Thank you for your input. I am having right sided diaphragm pain and muscular pain. I am on 20 mg for 5 days and now on 40 mg for 6 days. Was hoping I could get by on a lower dose and did not know how long it would take to start working. Also treating anxiety and depression. But pain control is a big goal for me. Ty!
@crbarefoot I am on 20mg of Cymbalta (duloxetine) for anxiety and depression. This is a low dose that I have stayed on for a few years. I don’t take it for neuropathic pain so I cannot comment on that. It works for me for anxiety and depression. If I increased the dosage (at one time I was on 30mg) I get more relief from anxiety symptoms but I decided that I wanted to use my mindfulness practice and coping skills along with this lower dose. So I do get anxiety symptoms that are triggered for a situation or event and I use my skills. I can function and live a good life even when anxiety symptoms do occur because I know now how to manage. The Cymbalta helps to make anxiety and depression manageable. By the way, I haven’t had any side effects even when I started Cymbalta.
Are you taking something else for anxiety, depression and neuropathic pain and you are switching to Cymbalta?
Can you please explain your mindfulness practices and coping skills? How and where did you learn them ? My primary care wanted me to take Cymbalta but I always check any new medications interactions with present medications and I take Eliquis so Cymbalta is not for me. I do suffer with terrible anxiety. I take Xanax as needed presently. Thank you!
Can you please explain your mindfulness practices and coping skills? How and where did you learn them ? My primary care wanted me to take Cymbalta but I always check any new medications interactions with present medications and I take Eliquis so Cymbalta is not for me. I do suffer with terrible anxiety. I take Xanax as needed presently. Thank you!
@kathy513 There are a number of mindfulness practices that are helpful and it took me many times of practice to figure out what works for me. I now have a toolbox of mindfulness practices and coping skills so if one practice doesn't work then I try another.
It's important to practice these when you don't need them. Then you will have the practiced skill when you are feeling anxious because you've already learned how to practice these.
I figure it's like swimming. I learned to swim as a young child and I practiced a lot and took swimming classes. If I never fall into the water say from the side of a pool, pier or a boat I'd be less likely to drown because I already know how to swim and I have lifesaving skills I learned in these swimming classes. (this assumes the water is warm enough).
I have a practice where I combine mindfulness with cognitive/behavioral skills.
1) Aware - look around, be aware of your surroundings, look at what's around you and describe it to yourself.
2) Feelings - What am I feeling? This refers to emotions. Where am I feeling this in my body. I put my hand to the places on my body where I feel anxiety. This is most often in my belly because this is where adrenaline is released in the adrenal medulla stucture.
3) Thoughts - What are my thoughts? Pay attention to these thoughts? Are these thoughts rational? Reasonable? If not, how can I reframe these thoughts?
4) Breathe - I breathe at the end of all these steps however I am also taking slow breaths during this practice.
Here are some good mindfulness practices guided by Tara Brach. I learned many of my practices online from. her:
I learned many practices on my own after first suggested by a psychologist I saw many years ago. I also do Yoga with Adriane and she incorporates following your breath.
@kathy513 There are a number of mindfulness practices that are helpful and it took me many times of practice to figure out what works for me. I now have a toolbox of mindfulness practices and coping skills so if one practice doesn't work then I try another.
It's important to practice these when you don't need them. Then you will have the practiced skill when you are feeling anxious because you've already learned how to practice these.
I figure it's like swimming. I learned to swim as a young child and I practiced a lot and took swimming classes. If I never fall into the water say from the side of a pool, pier or a boat I'd be less likely to drown because I already know how to swim and I have lifesaving skills I learned in these swimming classes. (this assumes the water is warm enough).
I have a practice where I combine mindfulness with cognitive/behavioral skills.
1) Aware - look around, be aware of your surroundings, look at what's around you and describe it to yourself.
2) Feelings - What am I feeling? This refers to emotions. Where am I feeling this in my body. I put my hand to the places on my body where I feel anxiety. This is most often in my belly because this is where adrenaline is released in the adrenal medulla stucture.
3) Thoughts - What are my thoughts? Pay attention to these thoughts? Are these thoughts rational? Reasonable? If not, how can I reframe these thoughts?
4) Breathe - I breathe at the end of all these steps however I am also taking slow breaths during this practice.
Here are some good mindfulness practices guided by Tara Brach. I learned many of my practices online from. her:
I learned many practices on my own after first suggested by a psychologist I saw many years ago. I also do Yoga with Adriane and she incorporates following your breath.
@crbarefoot That all sounds like a good plan. Is Cymbalta what your medical provider recommended when you discussed tapering off clonazepam and gabapentin?
