Cymbalta for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• Rocket
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2018

"Been taking for 10 days. First day upset stomach. Took for 2 days at night, but was having insomnia getting 3-5 hours sleep. Switched to mornings and started getting 6-7 hours sleep after 1 week. Noticed big improvement with slight depression within first few days (I was easily emotional several times a day). Anxiety is not gone but seems to be getting better already. Little dry mouth and decreased appetite (lost 4 lbs) but seems to be getting better each day. The first few days can be a little rough but I'm seeing improvements and I suggest to people stay with it the side effects will improve."

• xxool...
• November 18, 2007

"I'm 29 & been on Cymbalta 1 week, prior to taking, couldnt sleep (4 hrs on average), panic attacks, acne break outs, hair falling out, highly stressed, now a little disoriented at times, loss of appetite (not a bad thing), great sleep(much needed) and Im much calmer. The doctor wants to add Wellbutrin in 30 days but I am not going that route. I am very pleased with the direction we are going in now it is just taking some time to adjust to the side effects and new routine of actually resting!!"

• LT1026
• December 4, 2015

"I have used Prozac (gained a lot of weight) Now I am on a combination of Wellbutrin and Cymbalta. What a difference. No foggy brain. My emotions are back. Don't feel like a zombie any more. Feel a little dizzy at times, but the benefits outweigh the side effects. I lost 10 kg !!! Look and feel great. Will stay on this combination. Great for depression."

• Tiger
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 10, 2013

"I have been taking Cymbalta for 15 months now. First 30mg and then six months later up it to 60mgs/day. It was prescribed to me for clinical depression. It works for the depression and I also noticed it has worked very well for anxiety also. My MD and I have discussed that I probably have had this anxiety disorder for some time and curtailed with the depression, Cymbalta has done well for both. Side effects are weight gain (5-10 lbs), and bad withdrawal effects if you miss a day or two - headaches. Otherwise, the medication has worked very well and I feel like I can live my life again."

• emmamar
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2023

"I have to give this medication 10 stars. I was going through a major time with social and general anxiety, and I requested to try this drug. I am on 30mg. It took a few weeks to work, a lot longer than previous drugs I have tried, so give it time. But by about 12-16 weeks, it dramatically helped my anxiety. Before this drug, I could barely face anyone, and everything that involved people was terrifying. Now I am working, and I am able to thrive. I do still have anxiety, but it is 100% manageable."

• PapaDan
• April 18, 2018

"Since my retirement life has taken a few major turns. Deaths in the family, reduced income, children with problems, greater interaction with my bipolar wife and aging finally brought me to a point of high anxiety. Ativan too much so doc started 20mg cymbalta. Still at 20mg, and any side effects were too mild to identify. I started calling it my "don't give a poop medicine" because I found I could deal with my wife's constant 'need' by just not caring. Just finished my taxes and any thoughts I had of discontinuing soon were wiped. Reading through these comments, I have seen the cluster of minor side effects that I was not associating with cymbalta. Afternoon fatigue, spaciness, headache that responds to water, unusual constipation and dream/wake state coupled with extended drowsiness after a normal nights sleep can be attributed to cymbalta. I was beginning to get anxious. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. I assure you that at least one person has benefitted and is grateful."

• Reali...
• February 7, 2017

"I took Cymbalta (20mg twice per day) for about a year. The drug worked better than any other AD I tried. Around 10 months ago, I wanted to see if I could come off the drug to see how I would do. I suffered from anxiety and mild depression. Once the drug was weaned out of my system, I haven't felt quite right. My doctor agreed for me to start taking it again. After three weeks, I have a much better state of mind with decreased anxiety. I really like this medication and have no side effects!"

• mo15
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2013

"I have suffered from anxiety problems my whole life, but it was easily managed until I turned 23 (2.5 years ago) when it blew up and every month got much worse. In Dec 2012, I was diagnosed with severe generalized anxiety disorder, moderate panic disorder, and moderate agoraphobia. I also have Irritable Bowel Syndrome-D, and combined with anxiety, I always had to be near a bathroom - any time I left the house I had diarrhea. Couldn't go shopping alone, do drive throughs, etc. Started this and almost immediately felt a bit better, minimal side effects (insomnia/headache 1st 3 days, itchy armpits 1st week) and it has taken the edge off lots. Have done many things I couldn't. No weight gain so far, very happy. Only big anxiety triggers bother me a bit, and Imodium use decreased LOTS! No mental fog!"

• Kmlampe
• October 27, 2015

"I tried cymbalta right after I gave birth and I noticed a difference within days. My.mood swings before my period get very bad and I thought the medicine wasn't working anymore so I switched to prozac. Big.mistake. I couldn't get out of bed. I switched back to cymbalta and am on day 2 and feel good. Never had side effects or anything like that. This has always been fast acting and an overall good medicaton for depression and my anxiety."

