I am curious. Why are people willing, even eager, to take unproven, unregulated and sometimes unknown supplements, based on ads on TV and promotions on the internet, but reluctant to take well-tested and highly regulated medications prescribed by a trained doctor?
I am in the medical field and I would beg to differ on the "well tested" part of prescription drugs. Many of them were tested on male populations, some are fast tracked, and many of them seem to have side effects including death!?
Have you listened to the adds on some of these newer drugs. Your psoriasis will get better, maybe 70%, but your kidneys might fail and your immune system will be compromised, etc etc etc! There are studies done on many vitamins/minerals/natural supplements. Often these are done in other countries or Learning institutions because there is no money to be gained for big Pharma. They can't patent natural. No money means less studies and more synthetics.
I am curious. Why are people willing, even eager, to take unproven, unregulated and sometimes unknown supplements, based on ads on TV and promotions on the internet, but reluctant to take well-tested and highly regulated medications prescribed by a trained doctor?
So this means trust the FDA and other Gov. lobbied agencies selected stamp of approval as harmless? They rubber stamp them after testing and list the possible side effects that many say including death. Sure I'll try a over the counter vitamin over those first! Nothing works for everybody, so proven is all subject to the individual, not questionable single sided test polls.
We know many trained doctors have the same view of the drugs they prescribe, let's try it and see. That makes me a willing lab rat. Why? PAIN! Despite addiction being the biggest side effect.
I've been on Cymbalta for about two years, for nerve pain. It reduces, though doesn't eliminate, aching and electric-shock type pain. (I also have gut pain from autonomic issues, for which it does nothing.) I don't have any noticeable side-effects. I tend to be less depressed when I'm in less pain (duh!), so I don't know if the anti-depressant aspect of the drug has helped me directly or only indirectly.
I've been on Cymbalta for about two years, for nerve pain. It reduces, though doesn't eliminate, aching and electric-shock type pain. (I also have gut pain from autonomic issues, for which it does nothing.) I don't have any noticeable side-effects. I tend to be less depressed when I'm in less pain (duh!), so I don't know if the anti-depressant aspect of the drug has helped me directly or only indirectly.
Julie, I’m exactly where you are with Cymbalta. Been taking it for years. Two years ago I took 60mg less, one pill. It was a process recommended by doc but at the end of the day no change in nerve pain or depression with the change. Agreed that I don’t know what comes first the pain or the depression. Whatever happens is so fast it’s impossible to separate the two. I’ve tried. Still taking it in case it helps. Good luck to. Keeping busy and engaged causes my focus to shift a bit with some relief…
There is a group on Facebook called "Cymbalta Hurts Worse" where many people with fibromyalgia report very negative experiences with Cymbalta. Basically it stops working after a while and the dosage needs to be increased. Side effects seem to be worse than the disease. Plus it takes years to slowly taper off safely. It's a closed group so any comments or questions you make on the site will be kept private.
I've been on Cymbalta for about two years, for nerve pain. It reduces, though doesn't eliminate, aching and electric-shock type pain. (I also have gut pain from autonomic issues, for which it does nothing.) I don't have any noticeable side-effects. I tend to be less depressed when I'm in less pain (duh!), so I don't know if the anti-depressant aspect of the drug has helped me directly or only indirectly.
@julie11, I was put on Cymbalta in the hospital stacked on top of many pain drugs. My depression was that no one was allowed close to me in fear of infecting a large area they were unable to close stomache. So even though I had visitors family and friends would stay in the corner. It did in fact help with this depression that was overtaking me. It may or may not have helped with pain. I agree it is very difficult to wean off. You are right in that being depressed can make pain worse, and has its own demons. We've touched on this fact on other drugs in this forum that while useful for acute conditions, long term effects of most strong drugs with have addiction and withdrawal pay back. Pain in this way is I guess is our body saying enough already. I hope doctors will consider this in getting patients off these drugs quicker, and not max the doses out without good cause.
I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and given Cymbalta. Made the fatigue and depression worse and made it impossible to function. Wanted to sleep all the time! Took for over a year and didn’t realize the effect it was having until I stopped.
Switched back to Wellbutrin, not as effective for pain, but helps with the depression and fatigue.
I was given it for pain many years ago and did not help with the pain at all plus I did not like the way it made me feel. I stopped cold turkey as I didn't know you were supposed to taper off.
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I am in the medical field and I would beg to differ on the "well tested" part of prescription drugs. Many of them were tested on male populations, some are fast tracked, and many of them seem to have side effects including death!?
Have you listened to the adds on some of these newer drugs. Your psoriasis will get better, maybe 70%, but your kidneys might fail and your immune system will be compromised, etc etc etc! There are studies done on many vitamins/minerals/natural supplements. Often these are done in other countries or Learning institutions because there is no money to be gained for big Pharma. They can't patent natural. No money means less studies and more synthetics.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsSo this means trust the FDA and other Gov. lobbied agencies selected stamp of approval as harmless? They rubber stamp them after testing and list the possible side effects that many say including death. Sure I'll try a over the counter vitamin over those first! Nothing works for everybody, so proven is all subject to the individual, not questionable single sided test polls.
We know many trained doctors have the same view of the drugs they prescribe, let's try it and see. That makes me a willing lab rat. Why? PAIN! Despite addiction being the biggest side effect.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 ReactionsI've been on Cymbalta for about two years, for nerve pain. It reduces, though doesn't eliminate, aching and electric-shock type pain. (I also have gut pain from autonomic issues, for which it does nothing.) I don't have any noticeable side-effects. I tend to be less depressed when I'm in less pain (duh!), so I don't know if the anti-depressant aspect of the drug has helped me directly or only indirectly.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 ReactionsJulie, I’m exactly where you are with Cymbalta. Been taking it for years. Two years ago I took 60mg less, one pill. It was a process recommended by doc but at the end of the day no change in nerve pain or depression with the change. Agreed that I don’t know what comes first the pain or the depression. Whatever happens is so fast it’s impossible to separate the two. I’ve tried. Still taking it in case it helps. Good luck to. Keeping busy and engaged causes my focus to shift a bit with some relief…
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsThere is a group on Facebook called "Cymbalta Hurts Worse" where many people with fibromyalgia report very negative experiences with Cymbalta. Basically it stops working after a while and the dosage needs to be increased. Side effects seem to be worse than the disease. Plus it takes years to slowly taper off safely. It's a closed group so any comments or questions you make on the site will be kept private.
I tried Cymbalta for pain, and it did nothing for me.
@julie11, I was put on Cymbalta in the hospital stacked on top of many pain drugs. My depression was that no one was allowed close to me in fear of infecting a large area they were unable to close stomache. So even though I had visitors family and friends would stay in the corner. It did in fact help with this depression that was overtaking me. It may or may not have helped with pain. I agree it is very difficult to wean off. You are right in that being depressed can make pain worse, and has its own demons. We've touched on this fact on other drugs in this forum that while useful for acute conditions, long term effects of most strong drugs with have addiction and withdrawal pay back. Pain in this way is I guess is our body saying enough already. I hope doctors will consider this in getting patients off these drugs quicker, and not max the doses out without good cause.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue and given Cymbalta. Made the fatigue and depression worse and made it impossible to function. Wanted to sleep all the time! Took for over a year and didn’t realize the effect it was having until I stopped.
Switched back to Wellbutrin, not as effective for pain, but helps with the depression and fatigue.
I was given this drug for pain. It did nothing so my Dr told me to taper off of it, which I did.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI was given it for pain many years ago and did not help with the pain at all plus I did not like the way it made me feel. I stopped cold turkey as I didn't know you were supposed to taper off.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions