... brain. Start up patient. 1 week 30 mg. 2nd week 60 mg. Still nausea and horrible headaches. Very Very tired. Wake in the night. Whirlybird brain. How long before this stops and the nerve pain starts to subside? Help Just started week 3. Depression better but, this is where I was when I bailed out the first the because of the side effects. I'm not sure if it is worth it if this doesn't end soon. Any thoughts?
How long do the initial side effects of Cymbalta last? The headaches,nausea, fatigue, whirlybird...
Question posted by 4725 on 2 Jan 2010
Last updated on 18 May 2022 by Crystalanny
30 Answers
Crystalanny
18 May 2022
I just started taking cymbalta for fibromyalgia yesterday and I refuse to take it again. The side effects I had just isn’t worth it. I was up all night couldn’t sleep for the life of me was dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out throughout the night and the headache I’ve had since yesterday. I messaged my doctor right away and told her I will not be taking the medicine ever again:
JuliannaM
2 May 2020
I wish I new the answer to this question too. I took 30mg for 2 days and literally thought I was going to die of a stroke. Within 30 minutes of the 1st dose I was dizzy, then nauseous, then piercing headache, then my tongue felt numb that I struggled to speak. My doctor told me to hang in there, I was horizontal for the day. Day 2 same thing but worse and within 3 hours I was struggling with my balance and had tremors. I knew I'd never take another pill again by then but had to endure the 24 hour time release. By 2am in the morning my head had 360 degree pain and was then heading down the top of my spine. Its been 3 days post taking the 2nd dose and I now am constantly dizzy, still feel pressure and nausea and have difficulty reading even I feel like vertigo has taken grip in my head. What can I say this pill felt like a cyanide pill for me and I said to a friend that it must be what a stroke feels like the pressure in my head was so intense. - That said, its a personal journey and many love this. Good luck to all on their journey.
Gazane
29 March 2020
I took cymbalta yesterday late in the evening before going to bed. Taking it for anxiety and chronic pain. And I felt just fine within an hour and fell asleep.
But like 5 hrs later I wake up with this sick feeling in my stomach like imma puke everything out and also a headache. So I guess this is normal??So I think imma just stop here, also reading all your comments, bruh... for me clonazepam has worked perfectly for 2 years, but I felt like my body needed a pause from the meds so I stopped, but within a year the pain returned, my anxiety got worse and worse, I am restless like 75% of the day...
so I might just go back to clonazepam I had almost no side effects using it, except for maybe feeling a little tired sometimes in the morning, but thats nothing compared to what im reading here, holy crap! But yes if you have severe chronic (nerve related) pain and unusual sensations, that make everyday life a living hell might ask your doc about clonazepam (not advertising it but I have tried about 4 anti depressants for pain and none worked so far... ) good luck with your pains my friends especially now on lockdown, wash your hands, stay safe !
Stefieh80
7 Sep 2019
I just started cymbalta 30 mg today after stopping effexor, which I took for over a year. After Cymbalta kicked in I felt anxiety and had to take a .5 clonazepam. I still feel weird. I hope this goes away :-( I need my anxiety gone as well as my muscle pains.
MissHeezy
14 June 2019
I’ve just started this medication today (20mg). I already feel like I’m dying. I feel so sick it’s unreal. Reading some of these comments is putting me off taking any more. I don’t know what to do. I’ve just come off sertraline & pregabalin due to them not working (was on them for around 2 years).
I honestly can’t be dealing with this.
What’s the point in this medicine if it just makes you feel worse?!
cindy-59
15 June 2019
Hi MissHeezy. I have slowly tapered off Lyrica because of the side effects. I’m tapering slowly off Cymbalta now because the side effects are worse than Lyrica. I was prescribed both medications for chronic nerve pain. Not only did they not help me with the pain they made my pain worse. Both need to be tapered off very slow so that you don’t experience ‘The Discontinuation Syndrome’. Some people are blessed and are able to get off them quicker. How long ago did you get off Lyrica? How did you taper off? I’m thinking you might have two things going on. You could be having withdrawals from Lyrica and having side effects of Cymbalta. I was sick from Cymbalta the first day I started it but I thought it was from the pain getting worse. I started tapering off Cymbalta (60 mg) almost two years ago and it will take me a couple more months to get completely off. These medications stole over 10 years of my life and they almost killed me.
I am down to 1 mg and every side effect is gone; even the pain. I would never advise anyone to take Lyrica or Cymbalta. I wish someone would have warned me about the dangers of taking them. Research ‘Natural Remedies’ on Google and you will be surprised what you will find. Take care and I wish you the best x cindy59
Jessica newman
17 March 2019
Do you take it in morning or at night?
Coachgeorge
17 March 2019
I take it in the morning. I’m pretty useless until noon. But I had the same with the sweats, fatigue and nausea. I’m hoping the jitters is the last side effect to go. I’m just starting week three.
