I Will Not Let My Fibromyalgia Run My Life
151 Members
Created by Michelle Lacienski

I need information

Hi everyone, this is my first post.  I need your help with something.

I'm not a fan of anti-depressants and would rather stay as far away from them as possible, but my doctor keeps pushing me to take cymbalta.  I should point out here that I am not depressed, not does my doctor think I am, she has just read that it can be used for pain control in people with fibromyalgia.  I've been trying to find some information about this but I have yet to come across anyone with fibromyalgia who was put on it for any reason other than depression.

I'd like to know:

For anyone taking cymbalta, has it done anything to control your pain or increase your energy levels?

Is there anyone here taking cymbalta not as a treatment for depression?

What kind of side effects have you had?

Thanks

CAD

 

39 months ago
Results 1 - 5

  • claire

    hello there

    i started seeing a consultant rheumy who specialises in fibro and he put me on this around july time, i dont suffer from depression either but in low doses this can be great for easing fibro pain in some folks, personally its been great for me, some nausea first few days i took it but that soon went, now id say im 30% better than i was pre cymbalta

    I dont think its done anything for my energy levels though

    hope you find meds that are right for you

    x

    39 months ago

  • Andrea

    Fluoxetine is Prozac.....read the side effects before you take that..  Google any and everything your Dr. tries to prescribe you....

    38 months ago

  • Lynnette

    I am so afraid for everyone taking drugs like cymbalta and savella. Serotonin and norepinephrine are powerful neurotransmitters, and the balance of substances in the brain is delicate. Everything must be exact or we have trouble. I study the brain every day as a trauma/neuro nurse and have become kind of convinced that the whole "Prozac Nation" thing has lead to many of our chronic problems. Don't get me wrong-I take zoloft and many other meds. Just because I need them now doesn"t mean they didn't help cause my problems. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon now that fibromyalgia is the "in" illness. I take lyrica and I worry alot about long term effects, but it is in a class of meds that has been around and studied a long time. The new meds that effect norepinephrine are terrifying to me because we won"t hear the horror stories until it's too late. Just read everything, good and bad, about these drugs before trying them. And remember-doctors listen to what drug reps tell them.

    35 months ago

  • Deetzah

    Well I have had experience with a wide variety of  anti-depresants and none helped me do anything but get fat! Lol. I have had some success with some herbal stuff on From Fatigued to Fantastic web-site...I take the Calming Balance for anxiety ( I know you don't have that) but I think it helps my pain when I am not anxious. Also, I have been wanting to try the End Pain formula .  It is an option anyway. Please do look up everything your doc prescribes you. I agree with a lot of others who posted: docs are trained to listen to drug reps. and drug reps want to make money off of our illness. So, while it may work for some it may not work for everyone. Bottom line: make an informed choice. Do some research and do what you think is best for you. I have heard some say Cymbalta is great for their pain.  I personally would not take it.  Best wishes to you while you make your choice.

    35 months ago

  • Jennifer

    I have had a good amount of positive experience with anti-depressants.  I have always been prescribed them for Major Depression, which I was diagnosed with when I was very young. 

    I began experiencing symptoms of FM when I was in my late teens and when I stopped taking the antidepressants for a few years the pain increased and I noticed it got better when I started taking them again.

    When my husband and I were trying to conceive, I stopped taking my antidepressants for 11 months.  My FM became unbearable.  I had to use a cane to walk even from my room to the bathroom and really felt a walker would do a better job.  I could hardly hold myself up the pain and fatigue was so bad.  I could rarely shower and I was in hell basically.  I started taking the Wellbutrin and Celexa again and the pain decreased to a bearable level. 

    Now, Cymbalta specifically, I was on that about 4 years ago, prescribed by a leading NY neurologist for FM (off-label at the time).  It did help with the pain, but I became emotionally numb on it so I stopped taking it after about 8 months. 

    35 months ago

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