Prior to being dx. w/pmr, I was taking an antidepressant for several months as with all the medical problems I've had this past year, I was finding myself in quite a 'funk'!
After my diagnosis, I started doing alot of research and learned that 'Cymbalta' might work better than what I was on (Paxil), as cymbalta was also used for nerve pain. I thought that would be kinda a two-4!
Now, given how strange I've been feeling, ie, weird heartbeat, not being present, lightheadedness, etc., I'm wondering if cymbalta may be the culprit! I sure didn't feel this way before!
Has anyone else had experience w/cymbalta, or antidepressants in general in combination w/pmr/pred?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
Hi Lynda, I have been diagnosed PMR for exactly two years now and I am down to 2mgs prednisolone - as of today! Because I am disposed to low mood I have taken Flouxetine (Prozac) for 32 years and have not found any reaction to the addition of prednisolone to my meds regime. Having said that clearly the symptoms of PMR do include being very fuzzy headed, absent and extremely tired, all of which I am.
I have got down to 2mgs through quite a few set-backs most of which I have kicked my way through, I am, I know however relatively fortunate in the level of my illness and hopefully my recovery from it.
Hi chrissie, interesting you should mention prozac! Decades ago I was on that for about 6mo or so. I had very good results with that and no side effects that I can remember. Actually, I was thinking of inquiring about that in a few weeks when I see my doc. Till then, I stopped taking cymbalta 3da. ago (on my own😕
. So far, so good. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the tusch over the next several days!
Seeing my Rheumy on Wed. and hope to start my taper from 15mg then!
Wish me luck!
I just took my last Cymbalta on Saturday. I did not have any side effects from it. And it certainly didn't take care of any of the pain that I'm in which is why I started taking it in the first place. I went up to 120 mg a day when I finally stopped taking it. Oh and I tapered off it as my doctor instructed. I was on it for about 3 months. I did not take it for PMR pain, I took it for my back pain. It didn't help with either one.
Hi lynda62707
Did you taper off the cymbalta. If not and you stopped cold turkey you will get adverse side effects when stopping without tapering off them.....good thoughts keep strong..
If you can get your hands on it, I recommend a book I'm currently reading. You may find it very interesting. I will try to post it in a separate answer as I think in the past posts recommending books got deleted. If moderated I will private message you.
Lost Connections, discovering the real causes of depression - and the unexpected solutions,
Lynda, I was prescribed Cymbalta and having heard bad things about it, did my own research and refused to go on it! It has dreadful side-effects and getting off it is pretty nasty! Think you should Google Cymbalta and see if any of your symptoms match up! You'd ready have to wonder how Pred, Cymbalta and antidepressants would work together, or against each other🙄 Even though we think our docs pay attention to the interaction of drugs, I really don't think they do! I was prescribed Lyrica and Solpadol together and I felt like I was on Acid, (and let me just state for the record, I've never taken acid!!), only comparison I can come up with, absolutely herrendous!! Said it to the rhumy and he just said, you're very sensitive to drugs aren't you???!!! I do dispair at times 🤔
Hi amkoffee, thx. for the info. It hasn't much helped with my back pain either, however, I did stop taking it abruptly a few days ago so I'll just have to wait and see if my body decides to revolte!
YIKES! Cold turkey! So far, so good, but it's only been a few days. I'm going to ask about Prozac next appointment.
I don't know, this is all such a balancing act. Trying to figure out what works and what doesn't; weighing out the benefits v side effects; it's Really Quite Exhausting!
The only thing I can count on these days, is my ability to laugh and sometimes see the ridiculousness of all this!
Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!😁
Thx Anhaga...please do so. I'm interested in getting as much info as possible!
Lol lol....you're "trippin" Mrs. H! For the record, I've never done acid either (or any other drug, and as a child of the 60's, that's saying ALOT!
Gonna try to go on Prozac when i next see my doc.
I will Google cymbalta!
The depressive mood may well have been part of the PMR - it is a listed symptom. Unless you have another condition that is causing "nerve pain" are you sure you need it? It often helps in fibrolyalgia but not really in PMR.
It isn't recommended to stop taking cymbalta "cold turkey" - it can cause withdrawal symptoms:
https://www.prohealth.com/library/cymbalta-warning-discontinuing-may-result-in-severe-withdrawal-symptoms-32550
Ughhh! Just checked the link you sent me. Pretty scary! I'm gonna put a call in to my doc as soon as I finish typing this.
So far, (it's only been a few days) I've not yet experienced any w/d symtoms from stopping cymbalta, but I'd sure like to avoid doing so!
And yes, as I said, prior to being dx. w/pmr, I was having alot of back pain (along w/other joint pain). So when doing research for antidepressants that I felt I needed cuz of all the medical problems I was starting to experience at the time, I came across cymbalta which I (and my doc) thought might kill two birds with one!
Again, Ughhh! This just keeps getting more confusing all the time!😱
Book title and author appeared above, no problems. It was published 2018 so nice new book!
I was given cymbalta after PMR diagnosis and had palpitations and nausea. I immediately discontinued it.
Haha was definitely trippin, and wouldn't want to again😳🤪
Which is OK - it's stopping it suddenly after a time that isn't, exactly the same as pred!