Cymbalta Users - Please Write

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:29 am

Hi All,

After alot of investigation in the cause of over 2 years of "D" and diagnosis of MC, I have discovered that I really believe that Cymbalta usage is responsible for my MC (CC). If you read under the topic of anti-depressants and MC I just really discovered what I think is happening.

I'm interested to hear if any of you currently take Cymbalta and if you found out that it either caused your MC or made it worse.

Also very interested to find out what you changed from Cymbalta to that helped. I realize that it is probably different for everyone, but maybe I could find out from you all, what to try. I know Tex said that SNRI's should be avoided. Are there serotonin uptake drugs that are NOT SNRI's?

Please advise. This is a major breakthrough in my investigation. I'm so excited!

TXBrenda · Post by **TXBrenda** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:12 pm

Hello,

Cymbalta did not cause my MC. Received MC diagnosis in 2003. I took the maximum dose (180 mg) for about 3 years. The last year I have been stepping down my dose & I'm now down to 30 mg. I retired from a stressful job about 18 months ago. That is why I'm able to cut down the dose. I see my doctor on the 28th & I hope he will agree to let me stop it completely.

Sorry I'm not able to help you with replacing your medication unless you consider retirement as an option. Lucky for me I had that as an acceptable alternative.

Good luck in your search.

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:19 pm

Hi Brenda,
I suppose it's different for different people. I tried going off of it myself once but it was NOT PRETTY. I think slowly decreasing the dosage maybe is what I should try. I have OCD and with the meds, it's been kept in control. But it's possible now that I could eliminate it and the OCD wouldn't be an issue. Thanks for your note.

jgivens · Post by **jgivens** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 12:35 pm

Birdlover,
I took Cymbalta back in 2005 well before my diagnosis (last month) of MC (CC-type) as a result of some awful neuropathy I had following nerve damage after a foot surgery. It was a fairly new drug back then. I started out at a small dosage and it made me horribly nauseous, but I was told that it might, so I stayed with it for 2 weeks and as the nausea was getting better, the drug reps told me and a doctor friend of mine that I needed to go up on the dosage. The nausea came back and with it lack of appetite. I remember that the day I started on the higher dosage, it was a Saturday and my husband was at home. It really turned me into a zombie. I still had the neuropathic pain, and nausea as well but didn't care because it "mellowed" me to the point that I literally sat and stared out the window all day. I just remember that it scared my husband who kept coming to check on me periodically and all I could do was smile and tell him I was okay. Obviously, NOT a good drug for me and I think I quit it that day.

Given that a common side effect with Cymbalta and many of the SSRIs is nausea, I can understand that it might NOT be such a good drug for people with MC or a propensity for MC. However, everybody is sooo different it is hard to say what triggers anything.

Good luck with your investigation. I think we all must feel like detectives hot on the trail of something!

birdlover3 · Post by **birdlover3** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:55 pm

Thank you Jane.
It's really been a good drug for me and I didn't experience any of the side affects that you had at all...people are so different aren't they? The "D" is the only bad thing I've experienced (if it is, in fact, because of it). I'm going back to my GI tomorrow so hoping he will have some answers! I appreciate your time explaining your experience.