I was on Serzone for years until they quit making it. My doctor put me on Cymbalta and I absolutely love how it made me feel. I started noticing that I was having muscle cramps a lot. Finally the cramps got to be so bad that I talked to my doctor about it. He changed my medication to Pristiq and I have been on it for 6 days now. I noticed a decrease in the muscle cramps for a few days, but yesterday and last night were one of the worse days ever. Does anyone else suffer muscle cramps from either of these medications? I am at wits end. I have cramps in places I didn't even know I had muscles. So so painful.
Does anyone experience leg cramps with Pristiq or Cymbalta?
Question posted by kytracer on 13 Sep 2012
Last updated on 10 June 2019
12 Answers
lagreen
10 June 2019
I've been on Cymbalta (generic) for 6 days, I have had 2 Charlie horse on the 4th day on one calf and 1 on the 5th day on the other. Drinking water and rolling out calf muscles as much as I can... hopefully no more...
cindy-59
10 June 2019
Hi lagreen. I’ve been taking Cymbalta for over 10 years for chronic nerve pain. I had a fall off a stool and was in a lot of pain. After a few years of taking it I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My life kept going downhill. I was having so many problems and at times I thought I was dying. The pain was unbearable at times. I had anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts; all of which I never experienced before. I was exhausted all the time. I was losing my hair and I had blurry vision and hearing loss. I had muscle loss along with muscle pain. I was gaining weight. I started having problems with my teeth; one broke down the middle and one broke off at the gum line. I was getting cavities and my teeth and gums were aching. I started having memory loss and I started forgetting words. I had a hard time finishing sentences. I loved reading novels but I had to stop reading because I couldn’t remember what I had just read. I was always dizzy and falling down.
Once I fell down a flight of stairs backwards and once I fell and broke my leg. My life kept deteriorating and I kept putting on weight. I started using a cane. But then I ended up being bedridden for 3 years. One day I was researching all the problems I was having and Cymbalta/Duloxetine came up. Every single thing I was going through was side effects from this medication. I decided I didn’t want to take it anymore to see if anything changed. I realized I couldn’t just stop taking it. I had to taper off slowly. So about 2 years ago I started tapering off and I’m down from 60 mg to 1 mg now. Every bit of the pain is gone. I had been misdiagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Every side effect is gone and I’m getting my life back. I’m starting to lose the 80+ pounds that I gained and I no longer look like or feel like I’m pregnant. I feel great. It’s been a tough road tapering off but I have never regretted doing it. I am spending time with my children and grandchildren again. I was in my late 40’s when I started taking Cymbalta and I just turned 60 years old last week and I’m feeling better and younger every day. I’m not saying that all this could happen to you but please be aware. Watch out for the side effects. The longer we are on these types of medications the more damage they can do and the harder they can be to taper off. I am in a Cymbalta group where there are almost 20,000 people from all over the world who are trying to get off Cymbalta. Take care and I wish you the best. Cindy59
Cpeacollins
15 May 2019
I have had severe nocturnal leg cramps for 3-4 years. At first I thought is was steroids from treatment for eosinophilia. The pain was so bad I had severe sleep deprivation. Then after I was no longer taking steroids the cramps got worse -of course no one would give me codeine for the pain. I was offered one muscle relaxer by a rheumatologist and another by a neurologist. They screwed me up so bad I was falling. Then I finally saw a neurologist in Houston who put me on dantrolene, a powerful older generation muscle relaxer that works at the muscle and not through the brain. Makes you feel like a zombie but cramps stopped. I took it for 6 weeks until my old rheumatologist who had quit practicing called and said it was Enbrel I was taking for other autoimmune disorders.- he knew immediately because he had seen it in other patients after 30+ years of practice I stopped Enbrel and 95% of the cramps stopped in six weeks without dantrolene.
