Cymbalta for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Matt
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2019

"This drug has changed my life and probably saved it. I take only one 30 mg a day, but it does the job. I suffered from anxiety to the extreme, days on end without sleep. Anxious days are gone, thanks, Cymbalta."

• Lpano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

"I started taking Cymbalta 30 mg 9 weeks ago under my primary doctor's recommendation. I had severe anxiety and insomnia and very serious depression. I slept all day and had no motivation and couldn't shake it off no matter what I did. I have tried Prozac 50 mg for depression and expressed that I didn't like that it made me eat all the time (which led to a 50 lb weight gain) and no libido. So she recommended this. I feel very numb (but not high) as if I have no more conscience. I also have a slow reaction time to everything. People will speak to me, and I don't realize until they repeat my name over 3 times. I also cannot sleep still even with all types of OTC sleep medications. I take Cymbalta in the morning, so it has no effect on my sleep. I am going to keep taking this medication as suggested but will make a follow-up appointment. Should there be any secret to make this drug less numbing, I will add another review."

• JMsr
• November 5, 2013

"I was on Cymbalta 60mg for 18 months. I've been on many different antidepressants throughout the years. My issue is not when you take it but when you go off. Please do not take this medicine. I've gone through hell the last 12 days getting this drug out of my system. Google Cymbalta withdrawal or Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome to learn more."

• OLou
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 3, 2014

"I took this for depression and chronic back pain. This was an extreme appetite suppressant for me. It worked somewhat for depression, but nothing fabulous. It mostly made me very, very sleepy and physically exhausted."

• CDano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2020

"I had been on this drug for over two years. My doctor never warned me of how my life would change on this drug. I developed extreme insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and I felt like a zombie with no emotions. I have been weaning off this pill for almost a week now, and I have had extreme nausea and extreme mood swings. If I were you, I’d stay far clear of this pill. It has destroyed me from the amount of time I was on it to the time I am weaning it off."

• Conster
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2019

"I've been on Cymbalta since 2009. On July 29, I went down to 60 mg; on August 6, down to 30 mg, and off completely August 19. The withdrawal symptoms began within 2 days. Hyper-sensitivity, both physically (to sound, taste, touch) and psychologically. I got shaky hands, chills, fevers, itchy skin, and two weeks on, prickles, like nettles or poison ivy all over my body. I felt like I had restless leg syndrome through my whole body. Nausea was persistent. I also found I was unable to manage any social interactions. I have still not gone back to work. The depression came back hard. August 6, 9th, August 19, and August 29 were all awful days. I didn't think I was going to make it. The hopelessness and despair were the worst I have ever experienced. July 29 to September 12. That's how long the withdrawal took for me."

• Shelly
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2019

"I was on Cymbalta for three years for lower back pain and depression/anxiety. I have to say it helped a lot. I didn't have any major side effects but increased sweating. I felt it was time to go off of it and slowly weaned myself. This is key. NEVER go off suddenly. The withdrawal wasn't as bad as I feared. I was off of it for about 7 months and my pain worsened and the depression and anxiety came back. I tried some alternative methods but they didn't work very well. I'm now back on Cymbalta and I feel so much better. I'm thankful for it."

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2008

"Been taking 30mg since September 12th. Just had to go up to 60mg on October 28th. I love this medication. I have been on antidepressants for over 10 years, and this is the absolute best. I no longer occupy my time by thinking about how much life sucks but by figuring out the things I want to do that I haven't."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

"I was terrified by all the comments to even try this drug, but I'm so glad I did. I've had none of the side effects (except maybe the constipation) that sound so horrible, and I feel so much better. Way less negative thinking and ruminating negative self-talk, almost non-existent. I can have a negative thought, but it won't be intrusive and all-consuming like it was before. And I've been on the medicine for less than 2 weeks! I've been tapering off of Wellbutrin since it didn't do anything for my depression, and the only drawback I can describe is that I'm still tired and have a hard time getting out of bed, which I was hoping the Cymbalta would fix (but I think it's a withdrawal symptom of coming off the Wellbutrin). Only time will tell! But so far, the experience has been overwhelmingly good."

