I'm a long term cymbalta user. I've been on it for a few years now. It really helps both my depression and my fibro pain. I know this because a while ago now my doc tried cutting my dose in half and with in two weeks I was in a lot more pain and depressed again.

How much are you taking? I am not depressed just bedridden from cmp/fibro...Thanks

120mg. I think it's the maximum dose.

Yeah 120 is the max dose but if they add an anxiety med and something extra for pain it usually helps, I have been on cymbalta for about two years now and also take tramidol, soma,and propanirol. It does take a while to wean off of the cymbalta but you will probably need something to subside the pain as you come off it, and it should be done slowly. I hope that helps you in some way,if you need more info let me know I have read just about everything I can find on fibro and its treatments. good luck

I didnt start cymbalta yet and I didnt want to stat if it is really hard to get off but my life has been in my bed for many years and Im sick of that also I have many stomach issues ...that is why i never tried it before..Thanks for the input :)

I have just been on cymbalta for just 6 weeks and I have notice about 30 to 40 % of pain decrease. It took about 2 to 3 weeks before I notice a difference. I'm just on 30mg, put I go back to the doctor tomorrow and he may increase it. I was so scared to try it, due to all the side effects I have heard, put I didn't have a one and it has truly helped. Now as far as weaning off, I don't intend too as long as I need it. I was on Zoloft for 14 years, and I tried getting off it one time and nearly had a nerves break down. You will have a withdrawal on any antidepressent, you have to wean off very slow............
I also have stomach problems, I take an anti acid one hour before I take cymbalta, and then a eat something and drink a large glass of water. I was really suprised that it didn't upset my stomach, put it didn't as long as I eat something first.
Now I do suffer from depression and fibro, so I'm treating 2 things at one time. Now ever once and awhile I do have to take a xanax, put not as much as I use to before cymbalta.
Now cymbalta is not for everyone, put you want know until you try it.

Good luck..

Thanks for the input I have decided to give it a try but would still love to hear from others :)

I decided to give it a try as well starting today. The side effects are crazy and I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin, but from what I have been reading the weird effects go away after while (I hope?) and it helps. I have been on tramadol for four years and hoping that this helps so that I do not have to continue on with the pain meds. I wish you luck in trying it.

Thanks Im starting next week Sat when my hubby is home....Let me know how you do..

I am in the process of trying to wean off cymbalta and so far not all that bad - not great, but I was on it for 5+ years!. (It's tough, and that's a mild way of putting it I guess, but for me, just seems like the time to try and see what else may help me.) The pain is back, especially in the evenings and sometimes I find my frustration level gets up there, but on the flip side - not as crazy fatigued anymore, my mood in general is actually more possitive, not hungry or wanting/needing to eat 2 hours after I just ate and I am not yawning all day long!
If you plan on going on cymbalta, I would recommend doing research on not only the side effects for going on, but also for going off.
Right now my hopeful goal is to try to be med free by end 2013 - realistically I think I will be on some pain med and combo of diet restriction and vit/min suppliments.
Hope my post from a diff perspective helps.
Lisa

I did thanks it seem either weaning off with a side kick.paxil helps a lot or buying capsules at store and dividing the pills up to wean very slow is the way to go Thanks again Did it help for the 5 yrs?

It did at first, really helped, but for me as time progressed, it seemed less effective or as my hubby put it "this just isn't working anymore, Lisa, you know that right?" - We've been married almost 30 years and the man is a "keeper" let me tell ya! :)
Anyway, i also have Chiari and my hindbrain herniation for some unknown reason decreased by half per an MRI in August. This was such unexpected and GOOD news, that it kinda motivated me abit. Now the threat of brain decompression seems to no longer be so scary now that my cerebral spinal fluid is not being blocked as much and is flowing better. I also have bone spurs in my neck, along my spine and several herniated/bulging disks too.
Because of the Chiari thingy and my insurance saying they did not want to pay for cymbalta anymore (no generic i guess and cheaper alternatives out there - the alternatives do not work for me tho), I just decided in my overly stubborn way to just go for it.
It's tough. I have extreme pain days, but I also have good things. I no longer want to sleep all the time and eat all the time. I am not yawning in the classroom all day. I can still do my job, even tho at the end of the day I can hardly walk.
I am taking supplements and Alieve, one tablet twice daily, and a prescription anti-inflammatory. (I suffer from chronic and extreme inflammation all over my body too - as with most fibro sufferers, there seems to be usually a whole host of other ailments to go along with it ).
I am not using any other "side-kicks" meds however I a may need one. The word out there seems to be that you can feel better for a couple of weeks then side effects from withdrawal CAN (not necessarilly WILL) come crashing down. I've only been lowering and off 100% since Dec 28th, 2012.
I will add, I probably would have fought a little more to not go on the cymbalta if i had known the withdrawal side effects and difficulty, but many, many people find it to be such a miricle for pain, etc, esp when coupled with side-kick meds, that my experience is probably different. They do not have plans to ever go off perhaps!
I wish you luck richannamae, and can I say, I LOVE YOUR ICON! What a precious little lady!
Lisa

Ha ha I have a keeper too almost 19yrs together..He does so much for me...Since I havent worked in 8yrs and I am in be about 20hrs a day because sitting in a chair is too painful my life is limited...So side effect from something that might possible work means nothing to me at this point...Ive tried everything out there natural....There has been some things that have helped some but no great results..Thanks again for your input :)

I have a co worker who has been taking it for a couple of years, without it I doubt she would still be able to work. I wasn't able to take it. Though it was working I started getting sores in my head and my scalp hurt constantly. I thought I was the exception until I seen others in the support group that have head sores as well.
As with all medicines just try it and see if it works for you. I sincerely hope so.... being stuck at home in the bed gets old. (((soft hugs)))

Your situation sounds os much worse than mine. I think you too should give it a try. You will probably know within a few weeks to a month if it is right for you.
It really did work for about 4 of the 5 years and I was thrilled to be able to function again, but then, for some reason (maybe the chiari thing decreasing in size???) it just wasn't as good. However it was the insurance co. notice that really pushed me over to trying to wean off.

Good Luck and please keep me/us posted!
Lisa