Cymbalta and Loss Of Appetite: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Cal...
• November 13, 2011

For Depression "I have suffered from major depression since childhood and have had fibromyalgia since 2000. I've tried Effexor, Paxil, Elavil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Nortriptyline, Prozac, and on and on. All made my depression worse and left me so tired I couldn't function. I promised her that I wouldn't quit taking it because of side effects and without talking to her first. Three weeks I had had it, but my husband kept encouraging me, and my doctor was out of town. In the 5th week, all the side effects (super, super fatigue, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, yawning, no appetite) have disappeared, and I feel fabulous emotionally and physically. Give it time if you've had little success with other antidepressants. This one worked for me."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2019

For Depression "Had tried 4 different meds before Cymbalta in various doses for GAD/depression. Had quit them due to side effects, usually 'brain fog', increased anxiety or depressive symptoms, etc. Psych doctor put me on Cymbalta 30 mg, morning/30 mg night. At first, I had some improvement with just mild brain fog. Kept on it for a total of 4 months, hoping this could be the one. However, slowly turned into a zombie. Tired, unable to think clearly, trouble processing. Dr. switched me to Vibryyd 20 mg and tapered me with 30 mg of Cymbalta at night for 7 days. She said the new med should help counter withdrawal effects. Well, during the first 7 days, I had mild vertigo, insomnia, heart palpitations, etc., and was dealing with it. The next 7 days without any Cymbalta have been the worst. Vertigo, confusion, agitation, severe vertigo, mood swings, sweats, loss of appetite, tinnitus, headaches, forgetfulness, etc. I pray I am not one of those people who have withdrawal for months."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2010

For Depression "I started Cymbalta two months ago (60mg/day) for moderate depression and anxiety. It has been a roller coaster ride, and I am now stepping off, luckily. I have experienced many of the side effects after 3 weeks, including blurred vision, tremors, itching, cold hands, night sweats, no appetite, no libido, and horrible insomnia. I began sleeping all day with a detached feeling and no desire to see friends or family. It initially helped with my depression, so I was optimistic since I have never had any positive experience with any antidepressants. However, it took me into a whirlwind of nervous energy at week three to a flat, washed-out feeling two weeks ago. Two days ago, I stopped cold turkey. I feel better already."

• Chr...
• August 9, 2011

For Depression "I'm 22 years old and have had depression for 9 years. I've tried Celexa, Paxil, Zoloft, and Xanax, but nothing has helped me better than Cymbalta. The first time I took it, I threw up and had no appetite for about 4 days. But the second day of taking it, I could tell it was working. I could focus more, I could smile more, I could go out in public and not panic. And TV shows that I'd seen before and didn't think were funny, I now watched and laughed at! Cymbalta has completely changed my life. I've been taking 60 mg a day for 2 weeks now, and I can't remember ever being this happy and hopeful. It's very expensive if you don't have insurance, but there are organizations out there that will help you out with your prescriptions."

• Mis...
• February 2, 2016

For Depression "Cymbalta has turned my life upside down. I was on the awful excuse for a medication for a year and a half, taking 100 mg every day. Over the past four months, I have been weaned off of it by my doctor, and 10 days ago was my last dose. I will never, ever take that nasty drug again. The withdrawals are excruciating. I am absolutely miserable. Even after ten days, I am still experiencing the following: nausea, dizziness, fevers, chills, emotional roller coasters, random crying, brain zaps, irritability, loss of appetite, loss of interest in doing daily activities, anger, vomiting, isolation, aches and pains in my bones, and high levels of anxiety. I feel as if these feelings are never going to end."

• 121...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2018

For Depression "Switched from Lexapro to Cymbalta. First week was at 30 mg, followed by 60 mg. I had side effects almost from the start: insomnia, anxiety, nausea, loss of appetite. Stayed at 60 mg for 4 weeks. Dr. decreased to 40 mg and prescribed Sonata to help with sleep. Zero effect from the Sonata. It's been about two months since starting the Cymbalta, and I'm ready to get off of it due to the side effects. Not looking forward to the withdrawal symptoms I've been reading about. Others may have had success with this med, but I have not. I would not recommend."