Coachgeorge
17 March 2019
I just finished my second week on 30mg of cymbalta. I have jittery anxiety symptoms within an hour after I take it. I take .5 Ativan to help. I did have fatigue but that seems to be subsiding. Dr. Says my body is adjusting. I eat a half a banana when I take it and that has helped with nausea. Im not giving up. Hang in there.
Jesuschrist666
17 Oct 2018
Yes
Macska18
25 Aug 2018
I’ve been on it for about 9 weeks for anxiety, depression, and pain. Started with 30mg then went up to 60mg. In the beginning I had a constant annoying headache., Mildly nauseous, and extremely tired and weak. I would get out of bed in the morning and throw myself on the couch and watch tv and sleep until it was time for a shower which I had to drag myself off the couch to take. Then I would go to bed. This went on for 7 weeks. I was taking 30 mg twice a day. My dr suggested taking 60mg at night and it has helped with the tiredness immensely. Plus I sleep better. The headaches seemed to have suddenly stopped. One day I realized I didn’t have one. The one most bothersome side effect for me is weakness in my legs . I’m a runner and I would run 6-10 miles a day a few times a week. When I finally got the energy to run again my legs felt heavy and every muscle in my body hurt. I was able to run 2-1/2 miles.
I tried pushing myself because that’s my personality but I had to stop. I’m thinking this is one of those side effects that never goes away until you’re off the medication. My anxiety is much improved, the depression somewhat, but I thought that would be a lot better. Maybe I need more time. At least it’s improved and I’m not laying on the couch constantly crying anymore. So far no weight gain. I took Paxil years ago and it was wonderful, but I gained weight so I went off it. I was on it for 2 years. I did good for about 5-6 years but then my life situation took a turn downward. To make matters worse , I’ve been on Percocet for years and I’m weaning off of that. So maybe some of what I’m feeling is from that. Anyway, I’ll stay on it unless my legs get worse, I gain weight, or some new weird side effect pops up.i hope this helps. Good luck
cindy-59
23 May 2018
In my opinion and experience Cymbalta is poison ☠️ I’ve been on it for 8-9 years for nerve pain. The horrible side effects never went away for me. I also developed anxiety and depression! I gained over 80 pounds! I could go on and on; but the main thing is that I’m tapering off now. I’m down from 60 mg to 20 mg and I’ve been tapering since June of last year (2017). Most of the side effects are gone now; but I’m still experiencing anxiety and depression. The nerve pain has almost completely gone now... so I believe that the Cymbalta was making it worse for me. I’ve started to slowly lose a bit of weight; but it’s a hard and slow process. I can’t believe that this drug is still on the market! Personally I would never advise anyone to take it!
cindy-59
23 May 2018
Oh yeah; I meant to add something. The ‘no pain; no gain’ saying should NOT pertain to a drug that alters our brain!!!
J_M_J_C
20 July 2019
I agree. Heavy duty medications like this should not be taken with a "no pain, no gain" mentality.
mwjwriter
23 May 2018
I've been on 90 mg. for over 10 yrs and had no problems.
FrankDPJr1833
22 May 2018
My psychiatrist (which in my opinion is the only MD that should be prescribing and monitoring this medicine and any other you might be taking) prescribed 30mg for 2 weeks then 60mg and after 5 days on 60mg she and I had an appointment scheduled so she could get a good "read" on my reaction to Cymbalta (I had been on 40mg of Lexapro for 3+ years and had a 6 week taper down before the Cymbalta was added). Along with the Cymbalta she gave me a script for Zofran which is an antiemetic (anti throw up med that dissolves under the tongue) which took away the nausea completely.
I have ADHD so I'm on Adderall XR as well and though I dragged my feet for the 1st week I found the 2nd week a bit easier but ended up being prescribed a short term script for Adderall IR at 20 mg to take around midday or afternoon... I'm a lawyer so it was agreed that a yawning, 1/2 awake attorney was detrimental to my overall well being.
My headaches were mild but persistent and I found that if I limited the intensity of light, used a laptop, closed my eyes for a few minutes every hour, and (I know this sounds odd but here it is), rubbed my temples and the back of my neck at the hairline with Tiger Balm or peppermint oil... it relieved my immediate pain/ or distracted me from it. Plus the mint oil kept the nausea away.
The only other thing I can offer is keeping an "open line" to your doctor... in the end you're paying for their service to your treatment which doesn't consist and exist solely in their treatment room... Especially if they are a mental health professional.
Your a stronger person for submitting yourself to a new course of treatment, but it's often a personal and physical hell getting there - But it can be done and keep saying It will be done.
