Good results with Cymbalta

[leelee88]

Hello all,
I was just going to give you an update on the new medicine the dr put me on.
I have been on Cymbalta now for 2 weeks and I can honestly say it has help so much, I am completely pain free, I still have some urgency and pressure , but nothing like it was.
Well just wanted to let u all know it has helped..:smile tee

[ChrissySunshine]

Wow Leelee, completely pain free?! I'm sooo very happy for you! I have been wondering about this drug, it's so nice to hear your having such success with it! Thanx for sharing! :)

[SandyRN]

How long after starting the cymbalta did your pain go away? I have an RX for it that I've been very hesitant about filling....I'm so glad it's helping you!

Sandy

[glassd18]

Congrats to you!! I have 60 pills here that I was rx'd for IC, and I have trouble getting past the side effects. I think I'm going to try it again. I noticed you have Elavil listed too, are you still taking that as well?

[ICLori]

I'm so glad this is working for you! Thank you for letting us know! I thought it was working for me the first week to two weeks, but then it ended up causing me worse bladder pain. I have the worst luck ever on IC meds - I seem to have the opposite reaction of everyone else on the planet who has IC!

Blessings,
Lori

[leelee88]

Sandy it started working about 2 weeks after I started it, but also the Dr up the dose from 30mg to 60mg.

Glassed, yes im still taking Elavil 25mg at night, I have heard its not good to mix them, so I contacted my uro and Gyn and they both recomended me to stay on the Elavil and Cymbalta, they said I am taking such a low dose of Elavil that it would not hurt me also they seem to work better together, I trust both my drs and im not in pain, so im happy with my decision to stay on both:smile tee

[bunnykinb]

I was prescribed 10 mg of Elavil. After the first two pills, I felt really nauseated, so I cut the pills in half. I have felt good for 12 days on 5 mg Elavil then my burning came back. So, for the past 2 nights, I am taking the prescribed 10 mg.

Did any of your pain come back after the first two weeks of Cymbalta? If so, did your doctor increase the dosage?

[leelee88]

Hey Bunny,
The last couple of days I have been having some pain, but its not like what I was having, Its just a mild ache, but nothing that I cant get under control, but my burning has stopped, but I still have frequency and I still have the urge feeling even if my bladder is empty, but that to seems to be getting better..I pray it all will get better with time:angel:

[Briza]

wondering how well cymbalta works for depression and anxiety?

[leelee88]

Hey Briza,
Cymbalta has done wonders for my anxiety and depression.
My husband said he notices a big differance, says im alot calmer and seem more content.. and I have not had a crying spell since I have been taking it..
And I was having those about once a day..So I can say it has helped me alot!!

[bunnykinb]

Why would you take Elavil and Cymbalta together? Which one would be the one that has helped or has it been the combination of the two? How long did it take to start working?

I have my monthly and feel a lot of burning even though I have been on Elavil for 3 weeks.

Thanks

[leelee88]

bunny, I know its a combination of the 2 working, I have been on elavil before, for when I dg with vulvadynia elavil help with the flares of vulvadynia, and what i mean by flare is when it would get real sensative and feel like it was all on fire down there, but since i was dg with IC i was having pain in my pelvic and bladder, the elavil did not help with that, it was not until i started the cymbalta that the pain seemed to ease, also I was having a very strong throbbing feeling in my clitoris and that has seemed to ease to with the cymbalta. I take both because one helps with the IC and depression and one helps with the vulvadynia..

[jesamyn]

My pain specialist kept talking about Cymbalta but I am hesitant to take it because I feel like my depression is situational, not being able to get my pain and IC under control...but maybe I should give it a try?
Jesamyn

[leelee88]

Jes,
Cymbalta is not only for depression, it controls pain.. Think of it this way.......If you had a headache, wouldnt u take something to help it?

If you get your pain under control with your baldder.. think of how much stress that would take off you, and if you are less stressed then your baldder will settle down..If your dr is recommend Cymbalta you should really listen to him, because he is the dr and is trying to help you...

Well good luck with whatever you decided:smile tee

[sunshine_77us]

Jes,
Cymbalta is not only for depression, it controls pain.. Think of it this way.......If you had a headache, wouldnt u take something to help it?

If you get your pain under control with your baldder.. think of how much stress that would take off you, and if you are less stressed then your baldder will settle down..If your dr is recommend Cymbalta you should really listen to him, because he is the dr and is trying to help you...

