Neurontin and Cymbalta combo.. new for me and awful.. feedback?

@cjspizz. Hi.. thank you.. I was on Pristiq for quite awhile, started in 4/16 and it had me sweating, taking naps.. zoning out.. The reason for the Cymbalta is terrible cervical neck stenosis causing nerve pain symptoms for over a Year now.. Neurontin at 100mg doesn't seem to do much.. it can make me more nervous.. Clonopin at 1mg or some days some more, doesn't have much effect.. Been on that since 1993. I took the Cymbalta this am, 20 mg.. and am downright restless and agitated, not able to sleep much last night, some sweating.. My Twin is under a lot of pressure and doesn't really mean it. she also suffers from Depression and Anxiety.. but it is very hard to take constant verbal, emotional abuse all the time. Neurontin at 300 mg had me very tired, dizzy, zoned out and feeling somewhat suicidal. It took me about two mos. to get off the Pristiq. Slowly lowering the dose and then off of it. Thank you again for your advice!

@jeanmnyc It sounds like you have a constellation of conflicting/overlapping issues. I have the same situation. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Except, I still don't think you deserve to put up with "constant verbal, emotional abuse all the time." It's not helpful, and you deserve better.

@cjspizz Hi.. Yep I do.. sorry.. You did help.. thank you for the support.. I agree.. I am in serious financial difficulty.. long story and we are Identical twins.. but it has not been helpful.. This Board helps greatly. I spoke to my Psych today and she said stay with the Cymbalta for another week to see if my body and brain get used to it. If I still have bad side effects, stop.. The Therapeutic dose is 60mg and I am on 20mg for now, as I am so drug sensitive. I also had her threaten to dump me last Tuesday after almost 20 years. I agreed to let her take care of my Twin years ago, monitor her meds, as she didn't really have anyone then. My Twin keeps repeating some of her sessions and what my long term Psych has to say about me.. Also we are fighting too much and I don't really blame her for wanting to maybe not treat one or both of us.. Just very hard to find anyone these days halfway decent. I hope Vybrid works for you.. I wanted to really try that one, but for now the nerve pain and discomfort won out.. but we will see. Thanks again!! We all need to support and give each other advice.

@jeanmnyc , hello! How are you today? I saw your post and said to myself "I just have to tslk with this girl!"
My story is long and complicated. Suffice it to say, as an Autistic person without a diagnosis until late in life ( my fifties) this girl here has been through her fair share (Is there anything fair about depression?) of stress, verbal abuse, anxiety, and depression.
I somehow managed until my thirties but was put on medications so strong I had to crawl to my bedroom to go to sleep. The instructions said "Take right before bedtime." Well, I did. But then I waited twenty minutes or so. Uh oh. I could not put one foot in front of the other. I was swaying back and forth, fearful that I would end up fslling down the stairs.
Thus began my love/hate affair with medical treatment. I hate taking pills. I hate everything about it. Some are lifesaving. Those are important. I don't mess around with them. Others are negotiable. With my Fibromyalgia, I only take the really Big Gun drugs during a severe, and I do mean severe flare. I have informed my angel of a doctor that they make me stupid. Mama dont like stupid. Give me the pain. I'd rather have that than make stupid decisions because I cant think straight.
Now here we have Neurontin and Cymbalta. I take both. Low dose of Cymbalta helos keep rhat nasty old depression at bay. Helps manage Fibromyalgia, too. Neurontin? Here again, it has its advantages and disadvantages. I try not to take too much, because I need to lose weight, not gain weight. My Arthritis Specialist gives me a fairly high dose, but he knows I will only take it if my pain level is a 14.
I have tried anti depressants that made everything worse. Wellbutrin was added for me, because I was having some breakthrough depression, and even suicidal ideation. I do very well with that. I am active in my church, my community, I homeschool, play instruments, and I read everything I can get my hands on about Autism, Depression,Anxiety, and Health. My special interests are important to me.
I have people in my various groups who encourage and support me. The people here are wondwrful. It is like a second family to me. If you see something on these pages that you think might help you, talk with your doctor. Dont take our word for it. Everything we say doesnt work for everyone. But you can see if any of it helps you and thats what we want. To help you.
Sorry this is so long! Take good care and I hope that you will start to see some improvements. You are worth it and you deserve it.
Mamacita

@parus Hey Parus, hows your day? I’ve been pretty busy. Seems everyone keeps coming in and “treating” me! I’m always late for PT or OT. I’ve finally got some free time before supper. Don’t know what culinary delight they will serve. Oh no! They’ve come with a CPAP and a diuretic! My night will be hellacious!!!!

