DEPRESSION AND FIBROMYALGIA -- Treatment for both with Cymbalta or other drugs?

[tslvtwins]

My doctor is switching me from Effexor to Cymbalta because my depression is not being well managed right now. He chose Cymbalta for both its anti-depression and pain relief capabilities in Fibromyalgia. Has anyone with depression and fibromyaglia had any succes with Cymbalta? How about other drugs and/or alternate treatments? thanks

[paul m]

Hello tslvtwins. I take a lot of meds because I have bipolar and I cannot take antidepressants regularily so my choices are limited in the treatment of my fibro, others may have better solutions.

I find that I do much better(with my fibro) when I can exercise regularily and I can keep my stress levels down. I don't exercise as hard as I should, but I do find that a couple of walks a day make a difference. In my area there are exercise classes for people with fibro and the folks that I have talked to say that they are beneficial

In regards to stress, I take lorazepam on a as needed basis, my problem being I don't always take it when I need it. I also have learned to try an manage my stress by using some common sense. I have problems with crowded rooms for example, so I try and limit my time in such places and I'm always near a door. I limit the amount of coffee that I drink as and sugar isn't the best for me either. None of the above will cure fibro, but it all helps.

The biggest help with my fibro was getting a good nights sleep. I didn't think that I had a problem, but a rheumatologist thought otherwise and reffered me to a sleep clinic. Turns out I have sleep apena(both kinds) and I now use what is called a cpap machine every night. The difference that it made was large, I would say about a 50% reduction both in overall pain and the number of severe occurances. It didn't elminate it, but it sure helped.

Waits for a sleep clinic are long, but they can really tell what quality of sleep that you are getting. Most sleep clinics are covered by ohip as is part of the cost of a cpap machine. Take Care. paul m

[Aurora]

Hi tslvtwins,I actually was on Effexor in treating my Bipolar & Depression & changed to Cymbalta as well.Not because I was having problems with the Effexor but so I could be tried on Cymbalta to try to manage my Fibro pain.Am also on other things for my Fibro as well as Arthritis for pain managed.Have been on the Cymbalta about 8 mths now & it does seem to help some.Just have to not overdue it when i'm feeling good the doctors tell me,they say i'll pay later if I do & I do.Iam also on another antideppressant call amitriptilyn(don't think I spelled that right)as well as a muscle relaxent & tylonol 3-3 times a day.Also am on Arthrotec for my Arthritis.That's about all I know about it.Hope that helps.

[tslvtwins]

thanks to all who replied. I appreciate your sharing. Hoping Cymbalta will help pain

I am concerned about switching from Effexor to Cymbalta so abruptly stopping 150mg of Effexor on Saturday and starting 60mg of Cymbalta on Sunday. My doctor told me that I will feel bad for a few days because the Effexor is out of the system before the Cymbalta is working.

Aurora, how did you switch from Effexor to Cymbalta? Was it cold turkey like I am supposed to? How bad did you feel, for how long till the Cymbalta started working?

[uni]

Hello tslvtwins. I'm not sure I understand your last post; is your doctor suggesting you abruptly stop the Effexor? That sounds dangerous to me, and a recipe for becoming pretty sick, even considering you'll be going directly onto Cymbalta. Is yours a psychiatrist or a GP? A psychiatrist should be up on this, but a GP not so much. Of course I'm not a doctor, but I am concerned for your welfare. Good luck this weekend in any case!

[Aurora]

Hi tslvtwins, They did the same to me on my change over.Just dropped the Effexor & straight on to the Cymbalta.I don't remember really being being to sick from it.Just the general pain I was used to.Was a little more tired /out of sorts, but don't remember being in more pain.They were I think in full affect in about a month & the pain started to get less but I also still had my other pain meds to take the edge off.I still have my bad days but over all the Cymbalta has helped some with the pain & as far as the antideppressent it seems to work as well as the Effexor did for me at least.Just saw uni's post.It was my Pchychiatrist that made the change with my med's.I questioned him about it & he said he had never had a problem doing it before.Also asked my Pharmasist who I have dealt with for 25 yrs & who I run every new med or even vitamins,cold medication,etc... past before I will take it & he told me he had never had anyone that he had dealt with report any issues.

[AJ]

Effexor and Cymbalta are both SNRI inhibitors (selective serotonin AND norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). The transition from one to the other might be smoother than switching from an SSRI to an SNRI inhibitor.

[tslvtwins]

Thanks for you concern. My doctor is a psychiatrist who works at a major hospital in Toronto and has been my doctor for many years. He said that I can expect discontinuation effects but should not be for too long (maybe because I am switching from one drug to another in the same class as AJ mentioned).

I am encouraged by Aurora's reply that she did not suffer from serious discontinuation effects. My husband plans to stay home with me througout the transition so I will be well taken care of.

Thanks to all for the support.

[uni]

Is it ever nice to hear that you can switch fairly smoothly between those two meds! It sounds like the docs and pharmacist know what they are talking about.

I don't deal with fybromialgia, but just the same I would love to have had this option a few years back when going off Effexor. Does anybody know how long Cymbalta has been on the market?

[AJ]

I believe it was first marketed in Canada at the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008.

[Aurora]

Thanks AJ, I knew they were the same type of med but didn't really remember(I have a horrible memory)the SSRI/SNRI part, so thanks.

[AJ]

I'm glad the information was helpful.