• KEB
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 4, 2014

"I got on Cymbalta for depression/anxiety that I had been dealing with for almost 10 years. Cymbalta helped me get myself back and feel great again. Recently, I weaned from the 60 to the 30. I noticed I was feeling very tired (despite 9 hours of sleep) and unfocused at work with low energy. Once I changed to the 30 I noticed a HUGE difference. After 5 years on Cymbalta I am weaning off the medication. Going from the 60 to 30mg was a nice transition and I am confident about weaning off it completely. Everyone has a different experience with the medicine and how it will affect them getting off it. I am glad I took this medication. It saved my life."

• Mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2019

"So I was on Lexapro for 5 years, it stopped working. The doctor suggested Cymbalta. I was scared to try it with all the bad reviews. But I started on 30 mg for 2 weeks, then up to 60 mg after 2 weeks. The side effects were dry mouth, nausea, and dizziness. However, the side effects have gotten better, and this is working. No more crying spells or moodiness. Also, it has helped my back and neck pain."

• Candi...
• March 6, 2013

"I LOVE Cymbalta. I'm taking it for anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia pain. It is the best medication I have taken for depression. I have tried numerous other depression and anxiety medications, and nothing makes me feel as good as Cymbalta. Do not miss a dose, though, the withdrawal symptoms are terrible!"

• Smile...
• October 23, 2019

"Cymbalta is good for depression and did help my relative for 10 years, 60 mg every day, but my relative wanted to be free from using antidepressants and so stopped it slowly, reducing the dose, which later worked and they felt relieved but got the worst depression and even attempted suicide. I am here to warn everyone not to try to stop taking Cymbalta if it is working for you, just stick to it - the withdrawal was a horror and after withdrawing, it gave them 2 months of peace, and the third month a very bad depression that they have never experienced came back that they attempted suicide. They then had to put my relative to bed rest for 7 months, every medication failed to work, so they were switched back on Cymbalta but it was also not helping even after increasing the dose, so finally at the dose of 90 mg, it didn't help until Aripiprazole was added, that's when it helped with depression but caused bad anxiety, which we stopped with 0.5 g lorazepam morning and evening."

• My...
• March 24, 2014

"After 2 weeks (60mg/day) I am pleased with this. I had constant dysthymia, black periods lasting a few days, breaking into tears for no reason, not coping, couldn't see a way out, hopelessness. I couldn't tell my partner everything: she needs me to be strong. She knew anyway. The medicine leveled it all out. Only 2 weeks but the depression is gone. I even felt briefly euphoric today. I am easier to be around. Calmer. Negatives: a strange dissociative feeling, sort of out-of-body, as if hearing myself talk slowly, dizziness, an itchy rash on my hand, dry mouth, general tiredness, lethargy in bed in the mornings, no erectile problems, but problem reaching orgasm. If these moderate in time, then my 7/10 score will increase."

• Lexilla
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2012

"This is wonderful. I suffered from generalized anxiety for two and a half years. Eventually, I slipped into severe depression, probably resulting from the chronic anxiety I was dealing with for so long. I have been on Cymbalta 60mg for a little over a month, and I feel better than I ever have before. Before Cymbalta, I was on Paxil and Lexapro, which both did more harm than good. On Cymbalta, I finally feel normal and my sleep has improved so much. I was a chronic insomniac, and now I can usually sleep whenever I feel like it. I am so lucky that my psychiatrist decided to try me on this medicine. I would recommend trying this medicine to anyone suffering from anxiety & depression."

• karysue
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2019

"I took this drug for 4 years for depression. It was not very effective, and I tried to slowly go off of it even slower than my doctor's recommended schedule. I took four months. A week after stopping, I felt like I descended into the darkest place, I became cold and clammy, I screamed and felt so hopeless. Then I suffered daily panic attacks, my husband had to be at my side 24/7 for 7 weeks - SO FAR. I do not know how long this will last. No one can say. The Cymbalta withdrawal center says it lasts for 2 months. My recommendation is NEVER GO ON CYMBALTA. My physician friend told me 'to get off of Cymbalta is as painful as getting off of heroin.' NO JOKE."

