Drowsiness w/Cymbalta? Fighting fatigue?

I was on Effexor, which is similar to Cymbalta with having an SSRI and an Norepinephran (sp?) re uptake inhibitor. It was the single most worse medication that I have ever been on. I couldn't drive a car for over a year without having to stop every couple of miles and run around it to wake myself up. In addition, it did absolutely nothing for my pain levels so it was for nothing. It took me over a month to get off of it and since then have had good luck with Lexapro then Celexa. I hate to say it, but I faked ADHD to get on Adderal and even though my pain levels haven't changed, I am at least not falling asleep standing up. To me, nothing else is worse than not having the energy to live life and get even the basic things done. They should prescribe a stimulant to those suffering from chronic fatigue. Why not?

I had chronic fatigue for the past 10 years (now 32), a few months ago I got diagnosed with ADD and was put on Concerta and that medication really helped with wakefulness. I had been on Zoloft before for Anxiety/Depression and though I did not like the way that drug worked on me, it certainly never made me drowsy. I recently decided to go back on Anti-D's (so that I don't depend on just Xanax for controlling my anxiety), and Cymbalta was what I was given. I've been on it two days (30mg/day for a week, then 60mg after) and I can already feel some SERIOUS drowsiness fatigue, DESPITE also taking my ADD meds (45mg a day of Concerta); after starting Concerta and before starting the Cymbalta, fatigue was no longer in my vocabulary, so this effect worries me. My psych advised that if I do become drowsy, to take the Cymbalta in the evening. I did notice that I felt normal energy levels last night, it just that morning and the afternoon were a serious drag. Maybe taking it at night would minimize the sleepiness during the day.

I have been on Cymbalta for several years and I have noticed drowsiness right after I take it but it goes away then I have alot of energy in the afternoon and evening and then I cant seem to get to sleep until late. I am thinking that it is keeping me up or that my surge in energy is keeping me up. I have tried taking it at different times, evenings, nights, with no change. My hope is to wean myself off of it and use SAME instead.

I am sorry to hear you're having such problems. I am also on Cymbalta but my fatigue comes from having chronic fatigue syndrome on top of the fibromyalgia. My doctor recently put me on strattera for the fatigue and it seems to be helping. At least, I'm not down for as many days. Hope this helps. Good luck!

I was first prescribed Cymbalta while being treated for acute depression in the hospital. I also take Abilify. Cymbalta helped a lot at first with my depression and anxiety. A year later I am 20 lbs heavier (I have always been slim but now am heavy-set). I crave sugar and unhealthy foods all the time. Looking back I feel like I've slept through most of the past year. I am so tired all the time. On my days off it is not uncommon for me to sleep till 7 PM. Besides the weight loss and fatigue/exhaustion I've also experienced hair loss and loss of sex drive. Overall I feel emotionally flat. I can't cry.
SO after a year I am going off this stuff. The side effects now far out weigh the benefits. So far I am experiencing some symptoms of withdrawal like brain zaps.

Neurontin made me really "druggy" feeling. I seemed very tired during the day but couldn't really sleep at night. Flexeril will make me sleep. Cymbalta I have been on 30mg for 3 weeks now and they just uped it to 60 mg 2 days ago and I have not had any sleepiness. I do not take neutronin at all any more. I did not like the side effects. For me the Cymbalta seems to be working pretty good. They did give me an injection of somthing which I can't rember the name of wich the combination of the two seems to work the best for my fibro/lupus/rhumatoid arthritis. I wish you the best of luck. Michele

i didn't have fatigue with cymbalta, but neurontin made me pretty much comatose. i have fibro and anxiety and the only meds i take right now are ms contin and xanax. i take zanaflex when i really need it and i use a tens unit for bad trigger points. i got off of cymbalta about a 2 yrs ago because i felt like i was going to rip my skin off. it worked great at first.. but as for for cymbalta and fatigue, i didn't have that issue myself. hope this helps.

Looking at the reviews (in link below), everyone seems to have different reactions with Cymbalta. If your current medicines are causing fatigue maybe you can try and see how you react to Cymbalta.

https://www.drugs.com/comments/duloxetine/cymbalta.html

(The reviews have specific ones for use in fibromyalgia as well).