Cymbalta for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• Christy
• September 22, 2019

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

• 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."

• Kiyoty
• October 3, 2016

"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 a day and like the lower dose. Initially had a couple of bad reactions. After 12 hours of my first pill, I got severely hyper, but it settled about 6 hours 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 overwhelming. I only noticed dry mouth, and I'm more forgetful it seems."

• Bryan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

"I started on 30 mgs a day and stopped on the 5th day. I felt so nauseous and intestinally challenged. The drug also caused my heart to go into afib/aflutter with moderate tachycardia. As soon as I told the doctor what was happening, he had me stop immediately. Now I am waiting to see a cardiologist to assess the arrhythmia situation. I know the literature says that my side effects are rare, but it happened to me."

• Carol...
• February 4, 2021

"I took Cymbalta for only 4 days and had to get off of it. Even with taking 1.5mg of Xanax a day, I could not get over my extreme anxiety and jitteriness. I was constantly in my head and experiencing horrible physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, hot flashes and nausea and having to go to the bathroom frequently. Panic symptoms would crop up like every 2 hours and I felt like the Xanax was barely doing anything for me to stop the anxiety. This was the worst medication I have been on by far!"

• Slash
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2019

"I was recently switched to Cymbalta for bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, and unbelievable nerve pain! Having Fibromyalgia I was willing to try a almost anything! The drug is marketed for ANXIETY and NERVE PAIN... I can only speak for myself, but Cymbalta HAS NOT... in any way... worked for for either!! Depression... seemed to help that. The drug indications list the worst of my symptoms, with absolutely NO benefit for me !! It's a fraudulent way pharmaceutical companies have to market their product. ITS A JOKE!!"

• Ame
• November 5, 2017

"I tried to go about my life without being on an antidepressant, but life didn’t seem very livable anymore. I tried Lexapro, and though it stopped the heart pounding and shortness of breath, I was still very depressed and always exhausted. I also went from 130 to 150 pounds in about 2 months. I switched to Cymbalta, and everything changed, I have never been happier. I wake up full of energy, which is something I have never had. I have also lost the weight I gained! Like others have said, everyone is different, and medications will affect you differently. I was surprised to hear my friend had a bad experience with it. I very much recommend at least trying it because it has helped me so much!"

• Letty...
• September 1, 2015

"I took my first and last 30mg dose of Cymbalta yesterday. The side effects were just unbearable. Dry mouth, blurred vision, tremors, panic attacks, vomiting. I will never take it again. And now today, after only having took one pill and discontinuing, I am having body aches and extreme fatigue. There has to be a better way to beat this anxiety than poisoning ourselves."

• KIWI
• December 21, 2008

"Cymbalta is a godsend for me and all those people out there who suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, diabetic nerve damage, fibromyalgia, pain or whatever else it is used for. I myself have S.A.D. (Social Anxiety Disorder) and at times depression. I was taking Zoloft and I still felt the anxiety, so my doctor prescribed Cymbalta. It took about a week to actually kick in, and when it did, I felt it and loved it. I would recommend this medication to those who are trying to find a way to help them live their life with ease. It's not a cure, but it is very helpful as long as you take it when you are supposed to. Cymbalta is the best. Thanks."

• Anonymous
• June 16, 2009

"I've been taking this medication for 3 weeks. First week I was on 30 mg, I felt almost immediate relief from my anxiety/depression. The first six days I experienced fatigue and slept 12 hours a day. By the 7th day I was sleeping less and feeling more emotionally balanced. Second week, my dosage was increased to 60 mg and the same thing happened. I slept 12 for about 6 days and by the 7th day I felt good and was sleeping normally. I do have some clenching of my jaw and dry mouth, but a glass of water seems to help. I take my medication at the same time every morning after eating and drink lots of water throughout the day. I'm not taking any other drugs. I've found great relief with Cymbalta. My husband is thrilled with the calmer, happier me. Me too!"

