Dillemma With Cymbalta

I have chronic lower back pain from two surgeries and also arthritis. Over a year ago I was taking opiates and had epidural injections. The doctor suggested Cymbalta. After two weeks at 60 mg my pain was nearly gone and I haven't had any opiates since. I also feel the Cymbalta help my mood because I may have been depressed living with pain day in and out. Here's the dilemma. I've read so many horror stories about Cymbalta withdrawal it scares me and I'm thinking maybe I should get off of it now. I did have a few side effects (dry mouth, sweating) but these have long gone. I went down to 30 mg a day and have a few minor withdrawals (ears ringing, small pupils, no zaps but the head feels congested). The problem is the pain has returned. Every morning its a struggle to get out of bed and get going with the back pain. Should I stay on Cymbalta, forget about all the withdrawal worry and stay pain free, or should I get off the Cymbalta now before the years start to add up and withdrawal will be worse. Is it possible to stay on this for the rest of my life (I'm 51). FYI- it has allowed me to start exercising which also helps my mood.

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YOU KNOW EVERY PERSON HAS A DIFFERENT SYSTEM NO MATTER WHAT. I HAVE BEEN ON CYMBALTA FOR ABOUT 6MTHS AND IT'S THE BEST THING SINCE SLICE BREAD AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. I AM ALSO ON STRONG OPIATES FROM A HORRIFIC CAR ACCIDENT.
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WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS READ POST(S) BUT I NEVER EVER TRY TO LET IT GET INTO MY HEAD SO I START THINKING "WELL THIS PERSON SAYS THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER. JUST LISTEN TO YOUR OWN BODY. READ OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCE(S) BUT TRY TO NEVER LET IT GET INTO YOUR MIND THAT WHAT THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING. LISTEN, MONITOR YOUR OWN BODY. WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, YOUR THE TRUE PERSON THAT REALLY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON. THAT IS MY LITTLE ADVICE. AND I DON'T THINK IT'S WRONG. YOU KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE AND DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE IN CHRONIC PAIN. MANAGE YOUR PAIN MEDICATIONS; BE RESPONSIBLE AND YOU'LL LIVE A PRODUCTIVE LIFE. BEST TO YOU!!!

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Cymbalta is an SNRI antidepressant and there are many people with severe mental health disorders that take these types of medications for most of their lives.

Learn more Cymbalta details here.

And the severe withdrawals can be avoided, when someone stops taking it, if a slow taper is done, rather than just stopping abruptly.

If it's working really well for you, then there's no need to worry.

However, what I'd do if it were me is I'd discuss it with my doctor, that way you can hash out all the concerns you have, long-term usage side effects and etc., so you can make the most informed decision possible.

Are there any other comments or questions?

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Thank you both. You're both right, many people are on these for life and I shouldn't let others get into my head. So many people call this an evil drug that I was purplexed, it sure seemed to help me for the pain and I'm sure for some depression that comes along with having chronic pain. Thanks agian and I will talk to my doc, we have a good relationship.

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I find your text very interesting because, aside from helping me deal with the associated depression of chronic pain, I did not find that Cymbalta helped me AT ALL with the pain itself (chronic abdominal pain) .
Personally, and only because I got to a point where I simply was no longer able to PAY FOR my monthly Rx (thank you, Medicare donut hole!), that I had no longer had a choice but to stop taking it, even though it DID mentally help me deal with the depression of having 24/7 chronic pain.
I've gone through Cymbalta withdrawl quite a few times in the last several years and I can tell you that it didn't seem to matter how many times I went through it, nor how long in between times that I'd tried to stop, that the withdrawl was any worse, or better, in relation to how long I'd gone in between starting and stopping. The withdrawl STILL SUCKS, no matter how long you've been on it or how many months/years it's been since you've tried to stop as far as I'm concerned. AND, most importantly, YOU SHOULDN'T TRY TO STOP ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT DOCTORS' SUPERVISION! It's simply TOO dangerous to try to do on your own (I KNOW! I've tried it and almost lost it!) Don't mess with these types of drugs! They are meant to change your brains' function and, needless to say, they will totally mess you up if you stop taking them!

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I was also taking Cymbalta for depression b4 it was known as a pain reliever. I never realized how much it helped with my chronic pain until I was taken off of it and switched to Prozac. No tapering and I thought I was losing my mind! It didnt' help with my depression is why I was switched. Now I don't know if it was worth coming off of the Cymbalta as it is hard for me to get out of bed now and even sit/stand long at a time. I don't know what to do. Wish I could mix Cymbalta with Prozac. My depression seemed to be getting better but with all this pain I can see myself going back down. I was also taken off my klonopin to help me sleep at night after being on it for over a year. I was put on something called Remaran.(sp) to help me sleep. I haven't started it yet. I don't know what to do. I still have a few klonopin left so I'm still taking them.

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Cymbalta withdrawal:
Its been 2 weeks of ringing ears. The first week I went down to 30 but didn't notice any other side effect s I went to 0. Can someone tell me the shearing in my ears will stop and when? thanks!

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