• mis...
• April 29, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I was on Cymbalta for nearly 4 years. I was on the 60 mg, and just after I turned 40, I began the drug, not realizing I was heading for the most horrific experience of my life. After stopping it, I had it all... the vomiting, nausea, headaches (migraines), insomnia, brain zaps, nightmares, fever, loss of appetite... flu. It all came gushing at once. It was 9 days of hell so far, but each day it’s getting better. I have never craved to go back on it and threw it all down the sink. No doctor helped me go off it. I made the choice. It was the best decision. I had attributed my night sweats and hot flushes and weight gain to me turning 40 even though the doctors had done the tests, and it said I was not premenopausal. To think I decided to stop it because I couldn’t deal with the weight gain even though I had tried yoga, meditation, exercise, and eating healthy. I gained about 18 pounds. Please think twice before going on this drug. The coming off doesn’t outweigh the lesser pain."

• joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2017

For Depression "I've been having anxiety and depression issues recently, and since I've had back surgery and residual pain, my doc put me on 40 mg of Cymbalta. About 3 hours after I took my first dose, I had the worst migraine I've ever had in my life, coupled with nausea, finally vomiting, cold chills, auditory hallucinations (low rumbling sound, plus my tinnitus got worse), sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and everything tasted like aspirin. The next morning, my wife and I attempted to have sex. While I did have an erection, after almost two hours of trying, I never even got close to an orgasm. Now I'm in some discomfort. For a drug that's supposed to make me feel better, I'd never take it again."

• fru...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2015

For Depression "My boyfriend of 6 years began taking Cymbalta 2 years ago to deal with a bout of depression. He has completely lost all libido, and he went through a terrible period of sweating - he dripped like a faucet from his armpits at times. He has lost his joy of eating and has no appetite. He has lost 40 lbs and really did not need to. His initial 'feel good' period in this time has worn off, and he is like a robot. His doctor GP wants to up the dosage. I want him off, and I want my boyfriend back. He is like a completely different person."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 17, 2012

For Pain "I had to stop taking Cymbalta after the first pill (30 mg) caused side effects for me. Nausea, chills and hot flashes, cold sweats, no appetite, insomnia. Too much for me, but I know this medicine has worked great for others, just not for me."

• two...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2012

For Depression "I was prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg a day. I take it in the evening to help with stress and depression. The side effects of dry mouth and loss of appetite only lasted about a week and a half, then subsided. My depression has been improving, but I must say a big benefit for me also has been my back pain, which has had me almost crippling at times. It is about non-existent, which I realized must be from the Cymbalta. Anyway, so far, so good."

• Cje...
• July 13, 2017

For Anxiety "I just started on 30 mg today. I had to come off of Prozac 20 mg after five days because it made my anxiety worse, no appetite, and my stomach hurt, and I stayed in the bathroom. I used to be on Cymbalta, and it was great. I came off of it because I thought I could deal with my menopause, and nope, it got bad again with anxiety. I hope Cymbalta helps me."

• Anonymous
• May 10, 2011

For Depression "I started Cymbalta in December 2009, and I thought it worked wonders. My stepmom passed away in January of 2010, and it helped me get through it like an adult. I used to cry all the time over everything, but that has stopped. It allows me to feel but not to be manic about it. I have to say the best thing about it, though, is the loss of appetite. I was a chronic overeater and was starting to really chub out. Within six months of using this medication, I lost 25 lbs. Unfortunately, for me, I got stubborn and tried to get off the medicine in January 2011. I felt that I could just do okay without it. I was so wrong. Within three months, I've been depressed, sad, manic, and gained back 10 lbs! I started the medicine again yesterday. Wish me luck!"

