In the past ten days, a few different blog entries have been written calling our attention to a meta-analysis that suggests perhaps Cymbalta (duloxotine) — a newer antidepressant — isn’t as good as the company claims it is for the physical symptoms …
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I have read the meta-analysis. I also did my own quick Medline search and there are not “dozens” of trials using Cymbalta for pain in depressed patients. There are not many actual clinical trials.
There might have been a couple studies not included in the meta-analysis — I wonder if they might have been published after the meta-analysis was in-press? Also, the meta-analysis noted that two of Lilly’s own studies did not provide sufficient statistical information to be included in the meta-analysis. If they didn’t provide enough information, could that have been because the data were not in favor of Cymbalta?
The Lilly meta-analysis cited in this post did not examine Cymbalta vs. placebo in treating pain in depressed patients, so I don’t think it is a comparable analysis to the meta-analysis that actually examined pain in depression. They are two separate analyses that examined different measures. Pain measures and quality of life measures are not synonymous.
When is a meta-analysis not a meta-analysis might be a good title for this topic! Sadly I have to agree that studies that don’t use specific pain outcome measures (and not just visual analogue, but also measures of function, reduction of distress, depression etc), and that don’t include a GOOD placebo arm just don’t cut it for me. And once again, medication on its own doesn’t do a lot of good if the fear and anxiety associated with pain aren’t also addressed.
Speaking as someone who has had chronic pain for the last 25 years, Cymbalta does help. At first. I’ve been on it for about 15 months now at 90mg daily. It does help, I went from a daily pain avg of 7 to a 5, but it’s starting to wear off. In addition I’ve noticed an alarming side effect that is not mentioned anywhere in the literature, but can be found on forums and bulletin boards online. I’m craving alcohol. And I don’t mean like one would crave a steak or ice cream, I mean like I can’t look at a commercial or ad for it, I can’t eat out at a place that serves it. I become emotionally unstable when challenged. It’s scary and I think I’d rather be depressed and in pain.
Are you experieincing symptoms of hypomania?
I was on this drug for quite a while. That’s when things spiraled out of control. I had an uncotrolable compulsion to drink alcohol. I thought I was an alcoholic, but it didn’t make any sense. I tried everything to stop drinking, and I mean everything! I have lost everything in my life because of this. I never new it was cymbalta until I lost my job thus losing my insurance. I had to stop taking this drug cause I could not afford it. To my amazement as soon as I stopped the last dose of it ALL compulsion for alcohol stopped. It’s been many months now dealing with the withdrawl symptoms (which are brutal). With out a doubt this drug made me drink alcohol.
i had surgery four times on my right foot hammer toes ect. the doc. remove my bones and now im in lots of pain now im on cymbalta and wondering can this really help me at all. please anyone respond back thank you