Cymbalta for nueropathy

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Brenda Bricco
Brenda Bricco Member Posts: 579 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I read that there was some success in treating neuropathy with Cymbalta. My husband asked his onc about it and he prescribed it. The pharmacy imformed me today that his insurance doesn't want to pay for it and get this... they can't even sell it to him because his insurace is through the state and it is illegal to sell it to us even though he has the script (his usual insurance went to $2000 a month, we just couldn't afford so we applied for the state ins.)We were found eligle and pay a premium each month. I am just wondering if anyone else has used Cymbalta for nueropathy. If something else, what was it? Thanks in advance.
Brenda

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  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #2
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    Hi Brenda
    I have tried most of the drugs for neuropathy,lyrica,neurontin ,endep but I must admit I drew the line at cymbalta. For the most part I have not found that the neuropathy drugs work for me and in Australia they are very expensive. The paradox with the medications is that if they are not effective they seem to want to double the dose till thet become effective. At that stage the effectiveness is overcome by the side effects. From my research of patients who have tried cymbalta ,some like it but many had serious problems with it. I have the same issues with arthritis drugs like cyclosporin,cyclophosphamide , imuran and humira. They are all powerful immuno-suppressants and in most cases are not advised for cancer survivors. I had enough problems with unusual skin ca after taking methotrexate. I am at a point now where I find the pain from neuropathy,arthritis and spondylitis barely manageable but I am afraid I do not trust the safety of the drugs currently available. Ron.
  • RobinKaye
    RobinKaye Member Posts: 93
    #3
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    Cymbalta
    My sister used Cymbalta for pain after spinal surgery to remove a benign tumor. The drug made her so miserable she had to stop taking it - the withdrawal was pure hell. If there is another way don't take this drug. Maybe your insurance company did you a favor though clearly not their intent.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #4
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    Brenda -
    Cymbalta Side Effects

    With a list of side-effects as long as Cymbalta has..... why bother?

    (I'd consider shopping around for another oncologist, though)

    (Oh, and by the way..... Most insurance pays for acupuncture treatments,
    and great success using it for neuropathy has been reported!!)

    Stay well,

    John
  • JayhawkDan
    JayhawkDan Member Posts: 205
    #5
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    I tried
    all the usual things for neuropathy 10 years ago -- long before the cancer, which was just dx earlier this year. Anyway, nothing worked, so my gp prescribed tramadol to help with the pain. It's been great and allowed me to enjoy life again. They never figured why I have it (went to every specialist that might help), but it's pretty much the least of my problems now. I get an rx for 540 pills (I take 3 per day, 50 mg each), and it costs about $35 at Costco, so it's very cheap. Good luck -- I know that when you don't even want to walk across the room that it makes life pretty miserable.

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