• sar...
• November 15, 2009

For Depression "I was prescribed this for pain relief, but I also suffer from anxiety and depression, so we hoped it would help that as well. I was only on it for 3 days and ended up in the hospital. The first day, I couldn't stop being sick, the second day, I felt really sick, was shaking, and felt really spaced out. I couldn't eat or drink, and yesterday, I got even worse. It didn't help with my pain at all, and I was more anxious than ever. I tried to get out of bed this morning and fell over. My husband took me to the hospital, and I was told not to take it anymore. I'm 28 with 2 children and was unable to look after them while on this medicine."

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 30, 2017

For Depression "Ok, so I'm a 19 y/o female, and after a month and a half of super minor side effects (groggy, dizzy, no appetite), Cymbalta started to work really well. However, about a couple of months ago, I began experiencing mood swings more and more gradually. Now I have days where I'm in a completely crabby mood (I don't want to do anything), or I'm in an okay mood (I'll go out and try to do a couple of things to build confidence), or I'm totally pissy and mean all day, and I cry and flip out (like literally cry and threaten to leave him for nothing). My poor boyfriend, who doesn't even understand the medicine (who tries to because he respects my choices). I plan on changing my medicine at my next doctor's visit because the mood swings are making it hard to get a job."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2011

For Depression "I started taking Cymbalta 6 months ago. I know that they say this medicine can take about 3 weeks to kick in, however, I felt relief within hours of taking it. Maybe it's some medical miracle or my body finally got what it needed. I am a well-educated woman who had a rough childhood. I tried different antidepressants over the years and never felt anything like this. I stopped having suicidal thoughts. The side effects were: loss of appetite and so tired that I had to lay down in the afternoon. The only other medication I take is birth control. I discovered the following: If I take my birth control at night before bed and the 30 mg Cymbalta in the morning, then I'm not tired. The side effects went away by the 12th week, so hang in there!"

• Liv...
• January 18, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "Cymbalta is the best antidepressant I have been prescribed since my diagnosis of MDD in 2016. I have been taking 90 mg nightly shortly before I go to sleep. With my depression, anxiety creeps up on me at night, causing severe insomnia. In combination with Trazodone, my body actually gets a full 8 hours of sleep. Though there are downsides, around 12-16 hours after my dosage, I do feel the same unpleasant thoughts creeping up on me, yet very much have improved. With Cymbalta, missed dosages will not go unnoticed. Physically, my body rejects sleep, loss of appetite and tremors come back after 24 hours without a dose. Brain zaps and skin tingling are unpleasant, and taking this medication every day is vital to preventing a relapse. To me, the pros outweigh the cons. I am alive! At one time, as I was newly prescribed Cymbalta 14 months ago, I didn’t see that as attainable. Nighttime is helpful for me, and time of day to take this drug is an important inquiry for your psychiatrist."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2021

For Back Pain "I had insomnia badly for the first couple of days, but taking it in the morning helped. I also experienced a lack of appetite for the first couple of weeks and felt very energized. It faded, but the same things happened when the dose was increased to 60 mg. It was great for anxiety, even helped with things that I didn't know were from anxiety; however, I had no relief of back pain, unfortunately. I currently have no side effects after 2 months."

• Zpf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’m 30 years old. I started this drug about 5 days ago. Day 1-3 was horrible. I had side effects of fatigue, nausea, mild panic attacks, muscular skeletal pain and spasms on my eyelid, dry mouth, and some dizziness that faded. I am still experiencing muscle spasms, a little nausea, loss of appetite, and some depersonalization here and there. I noticed the positives. I felt some euphoria, less depression, and less fatigue, but overall I’m trying to do my best to just rough it out and see in the next 3 days if things get better. It is different for everyone. I’m only on a 30 mg dose, but little by little, I have breakthroughs that are positive. My thoughts did race a little, but just gotta pray and have hope it works. Overall, some of the negatives disappear. I will keep people updated! I have autism, ADHD, GAD, and PTSD, so just keep praying."