• still...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2018

"After my first dose of the generic version of Cymbalta yesterday evening for major anxiety and minor depression. I was surprised to feel a difference within a few hours. My mood lifted, and I had more energy. I still felt slightly anxious. Initial side effects: quite bad insomnia, slight jitteriness, slight diarrhea, very slight confusion at times, and nausea for the first 12 hours after taking it. After 2 weeks, I now have zero side effects and have changed to taking it in the mornings. It is a miracle drug for my depression! The constant dark feeling of sadness has lifted completely. It has also helped my anxiety quite a lot, however, I still have periods of anxiousness. I am definitely going to stay on this medication as it has drastically improved the quality of my life."

• zionf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2016

"I'm taking Duloxetine 20 mg per day for anxiety and minor depression. I have taken this med for almost two months and keep a daily journal. As a 'blind study,' I started this drug without my wife's knowledge. I noticed a decrease in my overall anxiety in ten (10) days, and my wife mentioned my calmness in two weeks. I am a 70-year-old male, and I supplement Duloxetine with Buspar on an 'as needed' basis for anxiety. The Duloxetine seems to smooth things out without the numbing effect of a benzodiazepine. I'm on the minimum available dosage and will soon ask my PCP to up my dosage to 40 mg per day. There have been absolutely no bad side effects from the drug."

• Anonymous
• January 16, 2017

"First day I took the first 20 mg capsule... thought I was going to have a seizure and was having a full-blown panic attack. She had given me this for anxiety and for pain (didn't help either: in fact, made both the pain and anxiety worse). I couldn't sleep that night. I was supposed to try it for 3 weeks before she upped my dose, but I said no way. I threw the bottle away and don't ever want to put one in my body again. It almost strangely reminded me of being on a stimulant (Adderall or Vyvanse), but it wasn't pleasant or made me focus. I was extremely distracted and panicking so much. I cried for hours."

• Lisapl
• January 9, 2017

"I'm on Cymbalta 30 mg for my anxiety and depression, and I have been on it for a month. I have no side effects, but nausea and being tired, but that all went away in about 2 weeks. Great meds, works great for me."

• Jezy
• January 6, 2017

"Just started taking this med 5 days ago after 5 years on Celexa. Celexa always left me at an 'I'm fine' state, and I just said that 'I just am older, so I shouldn't expect to have the energy I had in high school' (I'm 26). Two months ago, my meds seemed to stop working altogether. My doc decided we should counter-taper meds between Celexa and Cymbalta. Day one of Cymbalta on the lowest dose, I felt absolutely amazing. I have all of my full range of emotions and so much energy and concentration! For about 8 hours on Day 2, my eyebrow would twitch on and off, but that's gone. I'm planning on discussing with my doc about keeping the low dose (he suggested one up) and just completely getting rid of Celexa and see how that works. I'm ecstatic!"

• Momma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2023

"All I can say is wow wow WOW! Since my early 20’s I have been on several antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications because well… genetics. LOL Zoloft was awful and made me extremely depressed, Effexor was okay but it had side effects and getting off of was so awful that it scared me from ever using a antidepressant again. Wellbutrin worked decent for a while but i developed resistance, and I had trouble sleeping on it. Cymbalta is HANDS DOWN the best psychotropic medication I have ever taken. I was on 20mg for a month and started 30mg today. The effects started within a few days, literally! Since day 4 or 5 on it my DAILY anxiety attacks and panic attacks for months are GONE. I’m getting out of the house again. In terms of my depression, I have hope for the future, and no longer wish I could disappear off the earth on a daily basis. I don’t realize how dark things felt for me before starting Cymbalta. This may not work for everyone but this medication has saved me."

