Suggest Remedies For Muscle Pain While Weaning Off Cymbalta

Posted on Thu, 14 Apr 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 Answered on

Sat, 11 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am currently coming off of Cymbalta for fibromyalgia. It worked really well for me, but I started having a lot of the side effects of it. I have been off of it for 13 days, and it is hell dealing with all of the withdrawal symptoms from it. I am starting to hurt really bad from the deep muscle pain and can barely get around. I am a42 yr old female and need to know what the best medication is to get back on for my fibromyalgia for the pain so that I can get back to normal activities. I would like one that does not cause you to have a nervous breakdown when you try to get off of it, but one that will really handle the muscle pain well!

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
pregabalin, desvenlafaxine and flupirtine maleate are options

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

Thanks for writing to us. I can understand your concern.

You have already stopped cymbalta due to side effects. Now withdrawal as well as fibromyalgia symptoms are affecting your body.

Pregabalin is used in neuropathic pain as well as in fibromyalgia. It does not cause much withdrawal.

Other option is desvenlafaxine which has same action like desvenlafaxine but fewer side effects. However it can cause withdrawals if stopped cold turkey.

Third option is flupirtine maleate which is muscle relaxant as well as used in neuropathic pain. I have got very good results in my patients. It also does not have withdrawals. I am not sure about availability of this molecule in USA.

You can discuss these options with your treating doctor and start one or more of them according to severity of symptoms.

Hope I have answered your query, I will be happy to help further.

Regards,

Dr.Chintan Solanki.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (5 hours later)

I am also obese. Should I be able to go through lap band surgery okay while going through withdrawals from Cymbalta and having inflammation really bad because the fibromyalgia is not under control at the present time. Or should I wait until I get put on a new medicine for the fibromyalgia before having the surgery. Which option would be safest?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Chintan Solanki (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
surgery should be done after some stability in fibromyalgia

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thanks for follow up and sorry for delayed response.

It is better to become stable first from problem of fibromyalgia. After that you should go for surgery. Otherwise it will be difficult to judge that pain will be of fibromyalgia or post-surgical pain.

Take care.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar