Cymbalta | Arthritis Information
Had my Orencia infusion/appointment today. Saw the RD and he isn't happy about the chest wall pain I am still having. He wants me to try Cymbalta. Does anybody else take this for nerve pain? I know it is an antidepressant med. and asked him if he thought I needed it for that reason. Dr. said no, I am using it for nerve pain. Never heard of it being used that way before....I have been taking it for 3 years. Dr thought I was depressed and put me on it and also said it will help with the pain I have. Which it does help. It takes a few weeks to get working but it's worth it. Yep, I take Cymbalta (60 mg.) for peripheral nerve pain. Although I don't have diabetes, it is frequently prescribed for diabetics who have peripheral neuropathy. I've been on it for about 3 years, and I can't really say for sure if it helps by itself, as I'm on Gabapentin also, but the combination does seen to help.
One word of caution though...the first 3-4 weeks when I started taking it, I was extremely nauseated. After about a month, my body adjusted to it, and I've not had that problem since.
Good luck if you decide to take it!
When I first started taking it I was very sleepy. I took it at night and slept like a baby.That's interesting CinDee, my doc told me to take it in the am!! I have pherphial neuropathy but also depression so it seemed like an obvious choice for me. I also take Lycria as well, so not sure which one is helping the most but as Brisen said, the combo seems to work.
Uses of psychotropics in patients with chronic pain
|
Class/drug |
Uses |
Limitations |
Antidepressants |
Neuropathic pain, tension and migraine headache, FM, functional GI disorders, pain comorbid with depression/anxiety |
NE/5-HT reuptake inhibitors are most effective for analgesia; side effects (TCAs may be least tolerable); drug interactions |
Anticonvulsants |
Neuropathic pain, migraine headache, central pain, phantom limb pain |
Side effects (sedation, motor and GI effects, rash); drug interactions |
Benzodiazepines |
Muscle relaxation, restless legs syndrome, anxiety, insomnia |
Abuse/dependence potential; sedation |
Lithium |
Cluster headache prophylaxis |
Not effective for episodic cluster headache; risk of toxicity if dehydration occurs or with certain drug combinations |
Stimulants |
Opioid analgesia augmentation, opioid-induced fatigue and sedation |
Abuse/dependence potential; overstimulation, anorexia, insomnia |
Stimulants |
Opioid analgesia augmentation, opioid-induced fatigue and sedation |
Abuse/dependence potential; overstimulation, anorexia, insomnia |
Antipsychotics |
Neuropathic pain, migraine, cancer pain, delirium |
Limited data; risks such as EPS and TD may outweigh benefi ts |
EPS: extrapyramidal symptoms; FM: fibromyalgia; GI: gastrointestinal; NE: norepinephrine; 5-HT: serotonin; TCAs: tricyclic antidepressants; TD: tardive dyskinesia |
Source: Adapted from reference 3 |
http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/article_pages.asp?AID=6431
Antipsychotics for Acute and Chronic Pain in Adults
October 14, 2008
New from PubMed: Treatment of chronic pain with antipsychotics as adjuvant analgesics has been a controversial issue for years. Producing a state of altered awareness (neuroleptanalgesia) with a combination of an opioid analgesic and an antipsychotic effectively relieves symptoms in some acute pain patients, but has been shown to negatively affect disease course and mortality in unstable angina patients. Patients with chronic headaches, fibromyalgia, and diabetic neurophathia have also sought relief from antipsychotics. With a new class of antipsychotics available with fewer extrapyramidal side effects, researchers from the department of neurology at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria postulated that there may now be additional benefits with less risks for chronic pain patients seeking relief from antipsychotics. After gathering data on 770 acute and chronic pain patients through 11 different studies, researchers found that administration of an antipsychotic significantly reduced mean pain intensity for patients compared to placebo and other active compounds. Extrapyramidal effects (involuntary movements, parkinsonism, akathisia) and sedating effects were the most commonly reported adverse effects of the antipsychotic. Researchers concluded that antipsychotics may be useful as an add-on therapy for the treatment of chronic and acute pain, but potential side effects should be taken into consideration before prescribing.
Read the full abstract on
Pubmed Thanks for the above info. Glad to know that others take it as well.
It does NOT agree with my stomach. I took it last night and woke up 2 hrs. later and got sick. I'll try again tonight. Needless to say, throwing up does not help with the rib/chest wall pain.
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