Cymbalta fibromyalgia how long

Cymbalta is classified as an SNRI or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters chemical messengers in your brain. Serotonin is involved in the sleep-wake cycle and pain processing. Norepinephrine helps you feel alert and interested as well as playing a role in memory. Both of these neurotransmitters are believed to be dysregulated in fibromyalgia, meaning that we either don't have enough or what we have isn't used efficiently by our brains.

Either way, we could use more of them. Cymbalta and other SNRIs don't add serotonin and norepinephrine to our brains, but they make it available for longer, which basically has the same effect as adding more.

To do that, they slow down a process called reuptake in which specialized cells in your brain clear away used serotonin and norepinephrine after it's been used to send messages from one neuron to another. It's like the neurotransmitter is an envelope left lying around after you open your mail. Keeping the neurotransmitter around longer lets your brain use it more efficiently. Multiple clinical trials show that Cymbalta can reduce fibromyalgia pain, both with and without comorbid depression.

Studies also show that the drug continues to be effective for at least one year. Researchers don't understand exactly how this drug works. However, a study Wang suggests that dampens spontaneous pain signals that result from nerve damage neuropathy.

One theory of fibromyalgia pain is that it involves neuropathy in the small nerves near the surface of your skin. If that's true, it could be why Cymbalta is often effective against our pain.

In that study, Cymbalta appeared to alleviate two pain types that are typical of fibromyalgia: hyperalgesia and allodynia. The recommended Cymbalta dosage is 60 mg, taken once a day. It's generally started at 30 mg a day and then increased to 60 mg after about a week. Doses higher than this aren't believed to be more effective for fibromyalgia, and they are associated with a higher risk of side effects.

People who want to stop taking this drug should talk to their healthcare provider about the proper way to gradually wean off of it; stopping suddenly is dangerous. Your healthcare provider may also be able to help you lessen withdrawal symptoms. Cymbalta is associated with numerous possible side effects. Those that you should report to your healthcare provider right away include:. Side effects of Cymbalta that don't usually require medical attention include:.

If you're interested in trying Cymbalta, talk to your healthcare provider. The results showed that:. Researchers also found that men who took Cymbalta reported more sexual dysfunction compared with men who took a placebo. Clinical studies found that women who took Cymbalta and those who took a placebo seemed to have a similar level of sexual dysfunction.

Digestive problems can occur with Cymbalta. In clinical studies :. If you experience digestive problems while taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor. They may recommend treatment to relieve this side effect. Or they may have you try a different medication to treat your condition. Some people may experience insomnia trouble sleeping while taking Cymbalta. With insomnia, you can have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

It can cause you to wake up too early. If you experience sleep issues while taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor.

They may suggest ways to manage this side effect. Headaches can occur while taking Cymbalta. Headache can also be a symptom of hyponatremia low sodium levels. This is a serious side effect that can occur with Cymbalta. For this reason, call your doctor if you experience headache while taking Cymbalta. Your doctor can determine the cause of your headaches. They may also decide to have you try a different medication for your condition. Like other antidepressants, Cymbalta may raise your risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Cymbalta has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. Clinical studies have shown antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 24 years or younger. In people ages 65 and older, antidepressants can actually reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

During your treatment, you should watch closely for any new or sudden changes in your behavior, feelings, moods, or thoughts. Also ask your family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers to look for changes in your behavior or moods.

Call your doctor right away if you or someone else notices any changes. Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

The recommended starting dose for treating depression in most adults is 40 mg 20 mg twice a day to 60 mg either 30 mg twice a day or 60 mg once a day per day. Your doctor may decide to start you on 30 mg per day before increasing to a higher dosage, however.

The maximum dosage of Cymbalta for treating depression in adults is mg per day. In adults younger than 65 years old, the recommended Cymbalta dosage for treating anxiety is 60 mg per day. Your doctor may decide to start you on 30 mg per day before increasing to this dose, however. This dose should be continued for 2 weeks. The maximum dosage of Cymbalta for treating anxiety in adults of any age is mg per day. Diabetic neuropathy is a painful condition resulting from nerve damage in people with diabetes.

For treating pain from diabetic neuropathy in adults, the recommended dose of Cymbalta is 60 mg once daily. The recommended Cymbalta dosage for treating fibromyalgia in adults is 60 mg once daily. Then, assuming you respond well to the drug, your doctor will increase your dose to 60 mg once a day. Then, assuming you respond well to the drug, your doctor will increase your dose to 60 mg once daily.

For treating GAD in children ages 7 to 17 years old, the recommended dosage of Cymbalta is 30 mg once a day. This dose should be used for at least 2 weeks. For treating fibromyalgia in children ages 13 to 17 years old, the recommended Cymbalta dosage is 30 mg once a day. If you miss a dose of Cymbalta, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. This may raise your risk for side effects from the drug.

This can include setting an alarm on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too. Cymbalta is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. To help lower your risk for these symptoms, your doctor will gradually reduce your dosage over time. This is known as a drug taper. If you have additional questions about your risk for withdrawal or dependence with Cymbalta, talk with your doctor.

