Cymbalta and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Boo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 6, 2019

For Anxiety "Don’t let the negative comments on here scare you. The truth is, Cymbalta works beautifully for some people and some people hate it. But that’s true with ANY antidepressant! Cymbalta saved me from extreme, constant anxiety and panic attacks. But I have tried other drugs - Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, etc. Figured out I cannot take ANY SSRI. They cause my anxiety to go through the roof! Cymbalta is a SNRI. Works differently. I could not only tolerate it - it saved me. So, no - the medication shouldn’t be banned. It works wonders for some of us. If it didn’t work for you, accept it and try something else. But don’t scare other people away from trying something that could change their life in a positive way. They affect everyone differently, they all have side effects that differ for everyone and they are all difficult to quit taking."

• Pst...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 3, 2020

For Anxiety "Ok, I gave a review at 5-6 months being on Duloxetine. Now it's been a year. I started out on 30mg for a week, then moved up to 60mg. Felt great for a while. After about 5 months, I noticed I started to feel anxious and just didn't feel right. When up, so we moved it up to 80mg. Pushed through, 80mg helped, but still didn't feel right for a few months. Now I'm on 100mg. I take 60mg at 9 am and 40mg at 5 pm. And man, do I feel great! I finally am back. Life has been amazing. I know this medication isn't for everybody or people have had bad experiences on it, but it has truly helped me, and I'm so thankful for that! Only rated it a 9 because nothing is perfect."

• Mis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2019

For Anxiety "Cymbalta worked to save my life after perimenopause made my already existent depression increase tenfold. My depression was so dark, I felt like I was being held down in a dark abyss. If I didn't seek medical help, I honestly believe I would have taken my own life. 60mg of Cymbalta daily, and I could get out of bed, live my life, and function as a loving single parent who could provide for her family. Now, ten years later, I will discuss the increasing anxiety I am feeling. Will my Cymbalta dosage increase? I don't know. But I do know for those 10 years, I was not just surviving, I was living. Thanks to Cymbalta."

• Bet...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 13, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "One year Cymbalta honest review. I started Cymbalta about a year ago as I have struggled all my life with social anxiety and general anxiety. About a month before I started taking it, I started getting really bad anxiety attacks every day and had my first ever panic attack (which prompted the doctor's visit for help). The first week was OK. I had no appetite and felt anxious all the time for no reason. Then, suddenly, my whole mood changed, and I became a lot more cheerful and talkative person. I actually wanted to do things, instead of staying at home. Note to everyone with bad reviews: this doesn't work overnight. It takes time for the chemicals in your brain to balance. I would say it takes 2 weeks to see some effects take place, and at least a month or two to experience the full positive effects. But, it is so worth it! I highly recommend Cymbalta to those struggling with depressive thoughts or anxiety disorders! I have only had ONE anxiety attack since taking it, and no panic attacks."

• Las...
• February 28, 2020

For Depression "I was on this medication over ten years ago. It took a month for the fog to lift once I had started it. But then I started to be paranoid reading about the Cymbalta withdrawals on the internet. So I panicked and went off it. I always start at the lowest dose possible and stay on it for a month before increasing to the next to avoid being sick. And it’s the same thing when you want to get off these meds to avoid withdrawals. You go off as slow as possible. And I want to mention that these meds are metabolized by different enzymes in our body that we all have different levels of because of our DNA. So one person might need a lower dose of Cymbalta than another because they metabolize it faster than others. The goal isn’t to get to the highest dose but the dose that works with your metabolism. Ten years later and I have Fibromyalgia too now, so my new doctor decided to put me on Cymbalta. I started at 20mg today and will stay with that dose for at least a month before I see if I need to go up. Remember, Go Slow!"

• Mam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 18, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "I took Cymbalta for 6 years after my house burned down, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, he lived 8 months. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and severe depression. It worked with minimal side effects. I felt like myself 3 days after starting it. I was in a good place 8 yrs. I weaned off and stopped taking it. 3 years later I had a massive stroke and slowly began to feel more and more depressed. I was suicidal in Jan. 2016. I asked a new Dr. to put me back on it. I felt better in only 36 hours. It was amazing how it changed my thinking. My back pain, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety had all but disappeared. I would recommend Cymbalta to anyone with any of these symptoms. Everyone is different and it may not work for you. I'm still taking it."

• Add...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

For Anxiety "I am taking Cymbalta 30 mg for a week now. My primary care physician gave it to me for bilateral hip pain when I sleep. It has been helping. More so, however, it has decreased my anxiety. Amazingly so! I feel calmer and I haven’t been grinding my teeth, which I do all the time from anxiety. It’s working for me. I think the 30 mg dose is plenty."

