My husband with myeloma has been on Cymbalta (duloxetine) for neuropathy for about a year. It helped the neuropathy, but he never felt good on the Cymbalta and wants to come off it. He's been taking 30 mg. His doctor prescribed 20 mg tabs to taper the dose, but he's feeling terrible.
The myeloma's stable – post auto transplant, on Revlimid maintenance – so we thought this would be a good time to decrease this med to feel more "normal".
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Thanks
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Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
Jade,
There is no reason for your husband to feel bad, especially when its caused by a drug that's essentially for pain. Chronic pain can be very hard to manage, but there are options. EJ was on Lyrica (pregabalin), which seemed to help him.
Talk to your doctor, or go to a pain specialist who has experience with neuropathy. His QOL should not have to suffer because of a pain killer.
Lyn (speaking as someone who suffers from chronic migraines ... and has one now)
There is no reason for your husband to feel bad, especially when its caused by a drug that's essentially for pain. Chronic pain can be very hard to manage, but there are options. EJ was on Lyrica (pregabalin), which seemed to help him.
Talk to your doctor, or go to a pain specialist who has experience with neuropathy. His QOL should not have to suffer because of a pain killer.
Lyn (speaking as someone who suffers from chronic migraines ... and has one now)
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Christa's Mom - Name: Christa's Mom
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: September, 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
I tried Cymbalta but was very sick on it and therefore discontinued using it. For the past several years I have been on Lyrica with much success. Your husband might want to try it and see if maybe he feels better taking it than Cymbalta.
Good luck and hope he finds relief from the pain.
Good luck and hope he finds relief from the pain.
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Hippo0040
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
It has really helped my neuropathy to take niacin anti-flush in the evenings. If I miss it, I can definitely tell the difference.
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bettyjotucker
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
I was prescribed duloxetine (Cymbalta) the day before yesterday for peripheral neuropathy. I took two – one a day for two days – as per the instructions.
Now, I've never had a hangover, but my father has, and when I described my reaction to this drug, that's what he said it sounded like to him.
Within an hour I felt like I'd taken an overdose of sleeping pills, had a major headache, nausea, the tremor in my left hand went from 'slightly annoying' to 'unmanageable,' and my BP spiked to 190/100 for about two hours. It's been just over 24 hours since I took it, and I'm just now feeling pretty good again.
This stuff is supposed to HELP pain?
Needless to say, I'm not taking any more Cymbalta.
Ah, well ... I react weirdly to the oddest stuff ...
Now, I've never had a hangover, but my father has, and when I described my reaction to this drug, that's what he said it sounded like to him.
Within an hour I felt like I'd taken an overdose of sleeping pills, had a major headache, nausea, the tremor in my left hand went from 'slightly annoying' to 'unmanageable,' and my BP spiked to 190/100 for about two hours. It's been just over 24 hours since I took it, and I'm just now feeling pretty good again.
This stuff is supposed to HELP pain?
Needless to say, I'm not taking any more Cymbalta.
Ah, well ... I react weirdly to the oddest stuff ...
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
Update:
When I described what happened to Dr. B (my oncologist), he yelled at me for not calling an ambulance to take me to the ER (over the blood pressure).
If it ever happens again, I will, but I also know what will happen if and when I do: I'll get stuck on a gurney in the hall for literally HOURS, finally get a room (which is actually an area with a curtain between you and the next patient, who probably will have the galloping crud or something), my BP will be down to normal, and after four or five more hours, I'll get sent home with a whoppin' bill....and a bug I caught there.
ANYWAY, I was prescribed gabapentin and took my first dose last night, hesitantly.
So far, so good....no side effects yet.
More importantly, this morning the tremor in my left hand had calmed down so much that I actually had to deliberately think about shaking the cup with the Malt-O-Meal in it as I was cooking.
Cool. If this keeps up, I'm going to get out my canvasses and paints!
When I described what happened to Dr. B (my oncologist), he yelled at me for not calling an ambulance to take me to the ER (over the blood pressure).
If it ever happens again, I will, but I also know what will happen if and when I do: I'll get stuck on a gurney in the hall for literally HOURS, finally get a room (which is actually an area with a curtain between you and the next patient, who probably will have the galloping crud or something), my BP will be down to normal, and after four or five more hours, I'll get sent home with a whoppin' bill....and a bug I caught there.
ANYWAY, I was prescribed gabapentin and took my first dose last night, hesitantly.
So far, so good....no side effects yet.
More importantly, this morning the tremor in my left hand had calmed down so much that I actually had to deliberately think about shaking the cup with the Malt-O-Meal in it as I was cooking.
Cool. If this keeps up, I'm going to get out my canvasses and paints!
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
I'm in the Lyrica camp here. So far 50 mg twice a day helps. Gabapentin did nothing for me.
Also there is a copay assist coupon on the Lyrica site.
Best! BN
Also there is a copay assist coupon on the Lyrica site.
Best! BN
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Bar-none - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/14
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
Yikes, Dianaiad! Your Cymbalta experience is pretty scary. I hope you are continuing to do ok with the gabapentin and that it has started to actually help your PN.
I've been on Lyrica for about 2 1/2 years. It has helped a lot. No more electric shooting pains in my feet. But when I started to experience some numbness in my fingers during late spring this year, my doctor added Cymbalta to the mix. I've tolerated it ok, but I'm sure hoping I don't need to take it forever.
I've been on Lyrica for about 2 1/2 years. It has helped a lot. No more electric shooting pains in my feet. But when I started to experience some numbness in my fingers during late spring this year, my doctor added Cymbalta to the mix. I've tolerated it ok, but I'm sure hoping I don't need to take it forever.
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
So far, so good, Mike:
I've taken the gabapentin for five days now, and except for being very sleepy and tired (which everybody expected), I'm doing fine. The tremor in my left hand is still calmed down astoundingly (I thought I was stuck with that forever; didn't think that was part of PN!), and the tingling in my hands and feet is pretty much gone. I haven't even ramped up to the whole dose yet!
And, yes, the Cymbalta experience was a tad on the scary side.
Ah well. I'm doing so well in every OTHER thing in this myeloma business that I can't yell about stuff like this very much!
I've taken the gabapentin for five days now, and except for being very sleepy and tired (which everybody expected), I'm doing fine. The tremor in my left hand is still calmed down astoundingly (I thought I was stuck with that forever; didn't think that was part of PN!), and the tingling in my hands and feet is pretty much gone. I haven't even ramped up to the whole dose yet!
And, yes, the Cymbalta experience was a tad on the scary side.
Ah well. I'm doing so well in every OTHER thing in this myeloma business that I can't yell about stuff like this very much!
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Cymbalta for peripheral neuropathy
Dianaid, I am glad to hear things are going well so far with the gabapentin. And very glad to hear that the hand tremor has calmed down.
Keep the good things going!
Mike
Keep the good things going!
Mike
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mikeb - Name: mikeb
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009 (MGUS at that time)
- Age at diagnosis: 55
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