[Kori]

I'm a sixteen year old girl and let me preempt this by saying that nobody quite knows what is wrong with me. One doctor says "well, it could be Fibromyalgia" and another says "I don't want to say you have it, because then we can't help you." Then my own primary physician says "I think it's just all in your head."

Absolutely none of this has ever been in my head. I have chronic polyneuropathy (widespread nerve damage), fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, and anxiety. All of this kind of started boiling down in my freshman year. Here I am, after the end of my sophomore year and I failed. I was a straight-A, honors student and now I'm a drop out. It wouldn't have to have been this way if a doctor could help me, but they refuse to.

But that's not exactly why I'm here. My neurologist (the one who said it might be fibromyalgia) put me on Cymbalta to treat the nerve pain (and any underlying depression if I had it, which I didn't at the time). I don't know if most doctors know, but Cymbalta is terrible for anyone under 24 because it causes suicidal thoughts and anxiety - exactly what happened to me. Best part? He wouldn't do anything about it. He said he wouldn't do anything until he saw me again, which wouldn't be until September 14th (also my birthday). Well, the nurses got pissed off at that idea, and their head doctor sent me to a pain management specialist.

This guy is absolutely a genius. He was the one that said that he didn't want to tell me I had fibromyalgia. Regardless, he has been trying to switch my medication over to Savella, Xanax (0.5mg), Neurontin (300mg 4 times a day), and Norco (aka Vicodin). And he wanted me to ween off Cymbalta completely. Let's just say that hasn't been going well.

For the past three days, I've been doing nothing but vomit. I can't keep down solid food, juices (ie gatorade), or even water. At this point, I'm so dehydrated that my throat hurts. And then my stomach hurts from all the vomiting (like in the muscles).

This is where I'm confused. I've been allergic to codiene for as long as I can remember - it makes me throw up. I didn't know that Vicodin (which has hydrocodone) was derived from codiene. I love taking it because it really helps me concentrate and feel pain free, but then I don't know if that is making me throw up. The other possibility is weening off of Cymbalta. I've read that some withdrawal symptoms include extreme nausea and vomiting. The nausea and vomiting are so bad that I can't even take any of my medicine - meaning I'm essentially going cold turkey on it as well as all my other medicine (neurontin, birth control, vicodin)...

What should I do? Would it be best to start taking the medicine again or should I tough it out?

[eearley]

Sweetie, I am not doctor, but I feel your pain right now. I was on the 60mg of Cymbalta for Fibromyalgia. It helped with the symtpoms, but the side effects were too much for me to deal with. I am on day 6 of no Cymbalta and feel like dying. I even went to the ER last night - couldn't stand this anymore. Basically the dr. there told me Cymbalta is evil and very very hard to withdraw from. He's had patients end up in ICU from withdrawing cold turkey. My potassium level was dangerously low and they gave me a mega dose to help bring it up, along with 2 bags of IV fluid to help with the dedydration. I would try to take your meds anyway, like right after you throw up, that way if may stay in your system long enough to at least absorb most of it in your system.

[cookie]

Dear Kori:

I do not think it is all in your head. Why would you made this up?....Nobody wants to feel bad/ill. I also suffer from fatigue, depression and anxiety. I do not care, the name of the diagnosis as long as my symptoms are treated.

Different things can bring those symptoms. Metabolism issues, food intolerances, insulin resistance, heavy metal toxicity, Epstein Barr virus, hormonal changes. So it is nota ll in your head unless you already been tested for them. Check this website. I found it interesting http://www.foodforth...id_Content=1635

Do not give up, keep on searching for doctors, until you find someone who can help you. If they refuse to, find another kind of doctor. Like a homeopath or acupuncturist.

Yes, antidepressants can trigger suicidal thoughts. That is something a –pain management specialist- cannot help you.

I am not a doctor, but I have read on this site, that most people who taper fast, get very uncomfortable symptoms. When I reduced cymbalta to lower dosages I also felt like vomiting.

Your question is a very difficult one. My advice to people is always to wean slowly. Try to take a certain amount of medicine and start weaning from there. However I know from my own experience it can be difficult. When I almost quit the medication, I started having severe nausea and vomiting, and tried to increase Cymbalta dose, and my body rejected it, vomiting. My doctor had to give me another medication.