• Xyz...
• May 6, 2021

For Anxiety "I’ve been on Cymbalta for almost two weeks. The first few days were a little tough. My mind was racing a bit, and I had tension in my throat and jaw. I was a bit more anxious those first couple of days, but it got a little better, and I feel SO much better. I’ve tried Zoloft, which made my anxiety worse, then Citalopram, which didn’t really do much of anything except make me restless and jittery, but Cymbalta is finally the right one. I feel like a normal person for the first time in a long time. My piece of advice: I see a lot of people on here saying that they’ve felt miserable for 3-4 weeks, even a month plus. That’s too long in my opinion. I was told if you’re still miserable 2 weeks in, tell your doctor and switch up your meds."

• Xyz...
• May 6, 2021

For Anxiety "I’ve been on Cymbalta for almost two weeks. The first few days were a little tough. My mind was racing a bit, and I had tension in my throat and jaw. I was a bit more anxious those first couple of days, but it got a little better, and I feel SO much better. I’ve tried Zoloft, which made my anxiety worse, then Citalopram, which didn’t really do much of anything except make me restless and jittery, but Cymbalta is finally the right one. I feel like a normal person for the first time in a long time. My piece of advice: I see a lot of people on here saying that they’ve felt miserable for 3-4 weeks, even a month plus. That’s too long in my opinion. I was told if you’re still miserable 2 weeks in, tell your doctor and switch up your meds."

• Nic...
• July 5, 2019

For Depression "I had been on eight different antidepressants for 12 years. I tried Cymbalta and had been on it for 14 years. I tried to get off of it and it took eight months, but I completely went off. Withdrawals were horrific. All of my depression and anxiety came back, but worse than ever. I’m so glad to be back on it. Cymbalta is a lifesaver."

• Krs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2021

For Depression "I was prescribed 30 mg a day by my doctor. I took my first dose after dinner, as suggested. Around 4am, I woke up, and the room was spinning. I had pain in my stomach as if I had food poisoning. I wasn't able to fall asleep, and I didn't get up because I knew I would vomit. I took another dose the next day and experienced shivering, chills, sweaty palms, anxiety, and dilated pupils. I thought maybe it would improve or subside, but on the third day, I woke up, looked in the mirror, and a gaunt, pale face with large pupils was staring back at me. I jumped in the shower and was shivering so badly, I thought I would go into cardiac arrest right then and there. I should've gone to the ER. I was so scared. I stopped the medication immediately. My doctor switched me to Lexapro, and I filled the prescription, but I'm too shaken up from my experience with Cymbalta, I'm holding off until I feel like myself again. I'm in recovery, and I haven't felt like that on any drug in the past. Quite unnerving. Never again. And I don't recommend."

• Reg...
• July 29, 2020

For Anxiety "I have been on Cymbalta 30 mg daily for almost two weeks for anxiety and depression. I have taken the medicine two times before with no side effects. This time however, my first week side effects were diarrhea, nausea, unable to eat much, worse anxiety, and hot flushes in my chest causing a bad panic attack. New thing for me. Never had this hot sensation in my chest before. Second week felt a little better for two days, then boom, hot flushes again throwing me into another panic attack. This one milder than the previous week. I’m so confused. Not sure whether to keep taking or not. Scary stuff when I get these hot flushing sensations across my chest and my heart rate goes up."

• Aku...
• June 8, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have dealt with major depressive disorder, GAD, PTSD, and a whole lot of sensory issues, with no medication giving me relief. Normally, too much noise or any loud noises could send me off the rails, everything always felt dull and grey, and I would spend days or weeks obsessing over things that gave me anxiety. I lost job after job, and finally, I decided to try again and get rid of this once and for all, and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I tried Cymbalta. Cymbalta is the ONLY medication EVER to help with my noise sensitivity. I feel like I am not so agitated all the time anymore, and I feel like I am finally able to focus. I have had a few side effects, like diarrhea, a little bit of brain fog here and there, and felt jittery after drinking coffee with it, but they were all fixable or livable side effects. I haven't felt this normal in years...I finally feel like I have a chance at a meaningful life and not like I'm just existing and struggling through it all."

• myo...
• April 29, 2018

For Depression "I started on 30 mg and am currently on 60 mg - first few days on it were awful, with bad insomnia, nausea/headache, fatigue. However, after ~5-6 days, most symptoms subsided (except the insomnia, which I use melatonin for). It's been about 2 months and I have to say this medication has been life-changing for me in terms of my mood/thoughts. I used to have such dark thoughts and a negative outlook on life, assuming the worst in people and hating everything about myself. That has completely changed and I can say for the first time in YEARS that I feel truly, completely, happy. This happiness is different because it persists even when not-so-great things happen in my life. I will say that the anxiety still lingers but honestly its effects on my depression make the anxiety super tolerable. I hope this medication works for others the way it worked for me - time will tell as far as how long this will last."