Well good luck with whatever you decided:smile tee


I'm also having good luck with Cymbalta.

[kari1980]

I was just wondering from reading the posts, how does an antidepressent help with pain? I'm confused...My doctor recently put me on lexapro for depression, but it just made me too sleepy so I went off it..Then he put me on Zoloft, but I just don't really feel like it's helping too much yet, would those also help with pain or is it only the Cymbalta? Because if so, then maybe I will try them again, I didn't know they could help with the pain too!
Thanks,
Karen

[leelee88]

Kari,
To be honest I dont know how antidepressants help with pain, but I think its only certain ones, I know alot of people on here take Elavil, I take that also..

Now I do know Cymbalta was invented for people who had nerve damage due to diabetes, but found in trial test that it helped with depression..See I have some nerve damage, that is where my pain mostly is coming from, but I have noticed that it has helped my IC pian.. I do not have the sharp pains anymore just a dull ache.. Why dont you google cymbalta to find out more info on it, to see if you want to ask your dr about it...

[Briza]

I'm going to ask my GP about this one, Ronda, when I go for appt this week. Prozac is doing great for my depression but nothing for my anxiety levels and PTSD ....the plan is to try to find something that will help me with both so I don't have to take any anti-anxiety meds, or at least less than I'm taking now. I'm trying to avoid another psychaitrist appt, had a disastrous one recently that set me way back, so I'm going to read up on this one, too. I take Elavil occasionally, too, so it's good to know that that shouldn't be a problem, since I only take 10 mg and not everyday.

[Briza]

Got a month's worth of Cymbalta samples from my dr yesterday. Just taking 30 mgs for now, but supposed to go up to 60 mg at some point in the future. Took my fist one this morning. No side effects so far...will keep y'all posted on how it goes. Also got Rx for refill, but my dr said she's got lots of samples, so just call her and she'll let me have them since there's not a generic and I'll have a copay with my insurance. She said she has another patient with chronic back pain who has been able to cut back on her pain meds since she's been on Cymbalta. So we will see how it goes...I'm mainly looking for an antidepressant that will work for depression and anxiety...I can get my pain under control with my other meds, but if this one has the additional benefit of pain control, that would be a great side effect!

[leelee88]

Thats Great Briza!!
I hope you have as good as results with it as I did, Ive noticed it has helped my depression alot.. I use to cry about anything and I was always worrying about things..and I dont do that near as much now:smile tee Please keep me posted....

[Briza]

Well, in planning to go on Cymbalta, I went off Prozac for a week or so before I started the Cymbalta on Tuesday am. No side effects from the Cymbalta, but I can definitely tell my brain is missing the Prozac. I have what I call the brain fog/cloud right now...very tired and depressed...have been almost falling asleep at work practically 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. I've never had side effects like this from Prozac, so I'm hoping it's just the transitional period and the depression, and not a side effect of Cymbalta. I'll keep the faith in Cymbalta, knowing it will take some time to kick in, but right now, I feel like *#*%. :(

[Briza]

PS
My flare is over, so haven't been taking any meds that could be contributing to this sleepiness and brain fog. I haven't even been taking my anti-anxiety meds, I'm so tired.

[leelee88]

Well I hope it works for you like it did me,

But it makes me hyper not sleepy, just goes to show you how differant meds react to differant people..I am keeping my fingers crossed for you, because it has mad such a big differance to me, I actually have periods during the day where I feel normal....

[kjd]

Hi Leelee

I was just wondering if you doctor said if Cymbalta will work forever?? I am taking a very similar drug which works the same way and he said I can take it for life. i asked my doctor for cymtalta but they dont have it in England.
Do you know what has caused the horrible pain you have in your clitoris?

My urolgoist says its linked with IC and is caused by nerve irratation and damage???!!!
It makes me wonder how the damage/irratation gets there in the first place?
I thought it was only me who had these symptoms and I was going mad. Its such a relief to know that lots of other women have it too dont you think?!
xxx

[leelee88]

Hello Kjd,

My doctor said I could take Cymbalta as long as I need it..
And yes my doctor also said the clitoris pain comes with IC on some patients, but could also be nerve damage, I believe mine is nerve pain, because I never had this feeling before..I had 4 kidney stones right beore all this pain started, and he just a probe thing to extract them, but they had already passed..I believe he damaged a nerve while he was loking for the stones, because after that sugery I was never the same...