• OCDAn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 2, 2013

"Cymbalta worked somewhat on my obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and depression better than other medicines. However, I felt like I couldn't do much. I had zero energy even though I took my dose (60 mg) at night. It became too tiring to even make myself something to eat. I did not want to go anywhere or do anything because I didn't have the energy. At higher doses (90 mg), I had stomach upset and pains if I did not take my dose with food. I would also have diarrhea/loose stools at the higher dose. Sexual side effects were decreased interest and desire in sex. Could be attributed to just not having the energy to enjoy it. It did help with my OCD and lowered my anxiety but did not help my depression."

• Stefan...
• April 5, 2012

"I love this medicine! My anxiety started off as mild, and as years passed, it slowly got worse. I went from having social anxiety to generalized anxiety and then major depression. It took me 7 years to find this medicine, but once I found it, I gained my life back. I still have a little anxiety, but most is gone. This medicine was great for my major depression. Yes, it does have some side effects, but most will disappear with time, and like most other users will vouch, the benefits far outweigh the mild side effects."

• Ken
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2019

"This medication really did work, and helped me with my anxiety, it increased my appetite, I was talkative, but... It turned me into a complete douche bag, I would scream at people and completely lose it after something insignificant happened, I was in a dark place and always on the edge."

• Pursuit
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 11, 2019

"I've had GAD pretty much all my life, but developed increasing depression and withdrawal from social activities. Finally, I bit the bullet and told my doctor. He started me on duloxetine, 30 mg, with the warnings about weight gain and sexual dysfunction and commented we could increase to 60 mg in three or four weeks if needed. Never needed the increase - 30 mg is perfect. I have gained 4 or 5 pounds. I did notice the sexual dysfunction (loss of interest and difficulty 'finishing' at first), so I would hold my meds a day or two before bath and treat night, which worked fine. Pretty much back to normal in that regard. The best thing is I can get more than one or two errands completed now. I call my pills 'do lots of things' now!"

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2008

"I've been taking Cymbalta for anxiety and dysthymia for 3 months. It is the best medication I have tried in 10 years of treatment. No weight gain, not as lethargic, and my attitude has been much better towards life in general. Right now I am on 60mg a day. I'm not sure if I can go up from here but even if I don't, the way I feel now is better than anything else I have tried including Prozac, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, and several others. I do have some dry mouth and sweating but it is tolerable."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2012

"I went from being extremely angry and so anxious I couldn't leave the house to now being able to go out in public, socialize with others, and live life. I feel much happier, have more energy, and am much more pleasant to be around."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2015

"I took this for both anxiety and pain. It did not work as well as Effexor for anxiety, but it helped keep away the bad anxiety attacks. I had to take Ativan several times a week, whereas on the Effexor, I took it once or twice a week. I changed to the Cymbalta hoping it would help with my chronic pain, and it did significantly. The only bad side effect I have had is higher body temperature and sweating. I am currently researching other medications just because of this side effect. If your anxiety is mild to moderate and you have chronic pain, I think this is a good option if you don't experience the sweating. My anxiety was a little too much for this drug to handle alone, and I can't handle the sweating and hot flashes."

• Anonymous
• June 20, 2008

"I was on Cymbalta for two years. I had no side effects and it worked really well for my anxiety. I had no sexual side effects, which was great. I decided to go off of it thinking that I didn't need it anymore. I thought that I tapered it by taking 20 mg for a month. Once I started taking 20 mg every other day, it was like experiencing the withdrawal symptoms over again each time. I finally just stopped taking it and had awful withdrawal symptoms - more monitoring would have helped."

• Spencer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2017

"I'm pretty sure that I don't suit this medication. The first three weeks were absolute torture with blurred vision, headaches, nausea, and no energy. After that time, the medicine did seem to help my anxiety and depression. However, after three months, the side effects came back worse than the first three weeks. I went to my doctor and asked to switch medications immediately. Coming off of the Cymbalta was the worst experience of my life. At one point, I had uncontrollable shaking and muscle movements. I couldn't even concentrate enough to go to the kitchen and make a sandwich. I know this drug works for many people, but for myself, it was like taking poison."