• wil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 11, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Under the supervision of a psychiatrist, I ran the gamut of SSRIs from Prozac to Zoloft with only mild improvements. Cymbalta proved, at 120mg, to be wonderful. My insurance was a buzzkill by limiting me to 60mg, but we tried Celexa as an adjunct with similar but not total benefit. Taken with breakfast, the change within an hour is dramatic, and missing a dose or two is traumatic. My only anxiety now is, God forbid, I am ever to go without my Cymbalta. It helped me through 10 chemo sessions, especially with the resulting neuropathy. Perhaps it will fall to a tier 1 med, and I can resume 120mg... There is hope."

• JC1...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Do not go on Cymbalta. If you ever have to or want to stop taking it, the withdrawal is nightmarish and severe. It's so bad it has its own term, 'Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome.' I tapered down very slowly, and on the first week I was totally off of it, I almost lost my mind. My anxiety was through the roof. My thought processes had no logic. I would cry uncontrollably at minor sad and happy things like commercials, news reports, movies, etc. everywhere...in my car, at work, in a store, etc. I had to go back on a low dose of it and then start taking a low dose of Prozac, tapering slowly off of that to make the Cymbalta withdrawal somewhat tolerable. The makers of the drug have never let the public (or doctors) know about how severe withdrawal is. There's no black box warning. Many psychiatrists don't even know about this. Google 'Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome' and 'Prozac Bridge.' It's all there, and personal attestations like mine. No matter what your doctor is prescribing this for, say no."

• Awe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2016

For Anxiety "I'm taking Cymbalta for anxiety and depression. It makes me a little jittery, and if I don't eat with it, I get sick to my stomach. But, I feel better than I have in a long time. Where I was using food to cope with the depression, this actually regulated my eating. So now I'm eating less with more energy and feeling like a million bucks."

• Orp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I don't even know how to start. In basic terms, Cymbalta is something I never could have imagined possible. I was also extremely suicidal, self-loathing, always denied anything happy or would get pissed off at just the idea of it, anxiety through the roof constantly, and stressed out and overthinking about every little thing, super isolative to the point where I can quite literally stay in my room for weeks and weeks, as well as skip personal hygiene for similar durations. I actually got my first job while I started Cymbalta, which says a lot coming from me and where I've been in life. This medicine is truly a divine experience for me. To go from the depths of the void into everything I seemingly had no awareness of or could see before taking it... It's mind-boggling to me even still."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2013

For Anxiety "I have been on Cymbalta for about 4 months now, and finally can say that it is worth going through some of the beginning side effects. We must be careful though, to listen to our bodies first. Side effects can be bothersome but should not be unbearable, so if this is your case with Cymbalta or any other medication, you must consult your physician. When I first started Cymbalta (which I did twice before finally staying on it), I could not sleep, had headaches, and could not even drink a cup of coffee without feeling as if I was hyper. Eventually, things got better and I was able to stop the additional medication that was prescribed to help me sleep. Switching Cymbalta to bedtime helped tremendously! No pain and/or anxiety."

• nic...
• December 11, 2015

For Anxiety "I took this drug a while back. I was on it for 3 years. I don't recall ever having side effects while initially starting or during taking it over time. This drug seemed to help my depression and anxiety significantly, probably more than I actually realized at the time. The only problem I had was, if I missed a dose, I'd be hit with massive emotional distress. I would cry over the stupidest things, whether it was positive or negative crying. My emotions were intense. After a long time without medicine now, trying to beat depression and anxiety on my own and being somewhat successful for an extended period of time, I've been contemplating using it again. I've tried almost all of these meds, and this is the one that's worked for me the most."

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

For Depression "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."

• Rel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2013

For Depression "I'm writing this review because I'm absolutely shocked by how quickly I began to feel like myself again. After as little as a week, I had an easier time getting out of bed in the morning, I physically felt more energetic, and I had more emotional clarity. My husband is even more delighted in the results than I am. He says I'm more like myself. Even with good insurance, this medicine can be pricey. Very few side effects. I felt a little jittery the first couple of days and had trouble sleeping. Those went away when I adjusted the time I took the medicine. I'm just thankful to feel some relief!"

• Nee...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2019

For Chronic Pain "This drug made me so depressed to the point of having suicidal thoughts. When I finally realized that it was causing this, the withdrawal symptoms are worse than anything I've ever experienced. Anxiety, extreme nausea, intense vertigo, muscle spasms. Do not take this drug, there are so many better options."

• Anonymous
• January 22, 2019

For Depression "The first time I used it, I could finally stop crying. The effects were very subtle. However, it did nothing for my anxiety. I stopped taking it after some positive life events occurred, and I thought I didn’t need it anymore. But I became depressed again and decided to take a pill from the stash I had saved a year ago for emergencies-when I no longer wanted to die or cry! Cymbalta saved my life; I'm not sure if I'd still be here today without it. But this time, it has helped a little with anxiety. Cured depression 10/10; anxiety 3.5/10."

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

For Depression "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."