I am on 90 mgs. of Cymbalta and I do feel it helped, mostly at first. I have other things going on as well and I think if I just push to exercise almost everyday, that helps as well. I do feel sometimes that the Cymbalta as pain relief has worn off. I think it helps the depression but I also feel that it might give me insomnia and reduce my appetite. I think I would have to go off to see if it still was helping as much. Overall, I think it is. Sometimes I feel like it causes me to sweat, though or get overheated easily.

It's okay really. I think you might have to try a higher dose if it doesn't work out the way you would have hoped it would.

I've had Fibro for years and years - I just learned that Cymbalta can help this. I am on Effexor already for depression and was still moderately depressed. Then my doctor added Cymbalta to that. It has been 5 weeks and I am doing much better.
By the way - did anyone tell you that Elavil makes you want to eat nonstop? I gained a lot of weight while I was on it.

I tried it. I couldn't stand the side effects. I was on it for a month and then tapered back off of it. I ouldn't eat a single thing without force feeding it and being very careful not to get dizzy, it made me VERY nauseated. Also, it's just me but Elavil type meds don't work on me, so I became depressed, go figure!

I heard it was a good thing if it works...but not for me.

tribes.tribe.net/9d84084c-...161f99acbe

my mother details her experience with this drug, and there is also a link to mayo clinic's info about it

Hi......

I currently take Effexor XR 375mg per day (the max dose) and a small dose of Prozac, 20mg. I had heard about Cymbalta and even though it is labled for depression, one of the un-labled uses is for pain associated with Fibromyalgia. I had to completely wean myself - under doc's supervision - off of the Effexor because she told me that I could NOT take both at the same time. When I finally got onto the Cymbalta, my depression spiraled down until I felt rock bottom after six weeks. I told/asked my psychiatrist to please put me back on the Effexor ASAP.

It didn't work for me, it made my situation worse. But, after reading everyone's posts, it does sound like it helps some people.

For sleep, I take Klonopin, Sonata and Seroquel.

Melissa.

Anyone used it? do you love it? Hate it?

I"ve been on 60mg of cymbalta since it first came out. I aske my endocrinologist about it after i had heard about it at a NAMI meeting. (National Alliance for Mentally ILL). My son, who died in Aug, was bi-polar and an addict...

Anyway, for me, it has helped my mind tremendously. My pain, is hard to tell as i was in so much stress caring for my son and then he died. It's been 9 mos. since his sudden death (his heart just stopped) and am finally feeling better physically...the pain is never ALL the way gone but i am able to function.

At this time i am also on vicodin es as i have to have surgery on both my knees..i have to use a walker and i'm only 50!

Nothing takes away all the physical pain. Or i should say nothing i'm willing to go on..right now.

I also have degenerative disc disease, and bone spurs and arthritis.

Luckily my doctor does believe in fibro and he is conducting a study. (he is based in Reno, NV)
I am part of a National study because of him. I feel sooo blessed to have found him. He totally understands.. he is not like any other doctor i have ever met. if you need 10 mins. w/ him ..you got it..if you need an hour he takes an hour with you.!!

It is still too early for me to say cymbalta works on my physical pain...because i am taking the other as well.

One thing i'd like to say is...remember everybody's body system is different. Not everyone will react the same to one drug as another will. Sounds simple but not everyone realizes this.

Also, my doctor does not believe that exercise is good..necessarily..depending on YOUR condition. He told me this after i told him swimming was starting to wear me out.. the only form of exercise that i could cope w/ doing. So i lightened up on swimming and have felt somewhat better...hard again, tho, to really know since i lost my son... all i do know for sure is my physical pain was worsening when i swam..all of a sudden it worsened.

I do garden & do walk as much as i can..but then i have to rest up for up to 2 days afterwards depending on how much i do.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

This is fhe first time i took a brand new medicine w/o fear. AND my doctor explained to me that it isn't all that NEW...it combines several ingredients that have been in older medicines.

At first i had some weird side effects such as sweating and nausea and feeling a bit strang(er) lol..but then..w/in a week , in the beginning, i felt much much better mentally.

Hope i make sense and i know i'm responding late to this Isaiah's question but i just found this group.

Good luck to all.

: )

Carol

Hi.....

I meant to add that when I had to go off of Cymbalta, it really sucked and I felt TERRIBLE. When I told my doctor, she said 'oh, yes, it does cause flu-like symptoms' She would not let me begin another antidepressant until I was weaned off of the Cymbalta completely.

I am much happier on Effexor XR.

i've been on cymbalta for about a year now. i was on the highest dose of effexor for 9 years - not a good idea, people. i went thru the worst withdrawal i have ever had when i went off effexor - i had to take 2 weeks off of work. i switched to cymbalta. after my withdrawal experience with effexor, i didn't want to be on anything, but my depression came back, so on cymbalta i went. it's been fine. the doc upped my dose this spring. cymbalta is relatively new - lilly marketed it as a antidepressant that curbs the physical pain effects of depression. i don't know if i buy that. i didn't feel any extraordinary pain relief from it. it does help my depression though.
i was on elavil for a while and that did not work for me at all. i currently have a baaad sleeping problem, and i am going the mayo clinic in 2 weeks for a sleep study. i can't wait.
anyway, if you have to be on an antidepressant, cymbalta is fine, but it works in the same way that effexor does - on the seratonin side, so you will feel withdrawals much quicker if you miss a dose. good luck!