Question: My doctor thinks I have fibromyalgia and Cymbalta is the treatment of choice. what do you think? I am currently taking Pristiq for depression and have been on it for about 5 years and it works well. I am scared to change from something I know works to something I have never taken before. the Rheumatologist sent me back to my primary doctor for treatment. I have been going to my primary doctor for years about all of the physical symptoms that I have. Leg pain, back pain, nausea, neck pain, chest pain, etc. and I am always told that nothing is wrong with me. It is my depression on the move which I now believe. the problem is, I am so tired of the pain. My MD cannot change my antidepressant so the the psychiatrist is doing that part of it. My MD prescribed Tramadol for the pain and it works well to control my pain. The psychiatrist says not to take it because it puts me at risk for seizures. He would rather me take Vicodin but cannot write the script for me so I will have to go back to my MD for this script which I am pretty sure is not going to want to prescribe it.

So, guess my question is what about Cymbalta for fibromyalgia? And what about Lyrica? do they need to be taken together to get the best effect? I currently take Lamictal which is an antiseizure med just like Lyrica. I take it as a mood stabilizer.

If I add the Lyrica to the Pristiq, should I quit taking the Lamictil? And will the Tramadol taken with the Pristiq cause me to have seizures?

When I first started taking antidepressants, I was taking Effexor which worked great. My doctor switched me to Pristiq which also works well(she said it was the new and improved Effexor). When I first started taking the antidepressant, my physical symptoms improved 100 fold. So when the physical symptoms resurface, I know that the depression is on the move.

I do agree 100 percent about the withdrawal from the Pristiq. If I miss even one dose, I become physically ill, almost like a drug addict would feel.

If I stay on the Pristiq and the Lamectal, can I take the Tramadol? The literature that I read states that when you have two medications that do something with the serotonin, you can get Serotonin Syndrome. Is it the Pristiq and the Tramadol that are similar or is it the Lamectal and the Tramadol that are the same?

I am also doing TMS therapy( Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) which I am excited that I qualified for and my insurance will pay for it. I have had 15 of 30 treatments. I think that it is helping.

I just want to feel better. I have been stable for about 6 years but now am in crisis again and have had to take a leave of absence from work until I can get this figured out.

I read the side effects of Lyrica and weight gain is a big one. As a woman, I already struggle with weight. Because I am so tired all the time, I crave the sweets and the carbs to keep myself functioning at work and at home( I have a special needs little boy and he is a 1 to 1. I would NOT take the Lyrica just for that reason, I do not want to gain anymore weight. The weight issue also plays into the depression. One of those vicious cycles.

Bottom line is I want the pain to go away. I am afraid to switch medications. I do not want to end up in the hospital or severely suicidal. I already fight feelings of hopelessness and suicide. So is it ok to take the Tramadol with my current medications.