Pro's and Con's of Cymbalta

[dawn3063]

If you currently take or have taken Cymbalta would you list your Pro's and Con's of the medication? I have been on Cymbalta 60mg now for almost 1 year. My neuropathy had initially decreased with it in the beginning but now it doesn't seem to be working as well and my depression seems to be rearing its ugly head again. My PCP Wants me to increase my dosage to a total of 120mg but I have heard many bad things lately about the withdrawal effects after long term use.
I also take Wellbutrin 300mg, Topamax 100mg, Norco 10/325 as needed, Ambien 10mg, Zanaflex 4mg, Zantac 300mg, Relpax for migrains.
Thanks
Dawn

[mrsD]

I am very skeptical of Cymbalta. Lilly hid negative events from their drug trials with it, including a person who committed suicide on Lilly property who was in the "normal" group using it. It was a young woman in college.
http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/cymbalta

Cymbalta does not improve neuropathy. It just changes your perception of it.
It is basically like Effexor, it is a me-too drug. Only Lilly was clever and did some
studies with diabetics and got approval for it for diabetic neuropathy...so it would look like a competitive edge to doctors, who of course jumped at it. All SSRI/SSNI's have been used for pain relief, and Cymbalta is not special in that regard, chemically.

All of the drugs that work on depression, mood, psychiatric issues, all affect certain neurotransmitters. What researchers learned many years after these were approved (often with only weeks of data behind them) is that the brain accommodates to the drug and shifts the ratios of neurotransmitters around.
For example SSRI's downregulate dopamine.

Your Wellbutrin works primarily on the dopamine system, and the Cymbalta
on serotonin and norepinephrine. So those two drugs are affecting 3 systems for you. And at this time we don't know what exactly happens then.

Your decision to increase doses is yours. But I remain skeptical...since we really only have learned a little bit about what is really going on inside.

Also use of a triptan drug like Relpax with SSRI drugs should be done carefully, at this time because data is confusing about it:
http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/Record%20Viewing/vR.aspx?id=547347

http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=1947
Venafaxine is very similar chemically to Cymbalta.

Cymbalta remains the only SSRI that causes liver damage. This should be tested for, and raising doses, increases that risk.
Also SSRI drugs have recently been implicated in osteoporosis ...new studies show causation for them in reducing bone density.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_261/ai_n13471771

[dawn3063]

So Much Mrs. D... I really appreciate your advice on this... Could you list some of the more proven/safer neuropathic pain meds that I could suggest to and discuss with my Dr. I have been wanting to discontinue the cymbalta for sometime now and I know it is very important to taper off this medication slowly so I will do this under my doctors supervision but I would like to discuss other options with her as well.
Thank you again.
Dawn

[mrsD]

Come over to PN and checkout useful websites...I have a list of drugs there,
to start looking over.

Have you tried any of the nutrient supports?
B12
Bcomplex
magnesium
l-carnitine
Alpha lipoic acid
Gluten Free Diet?

[junk4myemail]

30mg first week, 60mg after first week.

Pro's - hides pain in knee somewhat - just started though

Con's - dry mouth, slow reaction time (bad while driving), jittery, still have pain when doing too much

I was on a lower dosage for the first week and by the end of the first week my tolerance seemed to have been raised enough to have it not affect the pain in a positive way. Then my dosage was doubled (probably to normal) and I was able to do water therapy without too many problems (definitely not like before the meds).

[InHisHands]

Cymbalta has helped me with my migraine headaches, but I have gotten a really dry mouth.

HTH! Best wishes, Dawn! :hug: