Cymbalta for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 4)

• Ashley...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2023

"I am now in the middle of week two and I am starting to feel so much better. I noticed that I am able to get out of bed and face my day. Before this medication, I would shake all over. I just wouldn’t get out of bed because I would hope that I just passed away in my sleep to finally end all of my anxiety and depression. I thank God every day that my doctor put me on this medication because I have been able to drive my car again without having a severe panic attack and I can breathe again. A lot of things that used to upset me don’t bother me anymore and I find myself laughing a lot more. I forgot what I even sounded like laughing until I got put on this medication. I finally had a breakdown and that is what made me turn to medication. Before, all I thought was I need to get put on Klonopin, but I have realized that I don’t need them. I just need the one pill which is Cymbalta, and I take one a day at 30 mg, and I can finally participate in my life again! I rarely have a bad day!"

• xxool...
• November 18, 2007

"I'm 29 & been on Cymbalta 1 week, prior to taking, couldn't sleep (4 hrs on average), panic attacks, acne breakouts, hair falling out, highly stressed, now a little disoriented at times, loss of appetite (not a bad thing), great sleep (much needed) and I'm 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!!"

• Sharing
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 8, 2017

"It's amazing. Zero side effects. I feel 'Normal'. These reviews scared me but my Dr encouraged me to try for myself and see. Lexapro put 10 kilos on me. Edeonax made me the sickest I have ever been in my life and was a bloody nightmare. After that ordeal, I was so scared to take Cymbalta. My energy is amazing now. Anxiety, panic attacks, and social anxiety feel mild but manageable - like I have a chance."

• 7rudy
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 2, 2019

"I've been on this medication for almost 12 months now (60 mg), previously being on Lexapro. I have had weight gain, but I really can't blame this all on the meds. My symptoms of anxiety, depression, and OCD are very much under control, and I didn't experience any serious side effects, only the occasional dizziness and some fatigue. I found duloxetine more effective than Lexapro for me."

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

"I've been taking it for 10 days. On the first day, I had an upset stomach. I took it for 2 days at night, but I was having insomnia, getting only 3-5 hours of sleep. I switched to mornings and started getting 6-7 hours of sleep after 1 week. I noticed a big improvement with slight depression within the first few days (I was easily emotional several times a day). My anxiety is not gone, but it seems to be getting better already. I experienced a little dry mouth and decreased appetite (I lost 4 lbs), but that 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 to stay with it, the side effects will improve."

• 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 anymore. 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 60mg/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."

• Megan
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2023

"I have severe anxiety and panic attacks, have since I was a child. I took this for about two years until I realized the reason I was having so many depersonalization episodes and panic attacks (that seemingly had no cause) was because of this medication. When going on it my doctor forgot to mention it would be a living nightmare to try to get off. I've been tapering off this medication for the last couple months decreasing by one bead at a time per week because if I decrease it any more than that I have brain zaps, vertigo, migraines, nausea, hallucinations, mood swings, increased suicidal thoughts, and severe anxiety/panic attacks. Even tapering as slowly as I have I'm experiencing the mood swings and severe anxiety. This medication IS NOT WORTH IT. Please save yourself some time and just try something else. I don't know why this stuff is even FDA approved. I can't wait to be off it."

• 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 was too much, so the doctor started me on 20 mg Cymbalta. I'm still at 20 mg, 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. I just finished my taxes, and any thoughts I had of discontinuing soon were wiped away. 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 a dream/wake state coupled with extended drowsiness after a normal night's sleep that 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 benefited and is grateful."

• 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!"

• Reali...
• February 7, 2017

"I took Cymbalta (20 mg twice per day) for about a year. The drug worked better than any other antidepressant 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!"

• cpbeans
• December 8, 2016

"After taking Cipralex for anxiety for over 6 months, I began to experience a 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 the best results."

• 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 medication 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 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)"

• parts...
• August 26, 2015

"At 25, I started taking Celexa. When I became pregnant less than a year later, I noticed it not working anymore. Then after my daughter was born, I noticed a huge difference. My doctor prescribed me Cymbalta, starting at 30mg and finally leveling out at 90mg. This is the best I have ever felt and I have now been taking it for almost 5 years. A year ago, I tried to lower my dosage (through my doctor of course) and within the week, noticed a huge difference. I was more irritable, less patient, and more anxious. And when I don't take it for a few days, my head pounds, I feel nauseous, and not like myself at all. At the end of the day, the good outweighs the bad. Although I do wish they were not so expensive, how can you put a price on feeling normal?"

• 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 a diet again, having gained 25kg from being on Lexapro and Seroquel for over 18 months. But I now have a low dose of Seroquel every night and Cymbalta every morning, and I am back to feeling great."

• Doe
• September 1, 2019

"A heart specialist changed me from Effexor to Cymbalta. I stayed on a 37.5 mg dose of Effexor and started 60 mg 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 of 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 an overall feeling of 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."

• 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 30 mg 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."

• 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 with anxiety and joint pain. I am very pleased with the results."

• Female...
• September 12, 2013

"Have been on this medication for 4 years for Anxiety Disorder and Fibromyalgia. Cymbalta has definitely helped with both conditions. Without it, I would be in an almost constant state of anxiety and the Fibromyalgia flare-ups would be much worse. (Found this out when I reduced the dose from 60 mg a day to 30 mg 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 and 30 lb weight gain, despite daily exercise and diet. (All SSRIs 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!"

• 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!"

• 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 gone away. I recently started having panic attacks and couldn’t seem to focus at all. I talked to my doctor about switching meds, they decided that moving to 60 mg 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 every day. I felt all over the place. So I went to my doctor again, saying I thought I needed 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."

• 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!"

• Lonely
• July 12, 2016

"I'm on at this time 1 mg alprazolam 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."