Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Cymbalta and update

Hi Lisa

What a train wreck I've become. The doctor started me on 30mg. twice a day. Hard to know how it will work till I am off Lyrica which will be in 2 weeks. I am keeping the big guns. The doctor has made no indication of taking those away. Hope you are doing well. I can't wait till we get some warmer weather.

Hi Pea

Thanks for letting me know. This one will be the last of the FDA fibro meds. that I have tried. Lyrica worked when I was on Remicade but wasn't working with Enbrel. Just need to find the right combo. Take care Pea.

Hi Craig

Thanks for your support. It really means a lot. Hope you are doing well.

Hi Sue

Sorry Lyrica did not work for you. I get migraines too but take Amytriptlyn at night for that. Did you find something for your nerve pain?

I have taken it in the past with good results for about 2 months, then it just quit. After another month, I quit taking it. That was 5 yrs ago and predated my referral to rheumy. My major side-effects were dry mouth and urinary hesitancy. Those were bad enough that I didn't want to push up to the 120mg/day choice. Don't remember if I took it in the morning or evening.

Now, my pain doc has wanted to start it back up again. I got 30mg samples. Told her what my experience was before and that I've already got urination issues, so doubted I would go past 30mg/day. Took one capsule 3 weeks ago at bedtime and was awake most of the night, then had diarrhea all morning. Husband takes it at bedtime with no issues, so maybe I just need to take it in the morning. Next pill will be on a weekend when I've made no other changes to my meds for a while. Maybe next weekend, if I'm not busy with something else. Don't see pain doc till June, so I've got some time...LOL.

On your Enbrel, do you take once a week or twice a week? I was on once/week, but never felt it was lasting more than a day or so, then I'd have a yukky week and wonder if it was working at all. Rheumy switched me to twice/week and it made all the difference in the world! After a month, it feels like it's a maintenance dose rather than a catch-up dose. I'm wishing it was better, but I can live with it. Not going to be giving up the percocet, but I'm not watching the clock as much.

Hope your experience is a good one. Congrats on the end of work coming up and hope your disability goes through quickly. Hugs!

Hi Janet

Hope I feel better once I retire. It has been a real struggle these last couple of months. Glad I didn't wait any longer. I hope April goes well. I haven't figured out what I will do once I am not working. Right now I am just focusing at getting through the month. Hope you are getting through your days with little pain. Thanks for your help.

Hi Rumble, only on Enbrel once a week. Have an appointment in June with the Rhumey. He probably wants to see how I am doing once I am not working and go from there. I took Cymbalta late last night and will take it a little earlier tonight. Thanks again Rumble

hi jeff

always thinking of others

what helped my nerve pain was time. when i flare in the summer, the inflammation causes the bone spurs to really compress the nerves. but they slowly recover. takes about 6 months to get back to normal. but only the first few months are really bad. its happened three years in a row now, but with the rheumy, i have hope that we may be able to address flares better. we'll see this summer if we have a battle plan that works. at least they (the docs) have me doing better between flares. i hope the same for you!

thanks for thinking of me

My fiance is on Cymbalta now is she says that it's better than everything else she has taken. She has fibro.

Hello Jeff,

Sorry to hear about all the pain, hopefully things improve some with cymbalta.

Take care,

Tim