• Ellio...
• April 11, 2016

"Was prescribed for depression, but it affected my panic disorder very much. I went from 6-7 panic attacks a day to 1-2 a week/month. It really really helped with my anxiety. The initial 2 weeks were horrible though, increased anxiety, hot flashes. And it interacts with a lot of medications (including vitamin d supplements)"

• cpbeans
• December 8, 2016

"After taking Cipralex for anxiety for over 6 months, I began to experience very low mood and energy levels. My doctor recommended I switch to Cymbalta. Overall my experience has been positive. I didn't even notice, but on Cipralex I had a very decreased sex drive that rebounded right back once I was put on Cymbalta. I had trouble finishing the first 2 weeks during sex, but this side effect along with decreased appetite dissipated after the first 3 weeks of treatment. Overall my mood has stabilized and I feel very good on this drug. Please note that people tend to report either great or horrible experiences and everyone reacts to drugs differently. Take reviews with a grain of salt and always collaborate with your doctor for best results."

• Doe
• September 1, 2019

"A heart specialist changed me from effexor to cymbalta. I stayed on 37.5 mg dose of effexor and started 60mg cymbalta This med is not for me. After 3 weeks I felt like I was falling apart. Severe anxiety like never before. I thought I was having a heart attack! So much tightness and pain. Called 911. Lots if tests later, it wasn't a heart attack at all. That was after 2 weeks on it. I was so deeply sad, severe nausea and vomiting, nightmares, sweats, biting down on my dentures constantly, itching all over. Dizziness, bad vision. My muscles ached. I've had serotonin syndrome before and this terrified me. I could not eat. I'm diabetic so I have to eat but food made me sick. Headaches, dark thoughts. Could not take it anymore and switched back to effexor 4 days ago, off the cymbalta. Today I feel great! I had a spell of nausea and overall feeling so awful, lasted 20 minutes or so. I also had pain in my right side and abdomen which is still tender but better. So glad to be feeling better"

• parts...
• August 26, 2015

"At 25 i started taking celexia. When I became pregnant less then a year later I noticed it not working any more. Then after my daughter was born I noticed a huge difference. My doctor perscribed my cymbalta, starting at 30mg and finally leveling out at 90mg. This is the best I have ever felt and have now been taking it for almost 5 years. A year ago I tried to lower my dosage (through my doctor of course) and with in the week noticed a huge difference, I was more irritable, less patient, and more anxiety. And when I dont take it for a few days my head pounds, I feel nausious, and not like my self at all. At the end of the day the good out ways the bad. Although I do wish they were not so expensive but how can you put a price on feeling normal?"

• Chron...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 21, 2019

"After being diagnosed with depression as a result of chronic neck pain, my doctor prescribed 30mg of Cymbalta. The Cymbalta helped with the depression, but it also erased my ability to feel... anything. As I turned into an emotional zombie, my wife grew tired of being with an emotionless spouse and threatened to leave, with our children. Through pure luck and a misunderstanding, my wife called the police, believing I was preparing to take my own life. The police took me to a hospital for evaluation. During the interview, the doctor learned about my use of Cymbalta and took me off it, immediately. I got my emotions back AND my family back. I will never touch the stuff, again."

• Chris...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2013

"I have been on Cymbalta 30mg for just under 2 weeks. After the first 3 days I started feeling a lot better. It was slightly scary actually to go from feeling like your world is imploding to feeling like you want to smell and see every flower on the planet. It happened so fast. Yes there were a lot of initial side effects from getting used to the medicine. I had the shakes, weird slowing down, odd feelings, nausea, etc. but I am doing very well on it. I went on diet again having gained 25kg from being in Lexapro and Seroquel for over a 18 months. But I now have a low dose of Seroquel every night and Cymbalta every morning and I am back to feeling great. "

• Miss...
• April 20, 2015

"I was prescribed Cymbalta for anxiety, it has had a major positive impact. I was a competitive distance runner for about 25 years and sprained both ankles and wore out my knees. I was so achy in my joints all weekend and realized I did not take my medicine Saturday or Sunday because I put my pill case away when the cleaning lady came--HA HA. It helps anxiety and joint pain. I am very pleased with the results."

• Female...
• September 12, 2013

"Have been on this medication for 4 yrs for Anxiety Disorder & Fibromyalgia. Cymbalta has definitely helped with both conditions. Without it, I'd be in an almost constant state of Anxiety & the Fibromyalgia flare-ups would be much worse. (Found this out when I reduced the dose from 60 mgs a day to 30mgs every other day, after hitting the expensive Medicare "donut hole" last year. That reduction also caused severe depression within a month and I've never been diagnosed with depression!). My side effects include some gastrointestinal problems & 30 lb. weight gain, despite daily exercise/diet. (All SSRI's cause weight gain for me). Hate the extra weight gain, but it's better than having Anxiety/Fibromyalgia pain."