I had a dna test done and Effexor , Cymbalta and Prozac were the only 3 antidepressants recommended by my metabolism. Cymbalta was the best match for my metabolism and also hopefully a win win to gradually eliminate the gabapentin and clonazepam. Fingers crossed.
I am on 60mg of Cymbalta and it has helped me a lot with fibromyalgia and neuropathy pain. I have more energy and can get through my days now. The only side effect was when I started it I had a bit of nausea so doctor told me to take it after breakfast, which helped.
Thank you! I am wondering if I can get pain relief on 40 mg. I think I already feel better. I would like to keep it at the lowest dose possible. Glad you are doing so well!
Thank you! I am wondering if I can get pain relief on 40 mg. I think I already feel better. I would like to keep it at the lowest dose possible. Glad you are doing so well!
Yes, I think you can get pain relief from 40mg. I started with 10, then, 20, then 30, 40, 50 and 60 which is what two doctors recommended. I understand 120 is the highest dose and 60 is average.
Thank you! I am wondering if I can get pain relief on 40 mg. I think I already feel better. I would like to keep it at the lowest dose possible. Glad you are doing so well!
My neurologist prescribed Cymbalta for neuropathy pain a few years ago. I can't say that it gave significant pain relief, but it certainly improved my mental well-being. I've been taking Wellbutrin for 18 years, and several years ago added Mirtazapine. When I started Cymbalta I had motivation to do things that I'd had on my to do list for a long time. It's continued to be a stabilizer for my depression and PTSD. Even though it doesn't seem to help with my pain, I feel the difference in other ways.
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175 & no side effects
He also takes 600mg Gabapentin at night.
Can you please explain your mindfulness practices and coping skills? How and where did you learn them ? My primary care wanted me to take Cymbalta but I always check any new medications interactions with present medications and I take Eliquis so Cymbalta is not for me. I do suffer with terrible anxiety. I take Xanax as needed presently. Thank you!
@kathy513 There are a number of mindfulness practices that are helpful and it took me many times of practice to figure out what works for me. I now have a toolbox of mindfulness practices and coping skills so if one practice doesn't work then I try another.
It's important to practice these when you don't need them. Then you will have the practiced skill when you are feeling anxious because you've already learned how to practice these.
I figure it's like swimming. I learned to swim as a young child and I practiced a lot and took swimming classes. If I never fall into the water say from the side of a pool, pier or a boat I'd be less likely to drown because I already know how to swim and I have lifesaving skills I learned in these swimming classes. (this assumes the water is warm enough).
I have a practice where I combine mindfulness with cognitive/behavioral skills.
1) Aware - look around, be aware of your surroundings, look at what's around you and describe it to yourself.
2) Feelings - What am I feeling? This refers to emotions. Where am I feeling this in my body. I put my hand to the places on my body where I feel anxiety. This is most often in my belly because this is where adrenaline is released in the adrenal medulla stucture.
3) Thoughts - What are my thoughts? Pay attention to these thoughts? Are these thoughts rational? Reasonable? If not, how can I reframe these thoughts?
4) Breathe - I breathe at the end of all these steps however I am also taking slow breaths during this practice.
Here are some good mindfulness practices guided by Tara Brach. I learned many of my practices online from. her:
Tara Brach Guided Meditations:
-- https://www.tarabrach.com/guided-meditations/
I learned many practices on my own after first suggested by a psychologist I saw many years ago. I also do Yoga with Adriane and she incorporates following your breath.
Yoga with Adriene:
-- https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
Does these help explain?
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5 ReactionsWow! Thank you for sharing so much information. I will check into all of this!
Kathy
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4 ReactionsI had a dna test done and Effexor , Cymbalta and Prozac were the only 3 antidepressants recommended by my metabolism. Cymbalta was the best match for my metabolism and also hopefully a win win to gradually eliminate the gabapentin and clonazepam. Fingers crossed.
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2 ReactionsThank you! I am wondering if I can get pain relief on 40 mg. I think I already feel better. I would like to keep it at the lowest dose possible. Glad you are doing so well!
Yes, I think you can get pain relief from 40mg. I started with 10, then, 20, then 30, 40, 50 and 60 which is what two doctors recommended. I understand 120 is the highest dose and 60 is average.
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1 ReactionMy neurologist prescribed Cymbalta for neuropathy pain a few years ago. I can't say that it gave significant pain relief, but it certainly improved my mental well-being. I've been taking Wellbutrin for 18 years, and several years ago added Mirtazapine. When I started Cymbalta I had motivation to do things that I'd had on my to do list for a long time. It's continued to be a stabilizer for my depression and PTSD. Even though it doesn't seem to help with my pain, I feel the difference in other ways.
At this point I'm taking 60mg twice a day.
Jim
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1 ReactionThanks for your input.