FreddyMeds
6 April 2018
This is an old thread but it's always worse keeping these boards updated so that people can dip into them to get some advice
Cymbalta is a fantastic product for fibromyalgia pain it really does work and it also is a good fast acting antidepressant. Pain relief starts the earliest some people can experience noticeable benefits from week 2 it's subtle but it's noticeable. ( this is particularly nerve pain , neuropathic pain , the burning tingling throbbing aching muscle pains from fibromyalgia or spinal related muscle and nerve pain)
Mood lift and relaxation of anxieties is subtle (a lightening experience from the heaviness you walk around all day under with depression) and this benefit can start from week 2 to 3 but may not be fully revealed until 8 weeks.
Hang in there it really does work . It's tough to start noticeabley with the dizzies sweats & nausea on first taking this rapidly disappears & then tends to just be noticeable immediately after dosing for about an hour or so.
The initial tiredness and fatigue can be exhausting and this can cause many people to discontinue too soon.
However the tiredness does disappear gradually over the weeks until it comes manageable or no longer noticed. Plenty of coffee & fresh air and exercise if you can manage it will help to relieve the fatigue.
Cymbalta is definitely one of the best medications from my experience and has the added benefit of muscle & nerve pain relief and this can deliver quite a remarkable feeling of relief after years of pain and depression together... even though it has quite a few side effects but as the saying goes: "no pain no gain".
(The antidepressants that have the least side effects generally don't tend to work as well as those that are tougher to stick with.)
Ignore the horror stories about the possible withdrawal difficulties and remembere if and when you come to withdraw you're most likely to be in a much better & stronger mental state from the benefits of the medication in order to manage it without too much distress.
youarealiar
15 May 2018
what !! this is a horrible Freddy what are you a pharmaceutical sponsor?,this is almost related to poison.Ignore the horror stories and possible withdrawal difficulties? why so u can numb the nausea and vomiting out with sleepless nights and fatigue . i haven't eating anything and had two sips of water in the last three days i have to wipe myself down with a towel every phucking 30 minutes just so i don't slip on the ground...
medical marijuana was a lot better than this piece of chit pill. i would pour that coffee right over your head Freddy for talking like that .what patient uses 'remarkable' , what are you a pharmacist,medical technician of some sort?slip a subjected comment in like that while the rest of use are told to ignore symptoms that are extremely unusal. . this drug is horrible yea no pain and depression but severe withdrawal symptoms + walking on an empty stomach/stomach pain + vomiting like a dry heave car engine,night sweats+no night rest and a general sense of numbness that just exempt fresh full of air walk. PHUCK YOU FREDDY.
FreddyMeds
15 May 2018
I guess you can't fix a "nasty" personality.
Your comment is proof of that.
Take your foul language somewhere else.
Laile01
25 Nov 2017
I have to throw my two cents in here... I’ve been on Cymbalta close to nine years. I take it for fibromyalgia & depression. I haven’t found it to be helpful for my anxiety. When my doctor put me on it he told me to stop my other med and start Cymbalta without weaning off the first one. Not a good move. I felt like I was angry all the time. My kids say it was awful but it didn’t last long, just a few days as I recall. Now after all these years I’m still doing fine on it. I take 120 mg once a day. I would not say it’s a cure-all, nothing is but it works better than anything else I tried and I’ve tried several: Effexor, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Serzone & Lamictal.
Hope it helps to hear something good about Cymbalta.
windguy
20 Dec 2017
I've been on Cym for about six months - only 30 mg. First two weeks I was a Zombie. I slept - a lot of sleep. I didn't have any other symptoms. I switched to evening dosing and am back to work. Cym is the second best thing that helped me cope with PTSD derived depression - the first being proper counselling. I also believe it to be helping with my Ankylosing Spondylitis.
My wife just tried her first dose for fybromyalgia. She's extremely nauseous.
kiki6496
26 Oct 2017
I've tried SO MANY different med for depression nothing ever worked , tbh the first day of taking them I can tell if I can continue , usually , ILL, swollen face , AND SLEEP
well I recently lost my first born , and went into deep depression , switched up my current Dr to a new one YESTERDAY . I know I'm cutting the story short . She prescribed me cymbalta and adderall. .. is anyone. Has anyone ever tried this .
I am currently taking loratab for pain , the last 4 years or more . And today I HAVE NOT TAKEN 1... my pain has subsided almost to none . I've drank 1 bottle of watter.today a half of coke and a fruit roll up is all I've eaten ...
Supposedly adderall is a stimulant drug for cymbalta and helps with neropathy pain and fibro myalgia. .. any answers wpuld be appreciated
Buddhistmaster
10 Nov 2017
I have been on 60ml for almost a yr. My appetite is down. I have lost 100lbs (properly) since starting them. I get really bad stomach pains after taking them and don't want to eat even of I'm hungry but I don't find I get hungry as often. I'm not on aderall but can say they Cymbalta has definitely helped with my joint pains. I can hardly tell I have arthritis in both knees anymore. I have recently been without for 2 days and what hell that was. But I ate enough in 2 days for a week. I had such an appetite that couldn't be halted.
I also recently started getting the shakes. I feel it is from the pills.
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, headache, pain, nausea/vomiting, side effect
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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