Let me add this, my uro is not the one who put me on cymbalta, my Gyn did and she also put me on elavil, my uro is an ass, He dg me with IC and more less said live with it...

Well hope you have a good day:smile tee

[jmcraig]

I was just wondering if any on you on Cymbalta has gained weight while taking it?

[blondie45]

I also would like to know about weight gain and also if anyone has any other noticeable side effects on it. I seem to get side effects from everything and therefore usually cannot tolerate taking anything for very long.

[leelee88]

I havent had any weight gain with Cymbalta..

But I have been having alot of sweet cravings, but I think thats the elavil, because I was on it before and had the cravings..

[Berkshire Road]

Give it a try. It's helping my depression, not so much my pain.

BUT -- a lot of insurance companies won't pay for it, and the cost is something like $400/ month. My dr. gives me samples.

[Briza]

My dr gave me samples, too, but I had to quit taking it before I ran out and needed to the Rx filled, so I never found out if it is considered just a brand name or a specialty med (EXPENSIVE). While on it, I was overcome with drownsiness and practically slept walked and slept thru the 5 days I was on it and for a couple days afterwards...so I'm back on Prozac and seem to getting back to feeling more myself. Prozac is great for my depression, no side effects,no weight gain, and FREE with my insurance since there is a generic. Better luck to those trying out Cymbalta, it just wasn't the one for me.

[bunnykinb]

I was wondering about the weight gain myself with Cymbalta. I read that most antidepressants cause weight gain probably because of cravings. I am taking Elavil 10 mg at night but have been taking 1/2 the tablet because I was getting so hungry even after eating.

Has anyone been just on Cymbalta and not have any cravings? I am thinking of asking my uro to give me Cymbalta because Elavil makes me hungry.

[Berkshire Road]

Well, elavil if famous for its weight-gain side effect. I'm on Cymbalta and I don't think it makes a difference either way in my appetite. But the neurontin -- that made me gain 40 pounds.

Come to think of it, I've been on the Cymbalta for a couple of months now, and recently my cravings have decreased. So maybe that's it. Check first to see if your insurance covers Cymbalta -- a lot don't.

[marymove]

I am so glad you are getting some relief with the combination of elavil and cymbalta. I was doig great with just elavil, but had a huge flare(ate grapes) and now I am having trouble getting things under control. Pressure, fullness and some new, annoying symyoms. I am like you, the elavil really helped my clitoris pain(which was the worst). But now, thanks to your positive post, I am going to call Dr. and see what she says about adding cymbalta.
Thanks and really hope this combo continues to work for you!

[leelee88]

Your very welcome Mary.
Just remb, some have posted saying it has made them sleepy, for me its just the oppisite, So if the doctor does prescribe it for you at least try to take it for 2 weeks, by then any side affects should have dissapeared..
My uro has added 30 mg for me to take around 4pm, ans I have noticed, that it has help with the pain I was haiving in the evenings and with my sweet cravings.. I just hope it continues to work for me, because it has really gave me some sort of normal life...At least I am having some good days now:smile tee

[Wolfe]

Hello, Everyone.

I haven't been to this forum in over a year. I did learn from you wonderful people that antidepressants irritate the bladder. I think I've tried every one there is in the 17 years since my diagnosis. I just went off over-the-counter 5-HTP, which really helped with energy and mood, but was, of course, starting to give me bladder flares. I had been on it for 8 months.

I went off Cymbalta 15 months ago, after having been on it for 6 months. I didn't have insurance, and it was just too expensive.

I have insurance now and am considering going back on Cymbalta. I personally believe Fibro (which I also have) is a brain chemistry imbalance, and antidepressants would be a godsend -- if they didn't burn up my bladder! My rheumatlogist loves the results she's getting with Cymbalta on Fibro and wants me back on. Of course, she wouldn't give me anything else for sleep either. I had to get Ambien from my GP, and finally sleeping has been a MIRACLE.

In the time I was on Cymbalta:
It made me a bit hyper, so I had to take it in the morning.
I gained about 20 pounds (which I thought would melt off when I went off it, but they didn't!)
But it DID help my mood and it did not, in that amount time, bother my bladder at all. I don't recall having any side-effects from it other than the energy that kept me from sleeping. But switching to mornings helped, and now I'm on Ambien for sleep.

I hope this info is helpful some of you, and I appreciate all that I'm learning from YOU! :hi: