Cymbalta and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• AKX...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2024

For Fibromyalgia "30 mg now in week 6. Pain is much less, still flare-ups, but it has allowed me to do hard exercise with weights. I do get flare-ups and still experience some anxiety/panic attacks. Alcohol is okay on the night, but the next day makes one very tired. It took over 4 weeks to get past the side effects, including sexual ones, and I'm reluctant to ramp up to 60 mg as the foggy feelings held me back a lot for the first 4 weeks."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2024

For Anxiety "This medication is literally a miracle! I started taking Duloxetine because I was having horrible heart palpitations from anxiety at night that would wake me from sleeping. I had been diagnosed 6 months prior with fibromyalgia, and that alone was a nightmare. Sporadic muscle pain daily in my neck, my arms, my legs, it was awful. Those pains contributed to my anxiety and even caused a ton of gastrointestinal problems. I tried several pills for gastrointestinal issues and fibromyalgia, and each one had side effects like severe sweating and no sex drive. So I would try a new pill for 2 months, then stop. Once the anxiety issues started, I thought I had a heart problem, so while waiting to see a cardiologist, my PCP started me on Duloxetine. I had little hope since I feel like I have taken everything under the sun, but a few weeks in, I noticed my palpitations had stopped. Even more incredible is that I wasn't complaining about my pains every day anymore. This medicine was a game changer and gave me my life back."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2024

For Anxiety "This medication is literally a miracle! I started taking Duloxetine because I was having horrible heart palpitations from anxiety at night that would wake me from sleeping. I had been diagnosed 6 months prior with fibromyalgia, and that alone was a nightmare. Sporadic muscle pain daily in my neck, my arms, my legs, it was awful. Those pains contributed to my anxiety and even caused a ton of gastrointestinal problems. I tried several pills for gastro and fibro, and each one had side effects like severe sweating and no sex drive. So, I would try a new pill for 2 months and then stop. Once the anxiety issues started, I thought I had a heart problem, so while waiting to see a cardiologist, my PCP started me on Duloxetine. I had little hope since I feel like I have taken everything under the sun, but a few weeks in, I noticed my palpitations had stopped. Even more incredible is that I wasn't complaining about my pains every day anymore. This medicine was a game changer and gave me my life back."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "The drug was difficult to start, side effects were awful, such as visual hallucinations (especially in dark environments), agitation, and involuntary spasms. Cymbalta 30 mg worked okay for generalized anxiety disorder and fibromyalgia, not a miracle worker. It suddenly stopped working around the third-year mark, and my side effects worsened too (constipation as 1-2 bowel movements per week, sexual dysfunction, excessive sweating, lethargy, etc.). The worst part is the discontinuation syndrome, it literally feels like dying. I was told by medical professionals that at a low dose (30 mg) it's safe to quit cold turkey, but apparently, there are patients like me who can't tolerate such a fast taper. People on the Internet with zero knowledge of medicine or pharmacology state that the only safe tapering method is by opening capsules and counting microbeads, lowering the dose by 5-10% every 2-3 weeks. In other words, it would take at least a year to safely taper 30 mg. Avoid this mess by never starting it."

• eMB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2022

For Depression "Hated this drug, been on it for 1.5 months. I'm not depressed now only because I don't feel anything and sleep all the time. Side effects? Sweating like a pig, sexual dysfunction, and sleepiness all the time. I can't even drive a car. I'm back to Lexapro..."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2022

For Chronic Pain "Cymbalta made me really sick when I started taking it. My teeth were grinding, I was always shaking. Constant nausea. After the nausea cleared, I retained the other symptoms, and they didn't go away until I discontinued use after 5 months. During the 5 months I was on the medication, I did have a drop in my pain levels; however, I had so many bad side effects I couldn't continue use. I couldn't sleep at all, my sex drive completely went away, and worst of all, after years of maintaining a healthy weight, I gained over 20 lbs. I was always hungry. I figured the weight gain is making my chronic pain worse and just being masked by the drug. I weaned off of my dosage and have been off of it for over two months now. The worst part is the weight I gained isn't even budging no matter how little I eat. It's like it made me more unhealthy than I was to begin with. Not worth it at all; I can't believe the weight isn't even coming off. The pain is, of course, back, but it's not worth the trade."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2022

For Anxiety "Pray you never have to wean off this drug!!! If it works for you, great, but I promise you that discontinuing is a complete nightmare that lasts for weeks or months. The Good: Helped with chronic knee pain and anxiety. The Bad: None of the good is worth the bad! Helped anxiety but felt like doing nothing but stare at a wall on the lowest dose. Insomnia, constant headache, decreased libido, unable to focus, out-of-body feeling. These did not improve with time. After 3 months, I decided it wasn’t worth it and started to wean off. Without a doubt, the worst experience of my life, and it is still going on. 24/7 headaches, nightmares that are so real, I wake up believing they happened, unable to focus, severe vision changes, a feeling that I am not me. The doctor said these effects can last a week or many months. Obviously, I’m going to be on the wrong end of this. For those it helps, I’m very happy for you, but coming off (pray you don't) will be a nightmare that seems to never end."

• Fle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2021

For Back Pain "I took Cymbalta 30 mg for 100 days, and it ruined my life. Since I quit, I suffer from PSSD, which is persistent Sexual Dysfunction after the use of SSRI or SNRI. I have no libido - I am asexual now. Before, I was more on the hypersexual side. My penis is numb. I cannot feel when somebody touches it. My penis and testicles shrunk maybe 1/3 to 1/2 in a flaccid state. I have severe Erectile Dysfunction. Even Viagra, etc., is not working. I am 39 and have lost my girlfriend due to this. I have lost my sexuality, my personality, all my hopes for living a normal life. It is the worst that has ever happened to me. Stay away from all SSRIs or SNRIs!!!"

• Nan...
• May 11, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Cymbalta about 2 years ago for severe depression. I also suffer from chronic pain, osteoarthritis, severe hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia. The only thing my 60 mg has done for me is stop me from crying at the drop of a dime. My doctor has now diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), my depression has become debilitating. No energy, no drive, no strength to leave my bedroom. I was on Vyvanse for almost 2 years. I really needed a stimulant to animate me, I had energy and had function. I changed doctors, and she took me off of it, and I've been like this ever since. She put me on 30 more mg in the afternoon and also prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. Cymbalta has not touched my chronic pain or anxiety. We shall see what happens in a month."

• SNR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2021

For Anxiety "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!"

• Mch...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 3, 2021

For Depression "Started with Zoloft, and it helped but “felt” nothing. Went off Zoloft and onto Cymbalta for nerve pain. Best thing ever. I learned that Zoloft kept depression and anxiety away, but I felt nothing. Once going onto Cymbalta, I realized that I was feeling happiness, sadness, love, etc. again. I do not regret taking Cymbalta. But it has been a few months, and I’ve gained lots of weight and had 0 sex drive. Now I've been off of Cymbalta for two weeks and feeling way, way better. No regrets but happy to be off."

• Anonymous
• December 19, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "18F. I was recently diagnosed with MDD, but have had symptoms of this illness since at least 14. When I turned 18, I was recommended Cymbalta by my PCP. I started at 20 mg daily for 1 month and was bumped up to 40 mg after. Though I don't necessarily regret taking this medication, it was most definitely NOT for me. My depression worsened, and I experienced intense emotional blunting/dissociation. For a good 2 weeks, I did not get out of bed except to use the bathroom. No showers, no brushing teeth, not much eating. My anxiety shot through the roof. A 20-minute trip to Costco left me in the fetal position on the bathroom floor for 2 hours, sobbing. Suicidal ideation increased, I got closer to a suicide attempt than I ever had before. I started abusing Adderall again. Libido was okay, definitely lowered a bit, though. I quit the medication cold turkey, the withdrawal symptoms weren't too terrible-likely because my dosage was relatively low. Keep fighting the good fight, everyone."

• CDa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2020

For Depression "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."

• Alw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2020

For Chronic Pain "Cymbalta is somewhat costly. Initially prescribed for lower back pain. The first 2-3 months, it worked VERY well. It helped with the back pain and improved my general mood. Bonus feature, it was helping with my permanent migraine. I had only a few side effects at first, but they started building up. Insomnia to the point of 15 minutes of sleep or less per day (for over a month), spontaneous ejaculation, cold sweats, no sex drive. Started to get a few electric shock-like sensations in the extremities. Started to feel zombie-like. I came off the stuff cold turkey. Withdrawal symptoms included MANY shock-like jolts to hands and feet (for about 6 years), a few months of a zombie-like feeling (low drive). I'd rate it GOOD for short-term use (1-2 months). Anything longer than 3 months, I would strongly advise against (as any other anti-depressant)."

• Anonymous
• May 25, 2020

For Back Pain "I have fibromyalgia, the pain was so bad that I wanted to die! I started taking 30 mg and worked up to 60 mg. After one week at 30, I could already tell a difference. At 60 mg, I no longer have any pain, and I'm very happy. The only side effect I have is a decreased sex drive (I'm male)."

• Lpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

For Depression "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 14, 2020

For Osteoarthritis "I was put on 60 mg of Cymbalta during an acute arthritis flare-up, and after about a year, I wanted to taper off of it. It killed my libido, and it didn’t significantly help with pain. Then the real nightmare began! Trying to go down in the tiniest increments brought on intense mood swings, crying for no reason, and horrible brain “zaps” that made life unmanageable. This stuff is TOXIC!!"

• kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Depression "I turned to this drug at my very lowest. Suicidal thoughts and constant lethargy became daily reminders of how depressed I really was. I realized I’d either find a solution or my life would be at risk. The solution was Cymbalta. After 6ish weeks, I began to enjoy activities again and felt very motivated to carry out tasks. My social anxiety now is nearly nonexistent. I’m not happy every day, but the darkness that used to envelop me has subsided and I can say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel (before the drug I couldn’t imagine my life a year in advance because I didn’t know if I’d make it there). My sex drive did suffer a little, but not very much. I will continue to take this drug as long as it continues to help me. Overall, although the withdrawal symptoms may be terrible in the future, Cymbalta truly saved my life and has been worth every penny. Give it time to work and don’t let the negative reviews scare you away if you really need the help."

• spa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2019

For Depression "I have been on Cymbalta 120 mg for 10 weeks. It's been a lifesaver. I tried venlafaxine before with no relief. In the past, paroxetine worked so well on me, but my doc thought it was necessary to make drug holidays on it, so it became, with time, non-effective on me. Also, escitalopram with bad results and Anafranil (guess it's nortriptyline) with bad results. Also taking Lyrica for the anxiety, Lorazepam 15 mg/day, and mirtazapine 45 mg at night. With time, I know I will be able to take off some of these meds, like the high Lorazepam dosage, but I won't be comfortable with taking off Duloxetine. I won't go through depression again if I know there is something that keeps me calm, functional, and happy. No sexual dysfunction, I'm single, and I don't care if I can't get an erection (in fact, I can) or weight gain (I weigh 5 or 6 mg more than before), but honestly, who cares about this, or dry mouth, if the med keeps working. God bless the inventors of Duloxetine (Cymbalta)!"

• Kim...
• August 31, 2019

For Depression "This medication has really helped with my depression and anxiety. I was skeptical due to negative reviews, but I’m glad I tried it and have stuck with it. I’ve been on it for about 4 months, and it took about 6 weeks for me to really feel the effects. My thoughts of suicide have reduced greatly, and my overall anxiety has gotten better too. I have had these issues most of my adult life as a result of a traumatic childhood. I have previously tried Prozac, but it makes me gain too much weight. Effexor helped in the past, but I can’t stand the brain zaps when you miss a dose. With Cymbalta, I’m calmer, less anxious, less depressed, and I don’t get as irritated with my husband and young daughter as I used to. I’m going to stick with it for as long as it’s working. The main side effects for me have been constipation and zero sex drive. But I’d rather deal with those things than think about suicide and cry every day."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "Cymbalta seemed to help at first, until the side effects became unbearable and it stopped working. It made me sleep over 12 hours a day, gain a bunch of weight, and made me have no libido whatsoever. Not to mention, it's extremely hard to come off of. I stopped it last week, and I'm still experiencing withdrawals -- brain zaps, nausea, headache. I would not recommend Cymbalta for fibro. It might help your pain, but it'll make your fatigue worse."

• Pol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "This drug, over time, took away all emotional feelings. I could witness an accident and instead of being concerned, I wasn't even phased. I found myself being cold and blunt with people. I was also suffering from crazy head and body sweats. Random, but always severe. My blood pressure went through the roof. I lost ALL sexual desire to be with my wife or any woman. I'm blessed my wife stuck by me. Fatigue was also severe. I could sleep 12 hours and wake up feeling like I worked a 12-hour midnight shift. After two years and age 43, I am starting to come off of it. My dose of 60 mg has been reduced to 30 mg and the sweating is gone, BP stabilized, and energy returning. The main reason I suffered through the drug so long was because it did help my osteoarthritis. Right now, I sooner suffer with pain and tend to my wife's physical needs like I once loved doing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2019

For Depression "I feel so much better. I’m more calm, I don’t get frustrated easily, I have more patience, I have more energy to do things, etc. The only side effect I get is body heat and a little bit of sweating. Also, I have no desire for sex, but it’s okay since I’m single, lol. Anyway, Cymbalta helped me when it comes to my depression and leg pains."

• Loz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 17, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have anxiety, panic disorder, autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder. Overall, I have had a very positive response to duloxetine. Side effects: There is the initial fatigue & a lot of yawning. That went away after about 3 weeks. I had difficulty peeing during the night. This faded over time. Difficulty to orgasm after I went up to 90mg, this faded after a few weeks. This medication makes my brain work better & gives me a better quality of life and an opportunity to live rather than just survive. If you identify with any of my symptoms & have been recommended duloxetine by your doctor, I say it is worth giving it a try. When it is the right medication for you, it is life-changing! And please don't rush to come off them. If you need them, you need them and that's okay. They are your friend. I feel grateful that science has given me this opportunity to support me."

• chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2019

For Depression "Just by taking 30 mg, I had an acute sensation of depersonalization, extreme heart stabbing pain, anxiety, extreme depression, and overall extreme mental agony, and a wish to just cease existing to not have to feel these horrible effects. I cannot tolerate another day of agony taking this drug. Whatever horrible depression I was suffering from before is nothing compared to how I feel now. It may just be me who tolerates SSRI/SNRI type of drugs horribly, but anyway, I cannot recommend this to anyone based on my experience and also knowing that these types of drugs pretty much always induce sexual dysfunction."