Cymbalta...do you take it?

[yvette]

I'm considering asking my PCP for cymbalta for IBS related issues (D mainly) and I'm wondering what experiences you all have had taking it and how much are you taking? I realize Dr.s usually prescribe lower dosages for pain or IBS than say for depression. I was hoping jsut to get some feedback whether in your opinion you thought it was a good or bad drug to take.
Thanks!
y.

[Georgia L]

My doc just switched me from celexa to cymbalta. She said that it would not only help with depression / anxiety it will also help with nerve pain related to my IC and fibro. She started me on Lyrica at the same time. One or both of them is making me sleepy headed all the time.
I do think it has helped with anxiety but not sure about pain at this point.
Best Wishes!

[leelee88]

yvette,
I have been taking Cymbalta now for 2 months along with Elavil, I have see an improvement with my pain in my ureatha area and some with bladder pain.. I do no it makes me constapated, so maybe it will help your IBS-D..

Best of luck, I hope it works for you...

[ChrissySunshine]

Hi Yvette, I've been taking Cymbalta for about 5-6 weeks now. I'm just now beginning to notice a [I]slight[I] difference in my pain levels. It's really too early for me to tell if it's gonna be effective or not. My doc told me to stay on it, as it is a very good drug.....we'll see.... I've heard that others have had really good luck with it...I'm hoping for the same, and if you try it I hope it will help you!

[feresp497]

I have been on cybalta for 10 mts. It has helped me alot. I feel good if i follow the ic diet pretty well. I am on 60 mg. I wonder if they give you a higher dose. I have no side effecs with it. I take it in the morning so I will feel good all day. I am going to ask the doc for a higher dose. I mostly have pain in the urethra area. I don,t think the medicine reaches quite that far so I hope a higher dose helps.

[Elle]

I'm on 90mg and have found that it does help. I started out taking it with Lyrica, in addition to my regular pain meds (MS Contin and Ultram). I had to stop the Lyrica b/c I would sleep for several hours after taking it and feel groggy for the rest of the day. The Lyrica did help a lot with the nerve-type pain, but soon stopped working even at 150 mg 2x a day.
I don't think you could go wrong w/ the Cymbalta. It's really good for IBS-D and I like it b/c it doesn't cause any drastic weight changes.

[feresp497]

Elle, thank you for ansering. Do you still take pain meds. or only when you eat something wrong as i always do. Do you take cymbalta in the morning or at night and do you take it all at once. thank you

[bunnykinb]

I was curious on Cymbalta helping for urethral burning without the weight gaining side effect of Elavil which I am currently on.

[Briza]

Yvette
Back in January my dr started me on 30mg and I was supposed to increase to 60mg after a couple of weeks. Almost immediately I was very tired and was practically falling asleep at work all week, and taking a very deep nap during lunchtime...head on desk and out like a light. Also falling asleep by 7 pm and not wanting to wake up for work at 6 am and needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open while driving to and from work. For me it was like taking Ambien and having to try to stay awake and function. That was the effect it had on me. The doses I was prescribed were for depression, pain relief would have been an added bonus. I started Celexa 40 mg and Buspar for anxiety last week and so far no side effects but also too soon to see if these meds will help me with anxiety and depression. Best wishes

[sunshine_77us]

Cymbalta

I have been taking 30 mg of Cymbata for several months. I've had no side effects and wondering if it should be moved up to 60. It does not make me tired or sleepy but none of my medicine does that. I have trouble sleeping. I tried Ambien CR but it didn't help at all so I quit taking that.

[yvette]

Wow you guys are flippin' fantastic! Thanks so much for you replies and your detailed results...I'm actually going to see my PCP today and see if she'll prescribe it (as I got dumped my Gastro, which I am fine with BTW). Its seems you all did pretty well with it, and no major difficulties to speak of.

Thanks again
hugs,
y.

[bunnykinb]

For those who have been on Cymbalta for more than 2 months, does it help with urethral burning? Does it make you feel hungry? I am really tired of feeling hungry all the time with Elavil. My butt even feels bigger now. My husband said I am too thin and it is good for me to gain weight. But, what I tell him is that a few pounds isn't bad but the pounds will just keep adding up.

I am feeling depressed because my urethral burning has started up again either because I am trying to cut back on Elavil or just because. Also, I am getting the run around with the insurance company saying that I only have a co pay for the primary care doctor and specialist then the insurance comes back and says that I a co pay for using the facility. That means I have to pay double for one visit. I see a specialist inside a hospital and now that hospital wants to collect a co pay too. I may need to switch uro's again even though my current uro is the chief of urology of a university which is good for me. The facility is also a research center. If I am forced to go back to a regular uro, I feel that I am back tracking.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[leelee88]

Bunnykinb,

I have been on Cymbalta with Elavil, I want to try to get off Elavil, because of so much weight gain, so what my GYN suggested was to take 60mg of Cymbalta in the morning and 30mg at night, I am so scared to get off Elavil, because I know it works.. I will let you know how it does because I have to loose the weight, due to highblood pressure and other health problems..


Now as far as the burning, no it does not help..What helps me with that is drinking water and taking tums...
Now I also have another kind of burning and I have recently discovered that it was coming from PFD.. I wrote an article about PFD here on the ICN.. you should check it out and see if you have any of those symtoms..Good luck and I will keep you informed about the getting off the Elavil....

[bunnykinb]

I was in continous pain from July 2006 until mid Dec. 2006 with constant urethral burning. I currently get DMSO which is a killer. I told the uro I didn't think they help but he wanted to continue. Anyway, I started Elavil at 10 mg on 11/30/06 which was suggested by another IC patient. Within 2 weeks, I felt so much better with no pain. From 2/11/07 to 3/11/07, I had absolutely no pain whatsoever. Then, early March, the major sweet cravings struck. I can't work or think with feeling hungry all the time.

Please PM me or post a message here to let me know how Cymbalta is doing for you. I know it takes awhile to know how medications react. We could be fine with IC, but then the meds create another problem.

[ladylin]

thanks!

I am so glad you asked this question! The PCP just put me on this and I didn't know a whole lot about it, she said it should help with my depression and pain, etc. Although I have only been on it for a few days, I find that it wears me out! And I can't take it at night because I have too many night meds But anyway, I also want to thank everyone for posting their replies!