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Does Tizanidine Interact With Celexa, Oxycodone And Cymbalta?

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Posted on Tue, 12 Jul 2016
Question: I am a quadriplegic and I have severe burning butt. I take Tizanidine a 2 milligram doses 4 times a day and Celexa at 30 milligrams 1 time a day. I had been using Celexa at 20 milligrams 1 time a day. I take Oxycodone 5 milligrams XXXXXXX up to 6 times a day. My pain is excruciating however oncene starting Cymbalta at the direction of my urologist comma after about a week I ended up getting very very sleepy and disoriented. It became very hard for me to wake up and scary in the sense of the way that it affected my mind and my eyesight. I have gone off of it back to Celexa and back onto Cymbalta 2 times with the same effect. Is there anyway that I can get the pain relief that I feel from Cymbalta by adjusting something else to keep such bad side effects away? I also currently I'm taking Lyrica 150 milligrams 3 times a day. I'm also taking 100 milligrams of Baclofen a day. What could be causing this interaction that seems to cause me to feel like I'm completely disoriented with Cymbalta when it works so well for my pain?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ishu Bishnoi (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX a.schroeder, thanks for asking.


I can understand your concern. It is sad that you are undergoing so much suffering. I really want to help you. I will answer your questions one by one.

First question - You are taking 6 medications on/off. Out of these 6 medications, 5 medications cause severe sedation, dizziness, confusion, memory impairment. Only Baclofen causes loss of sleep, aggression, irritability. You asked about adjustment of drugs so that Cymbalta can be safely taken. You can reduce dose of other medication to reduce sedation, like take Lyrica 75 mg only before sleep.
Citalopram (Celexa) and Duloxetine (Cymbalta), both are antidepressants. You should not take Celexa or reduce its dose.
You need to reduce dose of all medication as doses are very high. Take Cymbalta at highest effective dose and avoid rest drugs high dose.

2nd answer - Disorientation is occurring due to combined CNS suppression effective of all these centrally acting drugs high dose. As I have mentioned in above question, 5 medications are acting against your brain activity, you will feel disoriented. This much use and dose of medication can cause continuous sleep in a healthy male. You are still able to tolerate it as you are using these medications for long time and you have developed tolerance.

For pain and spasticity relief, you can also try methods other than drugs

: Physiotherapy and occupational therapy - I am sure that you must be taking it already. You can ask your therapist to use ultrasonic and infrared therapy to reduce pain. Ask him to do stretching of muscles to control spasticity.

: Meditation - It helps you in controlling your nerves and mind. Thereby you will be able to control your pain effectively. It will relieve your depression or anxiety. You must try it.

: Acupuncture can also help you getting some relief.

: Drug pump intrathecal placement - Here Baclofen pump or painkiller drug are implanted around spinal cord membranes (intrathecal) and it releases drug at constant rate for long time. It relieves pain and spasticity. Consult neurosurgeon for it.

: Spinal cord stimulation - Here any electronic device is placed near cord and nerves which blocks pain signals below it. It can reduce pain intensity. Your drug doses will reduce after it.

: Other methods like Thermoelectrical neuro stimulation (TENS) and bioelectric therapy can also reduce pain.

You should consult pain clinic to evaluate you. Based upon that, methods to control pain can be selected from above. The aim is to reduce drug numbers and amount along with significant pain relief.

I hope it will help you. Still in doubt, do let me know.

Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ishu Bishnoi

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 901 Questions

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Does Tizanidine Interact With Celexa, Oxycodone And Cymbalta?

Brief Answer: Consultation Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXXX a.schroeder, thanks for asking. I can understand your concern. It is sad that you are undergoing so much suffering. I really want to help you. I will answer your questions one by one. First question - You are taking 6 medications on/off. Out of these 6 medications, 5 medications cause severe sedation, dizziness, confusion, memory impairment. Only Baclofen causes loss of sleep, aggression, irritability. You asked about adjustment of drugs so that Cymbalta can be safely taken. You can reduce dose of other medication to reduce sedation, like take Lyrica 75 mg only before sleep. Citalopram (Celexa) and Duloxetine (Cymbalta), both are antidepressants. You should not take Celexa or reduce its dose. You need to reduce dose of all medication as doses are very high. Take Cymbalta at highest effective dose and avoid rest drugs high dose. 2nd answer - Disorientation is occurring due to combined CNS suppression effective of all these centrally acting drugs high dose. As I have mentioned in above question, 5 medications are acting against your brain activity, you will feel disoriented. This much use and dose of medication can cause continuous sleep in a healthy male. You are still able to tolerate it as you are using these medications for long time and you have developed tolerance. For pain and spasticity relief, you can also try methods other than drugs : Physiotherapy and occupational therapy - I am sure that you must be taking it already. You can ask your therapist to use ultrasonic and infrared therapy to reduce pain. Ask him to do stretching of muscles to control spasticity. : Meditation - It helps you in controlling your nerves and mind. Thereby you will be able to control your pain effectively. It will relieve your depression or anxiety. You must try it. : Acupuncture can also help you getting some relief. : Drug pump intrathecal placement - Here Baclofen pump or painkiller drug are implanted around spinal cord membranes (intrathecal) and it releases drug at constant rate for long time. It relieves pain and spasticity. Consult neurosurgeon for it. : Spinal cord stimulation - Here any electronic device is placed near cord and nerves which blocks pain signals below it. It can reduce pain intensity. Your drug doses will reduce after it. : Other methods like Thermoelectrical neuro stimulation (TENS) and bioelectric therapy can also reduce pain. You should consult pain clinic to evaluate you. Based upon that, methods to control pain can be selected from above. The aim is to reduce drug numbers and amount along with significant pain relief. I hope it will help you. Still in doubt, do let me know. Thanks. Take care.