New medication information - Fibromyalgia Message Board

tkgoodspirit · 08-23-2004, 05:52 PM

Hi guys!

I went to my GP today only to find that what we thought was sciatica in my right hip was actually bursitis. But, I digress, I asked my GP about the new Fibro drug Milnacipran and he wasn't sure about that, but he did tell me about a new drug that is supposed to be out now, just recently in pharmacies by Lilly. It seems that this drug treats anxiety but they find that it helps with Fibro as well. Here is some info I got off the web about this drug: In clinical studies, researchers attribute the medication's effect on a broad spectrum of depression symptoms, which include emotional and painful physical symptoms as well as anxiety, to its dual reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and norepinephrine. The medication is called Cymbalta. So I am supposed to call my GP back next week when he has samples and I'm going to try this. He said it's given in 60mg doses at one time daily. He said that it treats people with a number of different conditions, specifically narcolepsy, but it has been known to work the same as our "wonderful" anti-depressants that we are given. I am not sure about the side effects, but you can do a web search to learn about them. I am going to try it, and maybe you all can ask your doctor about it to see if you may be a candidate for using this drug to treat your Fibro.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to share what I found out, in hopes that maybe it'll help some of us. I, for one, know that I'm surely going to give it a try!

Good day, and Good Karma!
tk

wishn · 08-23-2004, 07:53 PM

Thanks for the information! I was very interested to hear about this....what I learned from a web search is that Eli Lilly has shown in early studies that the antidepressant Cymbalta alleviates pain associated with fibromyalgia. Good news! The new drug is thought to work better in pain than other antidepressants, which affect serotonin in the brain. They said that Lilly would not comment on whether the company plans get approval from the Food and Drug Administration for Cymbalta in fibromyalgia specifically, or if the company would get the word out by presenting research results in academic papers and at conventions. They also said there were no trials presently for it's usuage with fibromyalgia patients. But obviously after searching several sites the word is out that doctors are going to use this for fibromyalgia patients and are excited with the "potential" effects it may have on helping us. I did notice the side effects are very common to other antidepressants, 2 being weight gain and insomnia. The major two that bother me the most. Now that it has been approved I hope we will gain more information about the side effects the a wider range of people are experiencing. Maybe it won't be as much of a problem with weight gain and insomnia as stated in the trials. But that is minor compared to if it could help us with pain and other related symtoms of fibro.

Milnacipran: I have done much research on this drug and had a friend at NIH do some research there as well. She agreed that there is much promise for people affected with fibro and this drug. We really need to keep our eyes and ears open for this one as well. Keep the information coming about these promising new treatments...hopefully one of us will pop back on and talk about a remarkable experience we are having with one!

Thanks tkagoodspirit for the update! Let us know how it goes. I have to schedule an appointment soon and will be checking into this drug as well. I have been feeling so bad lately and would love to find something that would help.

Annie

tkgoodspirit · 08-30-2004, 12:01 AM

Hi all!

I just wanted to remind you that sometime this week is when my Doc will be getting the samples of the drug Cymbalta and I'm going to pick them up and give them a try. So, as soon as I can tell anything at all about this med, I'll post here. So, cross your fingers and wish your "human guinea pig" good luck!

Good day.
tk

taurus3 · 08-30-2004, 07:59 AM

Thanks for being the pioneer! It will be awhile I'm sure before I'm alowed to try anything new because I'll be breast feeding. Only 1% of medicines are excreted in themilk but when it's new they really don't know so they'd rather stick with what they know until I'm done with that. But I'll look forward to better options in the future. I hope it works great for you. I wonder if it's like the other ADs where it has to build up in your system for awhile?

Love - Andy

Katie G · 08-31-2004, 07:22 AM

Thanks for the info! After being a 20+ year veteren of fibro (back before it was even called that) and a long-time taker of Elavil, it's good to know there are other possibilities out there. I will be researching the 2 drugs listed to see if I should consider getting off Elavil and moving onto something more updated.

Keep us posted on how it goes with your new medication.

Katie G