• Ros...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2021

For Chronic Pain "If you are seeking treatment for chronic pain, anxiety, and depression as a person with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, especially if you also have temperature or orthostatic intolerance or other dysautonomic symptoms. DO NOT TAKE THIS. I started at 30 mg and increased all the way to 120 mg (then decreased back down to 60 mg and eventually weaned off). I noticed no change to my pain levels. I did experience an increase in energy - but not a positive one - I experienced insomnia, tachycardia, and extremely severe anxiety. I did a lot of risk-taking while on this medication, and increasingly wished I was never born. Lost my appetite entirely and lost 20-25% of my body weight. The sweating was unbearable. Between the malnutrition and the nightmares, I managed to chip two teeth by grinding them in the few hours I was able to sleep. I may have bone loss as well. It made me very dizzy with the underlying POTS, and I now require beta blockers twice daily to manage my heart rate despite cessation of Cymbalta use."

• cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2012

For Anxiety "I took Cymbalta for 4 days for anxiety, panic attacks, and mild depression. I read many reviews and wondered whether I should stick with it despite the side effects, but in the end, I just couldn't. I've been on Lexapro and Effexor before, and I was expecting the same type of side effects: dry mouth, nausea, headaches. But this was a lot worse. I was sleeping okay before and started having insomnia from Cymbalta. My heart was also racing, which for a panic attack sufferer, is the worst thing that can happen. I almost stopped eating, no appetite at all. I also started feeling really low, super anxious, and depressed, and could only go through the day with the use of alprazolam. In the end, I spoke to my doctor and I will now start on Pristiq."

• Mar...
• January 16, 2016

For Depression "After battling dysthymia alternating with moderate anxiety for years and trying all sorts of natural means to treat it, I slipped into major depression. I was prescribed a low dose of Cymbalta-20 mg. After taking just two pills over three days, it has been one awful drug trip. I'm hoping for the heavy, dizzy feeling of pressure on my brain to end. The lethargy, nausea, and chills have also been bad. I have two children, one of whom stayed home sick while I was on this, and I could barely care for her. It killed my appetite, which I didn't think would be a bad thing, but when you only feel like eating a banana and an orange all day, it becomes a problem. I'm looking forward to 'just' feeling depressed again."

• Anonymous
• October 13, 2011

For Depression "This medicine saved my life! After just 3 weeks of use, I started noticing a major difference. I did experience really bad side effects at first, such as nausea, insomnia, and loss of appetite. But after 4 days, these side effects started to subside, and after the first week, they were completely gone. I can't even remember the last time I felt this good! I would recommend it to everyone."

• Ste...
• December 13, 2011

For Fibromyalgia "I started taking 30 mg once a day of Cymbalta 4 weeks ago for fibromyalgia, and what a huge difference it has made for me. At the suggestion of my pharmacist, I take it in the morning after eating breakfast (helps prevent nausea), and I am more alert, aware, awake, able to function with less pain and fibro-fog, and I'm now sleeping better at night. I still wake up at 2-3 am but am able to fall back to sleep within a short time. On its own, it has not taken the pain fully away, but on most days it has brought it down to a level that is manageable with other techniques for dealing with pain (capsaicin rubs, Epsom salt baths, Tylenol, electric heating blanket). It has decreased my appetite, and for me, that's another plus!"

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2021

For Chronic Pain "After being on Paxil for over 25 years for anxiety/panic attacks, but as I age, I have ankle and leg pain. So between the dr and I, we thought I should try Cymbalta. So straight to Cymbalta 30 mg from 20 mg Paxil. What a nightmarish week: no appetite, nausea, throwing up, severe headaches, weakness, tight chest, and every side effect listed. Thank the Lord I do not work anymore, 'cause there is no way a person could function like that at work. Day 5, called Dr to see what I should do to get off Cymbalta, that I’m done. She said just start taking Paxil again. Day two, Paxil still, trying to get that horrible Cymbalta med out of me. Using milk thistle and B complex. Please read all the side effects. Liver and brain damage! Any drinking alcohol has a very high risk of liver damage. High blood pressure also. Do your research ... very scary, mind-altering drug. General med Drs really need to study more about the horrible withdrawal side effects and side effects of new antidepressants."