In the meantime my psychiatrist added Wellbutrin to my Cymbalta asI was so depressed. Wellbutrin has a side effect (rare) and last night I started cramps again and had to take adantrolene. It was really bad. So, I cold-turkeyed the Wellbutrin thinking another drug reaction. My sister just sent me this and now I guess it could be Cymbalta too which I’ve been on for years. I’ve done pain management and spent a week at Mayo. Cramps mainly in legs but also hands and arms. I’m so sore I can’t go up 3 stair without a railing and I’m only 62. But I’d rather be depressed than have cramps with no pain relief and sleep deprivation.
kaikeekat
15 Dec 2017
This is concerning news for me. I have taken 30mg for a week and today, my second day taking 60mg, my legs started to hurt badly. Most of the pain is in my legs but there is aching in my back, my shoulders, my hands and my forearms. They are sore to the touch like they are bruised.
I just switched from escitalopram to treat my anxiety and depression, and I’m getting a bunch of other side effects too.
don schimtz1
13 May 2017
When I was a few days into the medication I had fairly extreme leg cramps that kept me awake at night. The cramps seemed to have gone away already. I do have intermittent pain in certain bones. My knees have had severe pain where there has never been pain before. I mention this because I am a contractor and have been banged up and over-used over the years. The medication has already helped with arthritis, GAD and depression which are all related to PTSD. I am on boatloads of other medication as well. I am still on a baby dose of 20 mg. Cannot imagine being able to work up to 60 or even 40. Thanks for reading and would love some responses.
don schimtz1
13 May 2017
I am sorry. I forgot to mention that I am on Cymbalta
Scbowes101
2 Nov 2016
I've used Pristiq for over two years and developed severe muscle cramps in lower legs that woke me from sleep and couldn't walk. I discussed this with my physician and pharmacist and registered massage therapist. I increased water consumption, started talking magnesium supplement in the evening and have regular massage treatments. Done! No more muscle cramps.
cowboybrian
25 Nov 2015
It's listed as a serious side effect of Cymbalta. I'm going to see the Dr. As I was using it for chronic pain. Good results for reducing flu symptoms of fibromyalgia. Obviously sucks for muscle pain.
cowboybrian
25 Nov 2015
I've had such severe muscle cramps that is actually dropped me to the ground and I was immobilized for several minutes and it made walking nearly impossible. I don't know what's up.
oranjet23
10 June 2015
I've been on Pristiq for a couple of years and have noticed that in the last year, I've had increasingly more and more severe leg cramps. Sometimes I have much pain with standing, sitting and walking. When going from standing to squatting and standing up from squat position my legs almost give out. I just Googled Pristiq and leg cramps and am relieved to see other people are experiencing the same symptoms so this may explain mine.
Ca girl
10 March 2015
I just started on Pristiq and am having massive leg cramps. I take prescription potassium so that is not helping. I am going to call my dr tomorrow. To much pain. So your not alone.
TxAli369
18 July 2017
July 18, 2017
Hi Ca Girl~
Plz, plz keep all of us posted on your progress. Especially what your Doctor's response is to this 'side effect'.
Thank you so much!
~TxAli369
Humble, Texas
lagreen
10 June 2019
Try rolling out calves with a regulation softball (usually can buy at Walmart or target) a couple times a day or a hard foam roller. Drink a lot of water (at least a half gallon/day). Wear proper arch support. Take magnesium supplement if doctor says its OK. Try these things for a few days and if cramps still happen, then try something else.
LaurieShay
13 Sep 2012
Increasing your intake of magnesium and/or potassium will probably correct the problem.
Inactive
13 Sep 2012
Hello kytracer. I did some researching on your question. Both come from the same family of drugs (SNRI) But I found nothing in regards to leg cramps on either drug. I was on Cymbalta for several years and in my case it wasn't an issue. Now in regards to Pristiq, muscle pain is reported in between 2to 5% of people taking the drug. If it persists, I'd speak to your doctor for theres no guarantee that the cramps/aches are going to lessen or diminish. Regards pledge
kaismama
13 Sep 2012
Cymbalta can cause muscle spasms, and pristiq is related to cymbalta.
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cymbalta, pristiq, serzone, doctor, muscle, cramp
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