Cymbalta stays in your system for about 3 days. Cymbalta may also be used off-label for other conditions. With this condition, you may feel sadness, loss, or anger that interferes with your daily activities. Clinical studies have shown Cymbalta to be effective for treating depression. One study compared daily use of Cymbalta with a placebo a treatment with no active drug. Almost everyone experiences anxiety at some point. However, you may experience extreme feelings of anxiety, or anxiety that lasts longer than 6 months.

If these feelings interfere with your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder. People with GAD have excessive anxiety that can occur frequently. Symptoms of GAD may vary but can include:.

One clinical study involved adults with GAD. Researchers first gave everyone Cymbalta for 26 weeks. People whose condition improved with the drug were then randomly chosen to either keep taking Cymbalta or switch to a placebo. A placebo is a treatment with no active drug. They used increases in these scores to determine when someone in the study had a GAD relapse.

The researchers compared how long it took for people using Cymbalta to have a GAD relapse compared with people taking a placebo. These results show that people taking Cymbalta had reduced anxiety symptoms for a longer period of time than people who took a placebo.

Cymbalta is FDA-approved to treat pain from diabetic neuropathy nerve damage. Diabetic neuropathy is a common condition in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes have high levels of glucose sugar in their blood. Over time, having increased glucose levels can cause nerve damage.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include numbness, pain, tingling, or weakness in your hands or feet. Clinical studies have shown Cymbalta to be effective for treating pain from diabetic neuropathy. Researchers in one study randomly assigned adults with diabetic nerve pain to take either Cymbalta or a placebo every day for 12 weeks. They assessed pain again after the study to compare how Cymbalta and a placebo affected pain.

Cymbalta is FDA-approved to treat fibromyalgia. This is a chronic condition that can cause:. Fibromyalgia is often misdiagnosed and can be difficult to treat. Clinical studies have shown Cymbalta to be effective at treating fibromyalgia. One study compared Cymbalta with a placebo in adults with fibromyalgia.

Before the study, these adults had an average pain score of 6. People in the study took either Cymbalta or a placebo every day for 6 months. The researchers then measured their pain scores again to see if there was any improvement. Cymbalta is FDA-approved to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain. This refers to pain in the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts for more than 3 to 6 months. Clinical studies have shown Cymbalta to be effective for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain. These studies involved adults with chronic low back pain or chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis a joint disorder that causes swelling and pain. In one study , adults with chronic low back pain took either Cymbalta or a placebo every day for 13 weeks. Before the study, people rated their pain on a scale of 0 no pain to 10 worst pain possible.

The researchers had people rate their pain again at the end of the study. Clinical studies have shown Cymbalta to be effective for treating these conditions in children.

Cymbalta belongs to a class of medications known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs. It affects your levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine. SSRIs, on the other hand, only affect your serotonin levels. Controlled substances are medications that could cause either physical or mental dependence. With dependence , your body needs the drug to feel normal. The Drug Enforcement Administration DEA sets limits on who can make, possess, and use medications that are controlled substances.

However, Cymbalta could cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the drug suddenly. Addiction is different from dependence. Over time, someone with addiction needs more and more of a drug to feel its effects.

This is because the drug affects your central nervous system CNS. If you have questions or concerns about your risk for dependence with Cymbalta, talk with your doctor. Cymbalta is approved to treat mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Because it affects your mood, some people report feeling calm or as if their mood is boosted while taking the drug.

If you have questions about how Cymbalta may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. This was one of the more common side effects of the drug in clinical studies.

In the studies:. If you have questions about side effects from Cymbalta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You may wonder how Cymbalta compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Cymbalta and Lexapro are alike and different. Lexapro contains the active drug escitalopram. Lexapro belongs to a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs.

Both types of drugs are commonly used as antidepressants. Cymbalta comes as capsule that you take by mouth. Cymbalta and Lexapro have some similar side effects and others that vary. Below are examples of these side effects. Many people with lupus have fibromyalgia; in fact, much of the pain that people with lupus feel is due to this condition.

Both pregabalin and duloxetine were originally developed to treat other conditions epilepsy and depression, respectively , but they have also proven successful in reducing some of the physical and emotional symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Many people also report that this medication helps to improve their overall vitality. It is not known exactly how pregabalin works to combat symptoms of fibromyalgia, but some believe that it binds to a protein in nerve cells that is responsible for heightened pain sensitivity. Duloxetine also helps to improve pain and promote an overall feeling of improvement in patients with fibromyalgia.

It is not known exactly how duloxetine works in the body against the symptoms of fibromyalgia, but it is known that this medication increases the activity of two neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin and norepinephrine. Duloxetine can have some side effects, including nausea, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, drowsiness, increased sweating, and agitation.

Like duloxetine, milnacipran also increases the activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine and was first used as an antidepressant. However, the drug has been shown to significantly improve pain and physical function in people with fibromyalgia and was approved this year by the FDA for the treatment of this condition. Like pregabalin and duloxetine, it is not known precisely how milnacipran works to combat fibromyalgia.