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Has anyone ever been on Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for nerve pain?

Posted by dougs72 @dougs72, Jun 22 7:24am

Has anyone ever been on Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for nerve pain? I've had 2 doctors push this on me. I know that the side effects can be terrible and getting off of it difficult as it requires titration. One time I remember taking one pill, and not liking the way it made me feel, so not taking any more, and still feeling the "weirdness" from it 2-3 days later. and that was only 30 mg Please pass along any experience or advice from this medication?

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dougs72 | @dougs72 | Jun 24 12:06pm
In reply to @emo "Lyrica is in the class of drugs known as anti-convulsants because it’s believed to block abnormal..." + (show)
@emo

Lyrica is in the class of drugs known as anti-convulsants because it’s believed to block abnormal electrical activity that causes seizures. An older drug that’s available in generic form but said to be more sedating is gabapentin.

These should be drugs the doctor who’s treating you for your nerve pain would be familiar with; even a PCP can prescribe them. They’re pretty commonly prescribed for nerve pain or other chronic pain.

They’ve also been found to be useful for nerve pain and fibromyalgia or other chronic pain, because they’re thought to prevent the release of certain chemicals in the brain and nervous system that contribute to pain signaling. Basically these are all a way to attempt to turn down the volume of the pain signaling in your central nervous system. There are non-medicinal ways to achieve the same goal, but not as simple as popping a pill, and sometimes not as effective or as quick.

But as @ripley pointed out, they also need to be tapered slowly if you try to get off of them. Honestly, any pain medication you look at for chronic pain other than some anti-inflammatories will have similar side effects because they work by altering the chemistry in your brain and nervous system. Some people find them to be very effective, but if you’re looking to avoid the risks, the only other way is to exhaust every other intervention first.

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Thank you for all of this. The more information I have the better!

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dougs72 | @dougs72 | Jun 24 12:07pm
In reply to @AlwaysHopeful "I was on Cymbalta for 6 weeks and decided to taper off because of side effects..." + (show)
@AlwaysHopeful

I was on Cymbalta for 6 weeks and decided to taper off because of side effects and little pain relief. Since Cymbalta is a capsule, tapering consisted of carefully prying the capsule apart and removing some of the beads and then putting the capsule together and. throwing away the beads It was a difficult and complex experience. I often wonder if the medical staff who prescribe these medications that have horrific withdrawal symptoms know what they are doing. I went for over 3 weeks removing the beads. It was worth it in the end because I didn't suffer. After that experience, I always investigate the ease of withdrawal of any Rx I'm prescribed. Never again. If you want interesting reading, google "Cymbalta withdrawal reviews".

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what were the difficult side effects that you experienced?

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1 reply
emo | @emo | Jun 24 6:03pm
In reply to @dougs72 "Thank you for all of this. The more information I have the better!" + (show)
@dougs72

Thank you for all of this. The more information I have the better!

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No problem, that's how I am too! Good luck with your decision, and we'd love to hear how it goes when you decide to move forward.

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slip275 | @slip275 | Jun 25 3:35am

Hi,
I started taking Cymbalta 3 years ago. I had tried so many drugs to relieve the searing, burning pain in my legs and for other chronic pain. On the morning of the third day of taking Cymbalta, I awoke to NO burning in my legs. This drug has been a miracle for me. As a few more days passed, my awful heel pain that doctors said was Plantar Fasciitis, totally disappeared and has never returned.
Regarding side effects, I felt a little more brain fog for about a week but that soon passed. Cymbalta allows me to live my life, handle my ADL’s and socialize again. Before Cymbalta, I was in too much pain to function.
As a note, I will add that I tried Lyrica and found no benefit from it at all.
I know that we all have different journeys and I hope you find a drug that helps you as much as Cymbalta helps me.
Blessings and Joy,
Karen

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dougs72 | @dougs72 | Jun 25 12:08pm
In reply to @slip275 "Hi, I started taking Cymbalta 3 years ago. I had tried so many drugs to relieve..." + (show)
@slip275

Hi,
I started taking Cymbalta 3 years ago. I had tried so many drugs to relieve the searing, burning pain in my legs and for other chronic pain. On the morning of the third day of taking Cymbalta, I awoke to NO burning in my legs. This drug has been a miracle for me. As a few more days passed, my awful heel pain that doctors said was Plantar Fasciitis, totally disappeared and has never returned.
Regarding side effects, I felt a little more brain fog for about a week but that soon passed. Cymbalta allows me to live my life, handle my ADL’s and socialize again. Before Cymbalta, I was in too much pain to function.
As a note, I will add that I tried Lyrica and found no benefit from it at all.
I know that we all have different journeys and I hope you find a drug that helps you as much as Cymbalta helps me.
Blessings and Joy,
Karen

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Thanks Karen-

Outside of the plantar Fasciitis, What other pain issues related to your back were you experiencing? What was the cause of your leg/back pain? Also how many mg of Cymbalta to you start at and did you have to increase?

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sweaver61 | @sweaver61 | Jun 25 2:25pm

I was given Cymbalta for Chronic pain from the first pill I had severe heart burn. I already take Nexium for GERD but this was intolerable burning. We were on vacation and I wanted to make sure it was the Cymbalta that was causing this so I didn’t take it for a day. Immediate relief, next day same. I decided to stop taking it all together. BIG mistake!! I became so ill we had to cut the vacation short. It was deabilitating pain, nausea, headache just awful. Now I know why they say to not stop taking meds without doctors help. Thankfully after two weeks I was back to normal and know that Cymbalta is not for me.

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Always Hopeful | @AlwaysHopeful | Jun 28 10:05am
In reply to @dougs72 "what were the difficult side effects that you experienced?" + (show)
@dougs72

what were the difficult side effects that you experienced?

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Go to the Mayo Clinic web site and search Cymbalta for info about this medication. Side effects will be listed.

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celia16 | @celia16 | Jun 28 6:03pm

I talked to my therapist (talk therapist) about starting this med yesterday. My neurologist prescribed it. I felt my therapist explained how it works, why and how stopping it down the road works. I told him about all the things I have read and he addressed them specifically. I’m so glad I did that. I feel much more comfortable about it now and will start taking it when I’m ready, which should be soon. I’ve had some improvement in some symptoms and not in others, so I hate to mask those before my next doctor appointment.

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srush | @srush | Jun 29 9:07am

I have been on duloxetine for ~25 years for neuropathic pain. I receive very little pain relief. I have gone off twice — not terrible. But I did (perhaps) notice a bit of pain increase when off the drug. So, since my feet and legs are truly terrible with burning and aching, I have gone back on sort of “just in case” it is helping. Like most of us, I would try just anything and, in fact, I have… Terrible pain.

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cantab | @cantab | Jun 29 12:25pm

I’m on Cymbalta now. It has taken off the burning sensation on my lower thighs but not the pain from unused muscles. A helpful benefit is that it’s an antidepressant which helps lift my spirits.

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