I've read the official med info, but would like to ask people actually taking Cymbalta if it makes you drowsy during the day, or if it relieves fatigue? I'm on Neurontin, Flexeril & Celexa for fibro now and I want OFF the neurontin! The bone & brain numbing fatigue is much more debilitating than pain for me, I am literally unable to stay awake in the morning, drop off in the afternoon & can't function thru the fog when I'm "awake". Scary when you are single mom to a 5 year old w/special needs! I really need to find SOMETHING for my fibro that doesn't add to my fatigue! Thank you!
Drowsiness w/Cymbalta? Fighting fatigue?
- Posted:
- 25 Sep 2009 by Ariesfire27
- Topics:
- cymbalta, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs)
Responses (8)
4 Oct 2009
Looking at the reviews (in link below), everyone seems to have different reactions with Cymbalta. If your current medicines are causing fatigue maybe you can try and see how you react to Cymbalta.
http://www.drugs.com/comments/duloxetine/cymbalta.html
(The reviews have specific ones for use in fibromyalgia as well).
4 Oct 2009
i didn't have fatigue with cymbalta, but neurontin made me pretty much comatose. i have fibro and anxiety and the only meds i take right now are ms contin and xanax. i take zanaflex when i really need it and i use a tens unit for bad trigger points. i got off of cymbalta about a 2 yrs ago because i felt like i was going to rip my skin off. it worked great at first.. but as for for cymbalta and fatigue, i didn't have that issue myself. hope this helps.
23 Oct 2009
Neurontin made me really "druggy" feeling. I seemed very tired during the day but couldn't really sleep at night. Flexeril will make me sleep. Cymbalta I have been on 30mg for 3 weeks now and they just uped it to 60 mg 2 days ago and I have not had any sleepiness. I do not take neutronin at all any more. I did not like the side effects. For me the Cymbalta seems to be working pretty good. They did give me an injection of somthing which I can't rember the name of wich the combination of the two seems to work the best for my fibro/lupus/rhumatoid arthritis. I wish you the best of luck. Michele
10 Aug 2010
I was first prescribed Cymbalta while being treated for acute depression in the hospital. I also take Abilify. Cymbalta helped a lot at first with my depression and anxiety. A year later I am 20 lbs heavier (I have always been slim but now am heavy-set). I crave sugar and unhealthy foods all the time. Looking back I feel like I've slept through most of the past year. I am so tired all the time. On my days off it is not uncommon for me to sleep till 7 PM. Besides the weight loss and fatigue/exhaustion I've also experienced hair loss and loss of sex drive. Overall I feel emotionally flat. I can't cry.
SO after a year I am going off this stuff. The side effects now far out weigh the benefits. So far I am experiencing some symptoms of withdrawl like brain zaps.
10 Aug 2010
I am sorry to hear you're having such problems. I am also on Cymbalta but my fatigue comes from having chronic fatigue syndrome on top of the fibromyalgia. My doctor recently put me on strattera for the fatigue and it seems to be helping. At least, I'm not down for as many days. Hope this helps. Good luck!
27 Jul 2011
I have been on Cymbalta for several years and I have noticed drowsiness right after I take it but it goes away then I have alot of energy in the afternoon and evening and then I cant seem to get to sleep until late. I am thinking that it is keeping me up or that my surge in energy is keeping me up. I have tried taking it at different times, evenings, nights, with no change. My hope is to wean myself off of it and use SAME instead.
10 Aug 2011
I had chronic fatigue for the past 10 years (now 32), a few months ago I got diagnosed with ADD and was put on Concerta and that medication really helped with wakefulness. I had been on Zoloft before for Anxiety/Depression and though I did not like the way that drug worked on me, it certainly never made me drowsy. I recently decided to go back on Anti-D's (so that I don't depend on just Xanax for controlling my anxiety), and Cymbalta was what I was given. I've been on it two days (30mg/day for a week, then 60mg after) and I can already feel some SERIOUS drowsiness fatigue, DESPITE also taking my ADD meds (45mg a day of Concerta); after starting Concerta and before starting the Cymbalta, fatigue was no longer in my vocabulary, so this effect worries me. My psych advised that if I do become drowsy, to take the Cymbalta in the evening. I did notice that I felt normal energy levels last night, it just that morning and the afternoon were a serious drag. Maybe taking it at night would minimize the sleepiness during the day.
11 Aug 2011
Hey everyone! I'm happy to have this opportunity to chat. :)
I take the maximum (accepted) dosage of Cymbalta 120 mg daily for chronic pain. I take it at 11 PM; I always try to take these pills at the same time every day. With my initial usage, I did feel drowsy. This feeling passed after 1 or 2 weeks. I also can take Tramacet for breakthrough pain which will usually always make me fall asleep soon after, usually just for a short while.
The side effect that I presently experience from Cymbalta is dry mouth, however, not every day & not all the time. I'm sometimes nauseous but can't positively attribute that directly to Cymbalta.
Also, sometimes when I did feel sleepy from Cymbalta, I'd fight that feeling until I got my "2nd wind" & then I'd usually be OK & stay awake. I believe that when I feel drowsy, I should give my body & mind a short respite by napping.
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I know your feeling of frustration with the side effects. I would like to cease this med. I know about the brain zaps and I also know there are minerals to help detox, like Triveta Nopela and others. The Road back does also help you to get off slowly so you don't have too many withdrawal symptoms. I hope this helps