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Fibromyalgia And Cymbalta
There are some medications that either work like a charm or simply don’t work at all with no grey area in between. Cymbalta, one of the latest fibromyalgia medications, seems to be just such a drug. In fact, studies have even found that Cymbalta, for fibromyalgia patients, works better for women than it does for men.
Cymbalta, an antidepressant, has been prescribed for adults (anyone over 18, as there have been no scientific research studies to determine the effects of using Cymbalta in children) for both depression and fibromyalgia. According to the manufacturers of Cymbalta, the antidepressant targets both serotonin and norepinephrine, both of which have been found to be lacking in those with fibromyalgia. Taking Cymbalta, fibromyalgia patients, particularly women, have found a reduction of symptoms.
According to a study conducted by the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, over 50 percent of all fibromyalgia patients who participated in the study, who were administered a 60 milligram dose of Cymbalta once or twice daily, showed improvements in their symptoms after three months of taking the medication. Furthermore, by taking Cymbalta, some fibromyalgia patients saw improvements in the first month.
By taking Cymbalta, fibromyalgia patients were able to better function because of an easing of many of the symptoms, including pain and depression, of fibromyalgia. Interestingly, while men only accounted for eleven percent of all participants in the study, they showed the least amount of improvement with little or no lessening of fibromyalgia symptoms.
Why Cymbalta works better for women than for men has not yet been determined. However, those fibromyalgia patients who had success with Cymbalta saw improvements from between one week and one month from the start of their treatments. Understand, however, that the effects vary from patient-to-patient, and it may be shorter, or even longer, for the medication to kick in.
If you have difficulty swallowing capsules, you’ll want to discuss that with your doctor as it’s not possible to take the Cymbalta by breaking or chewing the capsule. Additionally, when taking the Cymbalta, fibromyalgia patients should considering eating a small snack or a meal right before or directly after taking a dose.
While the manufacturers of Cymbalta insist it is okay to take the medication with or without food, taking Cymbalta, for some fibromyalgia patients, on an empty stomach may lead to increased side effects. Your doctor should be able to tell you the best time and the best way (with or without food) to take your doses.
Side effects of Cymbalta, for fibromyalgia patients, may include dry mouth, nausea, constipation, dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, and sweating. With time, however, when taking Cymbalta, fibromyalgia patients will notice the side effects dissipate. However, if you’re concerned about the side effects, talk with your doctor. Make sure he or she knows about all other medications – both prescribed and over-the-counter – you are taking.
Additionally, never stop taking
Cymbalta without first consulting your doctor. Stopping suddenly could result
in side effects such as headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Your doctor can
advise you if it’s safe to simply stop taking the Cymbalta for fibromyalgia, or
you should gradually wean yourself off of the medication.
Taking Cymbalta, fibromyalgia
patients should monitor their symptoms closely, as they should when prescribed
any antidepressant. Be aware that in some cases, Cymbalta can make depression
worse, rather than alleviating it, so if you begin to feel more depressed –
when you were only moderately or not depressed previously – talk with your
doctor immediately.
Because there’s no guarantee that
any medication is going to work, ask your doctor if he or she can give you any
samples of Cymbalta. That way, if the medication works, you can fill your
prescription, and if it doesn’t, you’re not out any money. Since you can suffer
from side effects if you miss several doses, you’ll also want to make sure you
refill your prescription before you run out. By taking Cymbalta, fibromyalgia
patients have found their symptoms vastly improve.
Keep in mind that by taking
Cymbalta, fibromyalgia patients aren’t going to find a miracle cure. Rather,
Cymbalta has worked for alleviating the symptoms of some fibromyalgia patients.
Discuss your medication options with your doctor and whether he thinks Cymbalta
would be a good fit for you.
© Health Research Today
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