thylantyr

This coming Friday marks the 4th week that my friend is off Cymbalta.

Nothing new to report, the 24/7 head pain from
hell continues.

My friend started to take Ibuprofen daily over a week ago
and a few extra Vicodin in conjuction with the normal
scheduled pain meds for neuropathy pain in the feet: morphine, Lyrica, (and Vicodin).

So far, my friend thinks the Cymbalta, originally not
taken for depression, but to help reduce neuropathy pain,
doesn't help for neuropathy pain, hence the reason for
stopping the drug, but the withdrawal 'hell' was not communicated by
the doctor/hospital at the time it was given 1.5 years ago.

I think the pain meds for neuropathy (morphine, Lyrica, Vicodin) reduce the
Cymbalta withdrawal head pain from 'suicidal' in nature to 'hell' which is a nice
improvement, a suffering friend is better than a dead
one

Daily routine:

1. Wake up in the morning to take meds for neuropathy
pain in the feet; morphine and Lyrica. But due to the
Cymbalta withdrawal, I think Vicodin is taken also, where
before it wasn't needed. The withdrawal pain exists in the
back of the head as if someone stabbed you with a big
knife.

2. Try to go back to sleep.

3. Wake up around noon - 1 pm. Same withdrawal pain.

4. Before work (part time swing shift job), take the second
scheduled neuropathy pain meds, this time (morphine, Lyrica, Vicodin).
The Cymbalta withdrawal pain exists.

5. 7pm - break time at work, the Cymbalta withdrawal
head pain is spreading, the whole head seems to be in
pain.

6. Home, after work, 10 pm. take the third scheduled neuropathy pain meds,
(morphine, Lyrica, Vicodin). The Cymbalta withdrawal pain exists.

As night progresses, the pain starts to get into 'hell mode',
bright lights cause more pain, my friend has to keep the
eyes closed, often my friend goes in the spa outside from about
11 pm to 2 am to get some pain relief in the feet and legs,
due to the neuropathy problem. Any lights outside have
to be turned off otherwise the pain magnifies. It's already
at it's peak, engulfing the whole head.

7. 3 am - it's time to try to go to bed, being so tired is
the mechanism for falling asleep only to be awaken maybe
once before 7 am where the pain meds must be taken again
and the hellish cycle repeats.

One day my friend slept in on the weekend, the first
batch of pain meds used for neuropathy were not taken.
When this occurs, the nightmare of the Cymbalta withdrawal is
only magnified for the whole day. My friend can't imagine how people
can cope with the withdrawal if they aren't taking any pain meds. After
doing some research online, guess what? Other people have a hell of
time dealing with this withdrawal, some people get back
on the drug so they don't kill themselves.

My opinion:
Based on these experiences and testimony from others,
this medicine isn't to be taken lightly. This legal drug seems to
be more evil than illegal drugs, often I wonder if the big drug
companies know that people will be become dependent on the drug
in spite that it may not help with the original illness. This drug is an
engineering accomplishment if you are in the business of making money.

On the other hand, I have another friend who was in
very bad shape, bed ridden for 2 years with depression
and the outlook wasn't good. Long story short, another
SNRI anti-depressent helped this person come back
but there is seasonal depression still, but at least he can
live on. These extreme cases require these drugs, but
it seems to me that doctors shouldn't be giving out
these crazy medicines like candy on halloween just because
the patient has a 'small problem'.