I've taken Cymbalta and Savella. Cymbalta worked good for the pain and my mood but I got diarhea which a less common side effect. Savella was expensive and it didn't really seem to be much better then Effexor which I was on before so I went back to Effexor. Both of these drugs work great for some people. Their worth trying. I may try Lyrica soon. Good luck :)

Tried both Cymbalta & Lyrica. Cymbalta was bad - Lyrica was worse. It may have been the worst medicine I have ever put in my body. Terrible pain & all from taking it.

Now it appears I am sensitive to all meds so I have not tried anything since those two.

Since no two of us will react exactly the same from each one of the meds, you just need to do what makes you comfortable.

I've been on Cymbalta for three years. For me it takes the edge off of the pain, but doesn't remove it completely. Today my rheumy informed me that my HMO won't be covering Cymbalta any longer because it's too expensive. I'll either need to change to Effexor or be prepared to pay the cost myself.
Good luck, I hope you find something that works well for you.

Hi,

I just tried Cymbalta yesterday and my doctor pulled me off it today. I had too many side affects. She did warn me that I might feel sick on my stomach but my experience included that and more. I was desperate to try something to help and so I tried to give it a chance. All I can suggest is try one of the medicines because it might at least help you some.... like it was posted earlier everyone reacts to it differently. Good luck! :)

I've used all 3. Cymbalta had no benefits and terrible side effects for me. Savella worked wonders with few side manageable side effects- but it lost it's efficacy within 12 weeks. :o( Lyrica didn't help and I really didn't have any side effects that I knew of. Savella was my absolute favorite, but just didn't last. :o(

cymbalta has been my life saver, as I have tried Lyrica and gained alot of water weight with it, and it did not help me much with the pain, but the Cymbalta has helped me with the pain, depression, and also the neuropathy I get with diabetes. No side effects, but it did take a while for it to work, have to build up in your system.

I am on a combination of Lyrica and Cymbalta and they work together very nicely. A couple of years ago, I discontinuted Cymbalta and went on Savella, while it gave it more energy, my mood became very dark so I returned to Cymbalta.

I have taken Lyrica & Cymbalta. Both at the within my same med regimine. Neither one has had any benefit. I have terrible swelling with Lyrica & Cymbalta is pretty much like taking a sugar pill.

I've taken Lyrica and had to go off after a year because of side effects. It worked okay until the end.

Savella worked great. My pain and fatigued was reduced by half. The best so far...then I began to have tachycardia problems. (Savella increases your pulse) My pulse has gotten up to 180bpm. I though my head was going to explode. I spent 5 days in the hospital. I'm having a cardiac ablation on Monday to correct my tachycardia. I have had a problem with blood pressure and tachycardia for years. My Rhumey says that the Savella helped raise my pulse. When I get my tachycardia under control he wasn't to try Cymbalta. He said it will increase tachycardia too. He doesn't think it will work on me but, he said we can try.

The only think I take now is Elavil, Vicoden, and Flexril. I really don't get much relief. I wish I could go back on Savella. It worked the best. I truly think many of us try one thing or another until our options run out. On this board you hear of how so many drugs don't help. If you can take the meds it helps a little but the pain and syndromes remain. Many FMers tend to have problems with meds. I still pray for relief and help but I know it will be a long road.

I'm hoping to try one of these three drugs soon. Hopefully on Tues, the neurologist will prescribe me one for the pain. Elavil was horrible in my experience--didn't really help with the pain, nor did it help me sleep. Then, once I did wake up, I would feel groggy all day long. Just goes to show how everyone reacts differently to meds.

Thanks to you all for your input. Tramadol works best for my pain but my doc keeps pushing me to try the other three again. I only take one 50mg tramadol at 5:30am and one around 3pm. I am always in pain but wtih the tramadol I can continue to work and take care of all the kids in my life. I am not willing to stop living at 44 years old. I don't miss alot of work, but I have adapted the philospy that I explain to others that sometimes I have to stop and rest and care for myself in order to continue to move forward, if that makes sense. Sleep is one of my biggest healers. Thanks to you all again I don't feel so alone today.

cymbalta didn't help me much but i just started neurontin (gabapentin) and so far that is already helping and it's been less than week. good luck to you!