Cymbalta??

[emzee]

Has anyone had experience with this drug? My dh who has diabetes and neuropathy was prescribed this yesterday by the neurosurgeon. He said to give it a try and see if it helps with his neuropathy pain. Anyone had results with this medicine?

[emzee]

chock, maybe you should talk to your doctor about switching to another anti-depressant. Never know, maybe a change could help.

[Chock_Full_o__N]

wannavolunteerFT wrote:


The interesting thing to me is how often chronic pain and depression seem to go hand in hand.. help either and the other has to get better. I know when I was in constant pain, I was not a happy camper.

I have to agree with this. Chronic pain is demoralizing. It has a way of taking over your life. I have had chronic pain in my feet for years, sometimes better and sometimes worse. Lately, it's my knees. When the pain starts to color every decision you make--"do I have enough energy to do 20 minutes of grocery shopping? Do I have enough reserve to get all the way back to the parking lot and into my house? etc"--it really starts wearing down your psyche. Pain sets us apart from others who don't have pain and don't understand why we don't want to do things. Once isolated, it's hard to get back into the groove again.

I take an anti-depressant for chronic depression. Cymbalta did not work for my arthritis pain, so I take something else. It doesn't directly help the pain but it should put a shot of sunshine into my moods!

[wannavolunteerF]

I know Tom_Diane mentioned that Cymbalta is an anti-depressant and that is correct. But is is also prescribed for chronic pain without going "off label". It has several approved uses, and chronic pain is one. It works differently from pain killers and narcotics. I have been taking it for several years now, and it really seems to help. If I really overdo it, I do occasionally have to take a "real" pain pill, but only rarely.

The interesting thing to me is how often chronic pain and depression seem to go hand in hand.. help either and the other has to get better. I know when I was in constant pain, I was not a happy camper.

[emzee]

If you go to the Cymbalta website it will show all the different symptoms Cymbalta is good for. Peripheral neuropathy is one of them. My dh also take Gabapentin.

[Tom_Diane]

I know the question was a about Cymbalta but it is an anti depressant. I take Nortryptaline for neuropathy. Must be something in anti depressants that deal with neuropathy symptoms

[Pirate1]

After years of pain and experimentation of different meds such as lyrica and other anti-seizure drugs, pain clinic had my wife try cymbalta. It works for her real good with no side effects. She has MS.

[emzee]

Thanks, seems to be more positive than negative so far. Appreciate it folks.

[Chock_Full_o__N]

I have not taken it, but my mother has been on it for about 4 years now. She has diabetic neuropathy in her feet and it really seems to help her. She didn't have as much relief with 30 mg, so now she's on 60mg.

[emzee]

raindove wrote:
I have fibromyalgia too. My dr gave me samples to try and it really helped. However, when I went to get it filled, my ins co would not pay for it. They wanted me on a cheaper drug. Tried that, didn't work. So I am back to square one.

It's too bad when something helps a person with pain, but their insurance won't let them have it.

The doctor we saw yesterday also gave my dh samples. 30 mg for a week then 60mg. He also said that it is expensive but will be going generic the first of the year. 5 different company's will be making it so hang in there. He said it will be much more available for everyone.

[raindove]

I have fibromyalgia too. My dr gave me samples to try and it really helped. However, when I went to get it filled, my ins co would not pay for it. They wanted me on a cheaper drug. Tried that, didn't work. So I am back to square one.

It's too bad when something helps a person with pain, but their insurance won't let them have it.

[YC_1]

Yes, after ten years of pain I can function again. It can have some side effects if you miss a dose if you are on a high level. I weaned myself off of it and have begun using it again but at a lower dose. For fybromyalgia and other pain it is really an amazing drug. Taking other pain killers just did not work this well.