• Dan
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2016

"I suffer from major depression and many antidepressants have been of little help. My psychiatrist recently put me on Cymbalta and it changed my life. At first, it made me feel very racy and jittery, but after riding that out for a bit, the side effects went away. Now, taking 60mg a day, I feel the best I've felt in about 20 years."

• JoeLa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 24, 2015

"I've been on Cymbalta for many years after my doctor had tried a number of antidepressant medications. It has worked wonderfully for me and kept me on an even keel since I began taking it. I am lucky that I had a good experience with this medication."

• Smack
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2020

"Horrible medication. I had been on it for about a month when I tragically lost my best friend. I couldn’t mourn, I had no emotion. It wasn’t like I didn’t care, it was like I couldn’t care. If making you numb to life and everything around you is the goal of Cymbalta, they knocked it out of the ballpark."

• mrdad
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2019

"Was put on this 5 years ago. It works well, but there is one thing they won't tell you. The withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. I will probably never be able to stop taking this. If I miss only one day, I get vertigo and brain zaps. Read up on it, and it turns out they lied to the FDA about how many people had withdrawal symptoms. It's 70 percent! Some people experience withdrawal symptoms that last a year! So what does the FDA do? A little fine and a class action lawsuit that already expired by the time I realized how bad the withdrawal symptoms are. Eli Lilly should have been sued out of existence, but of course, big pharma has the FDA in their pocket. Really read up on the documentation in the FDA report and what it says about how they fudged things. It's unbelievable. I wish I had never been put on this."

• cindycc
• July 17, 2013

"I have tried just about every antidepressant over a 20-year period. I have been taking Cymbalta for about 6 months, and it is my saving grace. All symptoms of depression are gone. I am happy, focused, and myself again."

• Nay
• April 10, 2018

"I was on Lexapro for two years, and it eventually made me numb to life in general. I wanted to be able to feel again without the depression, anxiety, and OCD creeping back in. The doctor put me on Cymbalta after I came off Lexapro (worst experience coming off Lexapro, it was three weeks of withdrawal). The first night that I took it, within four hours, I felt a little sleepy, so I went to bed at 10 PM and slept okay, a little restless. At work the next day, I was very vague in the head, but I got through it. The following day, it was like someone switched the lights on in my head, and I could think so much clearer, got so much work done, and felt like I was happy again. Now, a week later, I am feeling so good, calm yet full of energy, and I have lost three kg as I have stopped overeating and have to tell myself it is time to eat. I do get a little restless in the night at times, but I just tell myself to close my eyes again and relax, and it works, and I go back to sleep."

• famil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 28, 2015

"I have been on Cymbalta for 6 years. I am 51 and have a family history of depression and only recently have I accepted that I may have it long-term. For those in Australia, I recommend the generic version called Coperin (I get it from Priceline) which reduces the 'brain fog' of Cymbalta. I have been very happy on Cymbalta (Coperin), it changed my life. I hate that I rely on a tablet to enjoy life, but it is a small price to pay. My GP occasionally suggests I try a new drug, but I always refuse. I have much-improved relationships with people, and it is great to have lost the anxiety which has completely disappeared. I have been on 30mg for 4 years, but am increasing to 60mg for a few weeks as I seem to be going through a bout of anxiety."

• realsis
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2014

"I've tried about 15 to 20 different antidepressants in the last 21 years. Nothing has really helped, or it would help for a while then stop working. Cymbalta is only the second medication that is not only an SSRI but works with the dopamine in your body that I've tried. The first was Pristiq, and that affected me so badly I wouldn't shower for a week. I didn't want to do anything. Now with the Cymbalta, I'm more energetic and less hungry and feel much better! So far, it's working out wonderfully."

• patpoe
• October 2, 2007

"I have been on Cymbalta for about six months. In the last two to three months, I have noticed blurring of vision, agitation, excessive tiredness, change in behavior (also noticed by my husband), insomnia, nightmares, excessive sweating. I am on a blood pressure medication HCTZ, and it states in the side effects that you need to be monitored if on a high blood pressure medication, which I have not been. It does work great for my depression, but the side effects are outweighing the benefits."