• BinxS...
• September 1, 2011

"Never thought I would have my life back. I can think clearer, my mind isn't racing as often, and I'm not agoraphobic. I used to have a severe phobia of driving and now I can get behind the wheel and even look forward to driving! I have tried everything, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Paxil, Zoloft, and none of them have worked for me. I have lost 9 pounds and counting, because I'm not eating out of depression and anxiety and I'm able to think about myself in a healthy light. I was prescribed Klonopin for severe attacks and found after 4 weeks of Cymbalta find no need for them. I am so grateful for this medicine!"

• Hiii
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2023

"Here’s my review. I don’t like it. I don’t care what psychiatrist thinks. I know my body. If my body doesn’t tolerate it then it’s not for me. Stop demonizing stimulants like Adderall that work. Too many people not properly diagnosed and put on wrong medication."

• SNRI
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2021

"I tried taking Cymbalta a few years ago and the treatment had lasted for a few weeks. What I experienced was weight gain, more obsessive thoughts, sexual dysfunction and erection difficulties. To me, the cost of taking Cymbalta outweighed its benefits. I am sharing this not because I want to discourage anyone with similar disorders like GAD or depression not to try it, but to emphasize a possibility of unbearable side effects for some people. This medication might work amazingly for some people, but please bear in mind that some SSRI/SNRI might fit our genetics and some don't. If one doesn't work for you, you could discuss it with your doctor and try another one until you find the most suitable one for you. This is science. I was well informed of the possible side effects and benefits of it, and I don't blame it. I'm even happy to see it works pretty well for some people!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2018

"This medication honestly changed my life. I thought I was fine while taking it, so I went off cold turkey. It was the worst experience of my life. I took my 2 pills after about 9 days off. After an estimated 3 hours, I felt like my normal, happy, non-anxiety self again. I don't recommend it to anyone though. I tried about 4 different medications before Cymbalta was the one that helped me. Good luck!"

• Kelsey
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2020

"I have been on cymbalta 30 mg for about a year and a half for anxiety. When I first started taking it I could not stay awake. If I sat down and got still I was asleep. After about 3 months that started wearing off (never fully). I have also had muscle spasms since I started and they have not went away. I recently started having panic attacks and couldn’t seem to focus at all. I talked to my dr about switching meds, they decided that moving to 60mg would help my anxiety more. I took 60 mg for about a week and was having so many more muscle spasms. I also had headaches everyday. I felt all over the place. So I went to my dr again saying I thought I need something else. I will start taking Wellbutrin. I really hope this is going to be the medicine for me. My anxiety is out of control right now coming off cymbalta. I also am having a ton of dizziness."

• Lonely
• July 12, 2016

"I'm on at this time 1mg alprazalam 3×a day. And Cymbalta 60 milligrams once a day ever since I started taking the Cymbalta my anxiety my mood my pain it all feels way better. I used to take 8 or as many as I needed bars a day for my anxiety. Finally got into a psychiatrist I was so freaked out that they were going to prescribe me Xanax for anxiety because doctors are so blah blah blah about it because people screw it up for people like me that need it well the Cymbalta lowered my Xanax use basically in half I think it's really more mental on my part and the Cymbalta has been really good for me I had one time that I went off of it for 2 days because I couldn't make it to the pharmacy and yes my anxiety came back in full-blown anxiety."

• Christy
• September 22, 2019

"It worked for me at the beginning in 2017 I went from 60mg to 30mg.I was on it for anxiety. But after a year it really wasn't working, made me very moody and snappy. It actually was giving me more panic attacks and diahrrea. The worst to get off it. Worst symptoms I experienced, I felt better off of it. I feel like got worse after this medication."

• Kiyoty
• October 3, 2016

"Hi everyone-I just started Cymbalta about 2 weeks ago and so far it has been great-My anxiety was really bad for months, leading to severe depression, and I finally had to talk to my doctor about taking something-I was reluctant about taking anything and hadn't before now-I am so glad I did! I take 30 mg now 1x day and like the lower dose-Initially had a couple a bad reactions-after 12 hrs of my first pill, I got severely hyper but it settled about 6 hrs later then I took a day off and restarted-it's been fine ever since-I can't explain how great it feels to not have those negative thoughts constantly harass you and the renewed sense of self and confidence is over-whelming. I only noticed dry mouth and I'm more forgetful it seems."