@mamacita, Wow firstly thank you for caring and responding!! So inspiring.. I HATE taking the damn pills period!! I believe they changed me and my personality and even thinking.. I so HATE Neurontin. I took it 3 times yesterday , 100mg AM.. was so nervous and agitated, then some darn Clonazepam.. 2-3 small doses.. I just started the Cymbalta, 20 mg on Monday. I chose it for the nerve pain from the cervical neck stenosis. I took 200 mg of Neurontin last night to aid in sleep, it had been a few nights without a lot of sleep.. I had to find a Pharmacy near me that had the right generic brand of Clonopin. I was on a new generic and I was not responding well to it. Sorry I ever took it 26 years ago after a perm. job loss. It screws up your thinking and you feel just like a wet noodle at times.. Like you, I am trying to lose wt., not gain..

I am stuck at 158-160 despite not wanting to eat very much at all during the day.

I also have IBS and Small intestinal Bacterial overgrowth, which can also add to wt. gain. I have hypothyroidism for the last 30 years or so.. that can also have a major effect on your mood, anxiety, etc.

I feel invisible these days and like my Life has passed me by at 60.5.

My career in Medical Admin. most likely over now.

Lost my career, retirement.

I used to work for Sloan-Kettering twice.

Our Mom had Lewy body dementia and was a lung cancer survivor and then she got that horrible disease.

I was her first major caregiver and coordinator..

I took time out from Sloan-Kettering to do that.

Our Dad was sick at the same time.

I was only 37 at the time.

Some days, I fear I have early dementia since ca. 2010 or so.

I think it is more the depression and wrong meds, the Clonopin, etc..

We will see regarding the Cymbalta.

I just started it.

I do NOT want any more wt gain, insomnia, anxiety, etc.

You start taking other meds to counteract all the darn side effects..

You are such an inspiration!!

Thank you for replying to me.

I am terrified now at 60. 5, no job, no money of my own, no retirement, no Significant other, no children..

Just my Twin Sister who does verbally, emotionally and sometimes physically goes at me.

We are both guilty of that..

Too much major stress for too many years and major traumas.

I feel like a Pariah in my own building of 37 years and community of 37 years..

She is paying all the bills..

I hate that I let the anxiety and depression and pleasing my Family rule..

A bit in tears as I type this.

I have an older Sister, just 13 mos older disown me and my Twin Sister.

Very hard for me, as I did everything for everyone at every time in my Family.

I planned her Wedding at the same time our Mom was being treated for small cell lung cancer in 1987.

I ran to Chicago to help take care of my newborn Fraternal Twin nephews..

She has everything now..

I am so heartbroken some days.. I just wonder why I am still here.

The Neurontin I find when I increase the dose makes me so down and almost suicidal..

I am also heartbroken over a past BF. He seemed to have the most in common with me.

Online dating..

He suffered from Anxiety, bad and had some depression.

He dumped me a week after he met me.

Also with the depression comes a lot of anger and regret..

I have had Friends, employers, Family and Boyfriends use me and then just throw me away.

I am now fighting to feel better and for my identity.

I got terminated from MSK in earl 2007 and was shocked and stunned by it.

I never really got over it.

Our home in NYC is in major jeopardy now and there is no affordable housing to move to.

I have wanted to leave NYC and this small community I am in for Years now.

Feel trapped and buried alive too many days now..

Fight everyday not to give up.

Thank you again for your inspiring and very supportive post.

Jean

@jeanmnyc Hey Jean, I wish you were feeling better. We have lots in common. I’m thinking of you! ..............Karen