgery. I read forums and find that some people are happy with the medication and some hate it. I personally am not sure if I'm experiencing any relief from the pain and I'm hoping that I get some effect the depression that comes with all of this. Thank you for your response.

    • jan35856
      jan35856 Stormboy1

      Posted

      What side effects did u experience on 60 mg please?
  • Stormboy1
    Stormboy1 Bdog63

    Posted

    Hi Bdog

    I Have been taking 30mg daily for 9 months now, and find it works very well for me for Anxiety and depression. In the past I have takin it for around 9 months and stopped over a 2 week period with no problem. You will mostly find negative stories on the internet. But as you know everyone's different.

    The only side effects I had were very mild in the first week or so. Felt abit jittery but that soon went. So make up your own mind and don't scare yourself with other people's horror stories.

    30 mg is a very low dose. I went upto 60 mg but could tolerate it so just went back to 30 mg. feel free to ask me anything.

    Garry

    Scotland

  • UKSteve
    UKSteve Bdog63

    Posted

    Hi Bdog,

    Late to this thread.

    just wondered whether you decided to take the plunge with duloxetine

    and if so what's your experience has been with this med for pain and depression?

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