Cymbalta and Sweating: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• Pet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 8, 2019

For Depression "I took Cymbalta for 7 years, maximum dosage. At the beginning, it makes you 'move', motivation to do something, but as time goes on, the side effects drove me to a physical and psychological collapse. Excessive sweating, insomnia, and fatigue were the main side effects that gradually disintegrated my health globally."

• aus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I have had three back surgeries, the latest was back fusion. I now suffer from nerve pain, especially in my right thigh and knee. At times, I can hardly walk due to the pain and weakness in my leg. X-rays and MRI show the fusion is in the correct position, but the specialists have said I may always have this nerve pain. They prescribed Cymbalta, and oh, what a calamity! I only took this medication for three days, and that was three too many. I was not warned about possible side effects, these are numerous: massive increase in pain, massive increase in weakness in the leg (had to use a walker), chest pain, headaches, nausea, stomach pain, mood swings like anger, suicidal thoughts, nightmares, hot and cold flushes, sweating for no reason. The list goes on."

• may...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2015

For Depression "I was given Cymbalta to help with my pain and depression, it helped both, and I felt like a new person until I developed terrible sweats, so bad they consumed my living a normal life. I was referred to an endocrinologist to determine what was causing the sweats. I was tested for everything imaginable, with no clue as to what was causing my problem. This went on for about a year. I was at my wit's end. I was on the internet looking at my medications and saw that Cymbalta could cause sweats. Right then, I decided to stop taking Cymbalta on my own, not consulting my doctor. To my amazement, within two weeks or less, my sweats stopped. I am writing this because I am hoping I can help someone else who has these terrible side effects."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2008

For Depression "I have been on antidepressants for 6 years now after a car accident. This is the third time my medication has been changed because they stopped working. I take Wellbutrin in the morning and Cymbalta at night. The only side effect I have had is increased sweating. I sleep much better at night, used to just about fall asleep on my way to work - now I am much more awake, much calmer, and loving it. Hopefully this will keep working because I get to the point where I can't stand myself."

• 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."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on Cymbalta for my fibromyalgia since Nov. 2014. I had loved this med, helped somewhat with my pain and also helped my moods. (I called it my happy pill... lol) I have been experiencing many months of restless sleep and extreme sweating! I never considered it was my wonder drug. But it is, it has to be... Cymbalta is the only drug I take and the only change for me in a year. Also, I have gained an excessive amount of weight! I cannot handle this extreme sweating, also very fatigued. I am starting today to wean off of it... my doc started me on Lyrica. I sure hope this helps! So tired of being tired and in pain..."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "I started Cymbalta to help with pain. I had horrible side effects. I was extremely nauseous, tired, sweaty, and more. I took this medicine for about a month, and the side effects never seemed to go away. So I stopped taking it, even though I know you’re supposed to slowly do so. I just felt sick taking it, and I still feel sick after stopping. I can’t stop throwing up. I honestly don’t even think it’s worth trying this medicine. I would stay away at all costs."

• tes...
• April 22, 2012

For Back Pain "I started taking Cymbalta as a last resort for radicular sciatica pain. I had surgery and tried many medicines. I've been on Cymbalta for 1.5 months (5 days - 20 mg, 5 days - 40 mg, 1.5 weeks - 60 mg, 2 days - 40 mg, 2 days - 30 mg). I experienced most of the side effects (nausea, lethargy, somnolence (sleeping 18-20 hours a day for 3 weeks), from that to insomnia to today's date, flatulence, constipation, tingling all over, throat pain, blurry vision, nightmares, night terrors waking in drenching sweats, profuse sweating, hair loss). This is the weirdest medicine I've taken. I took Fluoxetine for years with no unusual side effects or withdrawals. I am reducing because of the side effects of night terrors, sweats, etc. It does work for pain, but the cost is high."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2008

For Depression "To begin with, I experienced nausea, excessive yawning, extreme fatigue - I'd fall asleep in the afternoon, sweating, and bad dreams at night, and really bad anxiety. These side effects lasted for a few weeks, but then I started to feel great. After 5 months, I decided to stop taking it - big mistake. I felt dizzy, sick, pounding heart, headaches, and the depression came back almost instantly. I started taking it again 2 weeks ago. Side effects aren't as severe this time, but they haven't kicked in either."

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2010

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have peripheral neuropathy and very bad pain in my back. Cymbalta made a huge improvement in my pain level. The doctor started me gradually to lessen the nausea. I have worked up to 30 mg twice a day for a total of 60 mg. I have been taking it for 3 months and still find the pain level and my frame of mind much improved. I do have slight nausea occasionally and dry mouth. The excessive sweating has gone away."

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "Several days after starting Cymbalta, I started having energy and no pain. I was so elated. Who cares if you sweat a river? Who cares if you can't go outside from May through September? After taking it for several years, I began to slowly turn from my dream to a nightmare. I sweated all year and was hot in the winter as well. Everyone was freezing, and I was hot and didn't want the heat running. I gained 40 pounds, but all the symptoms returned. I finally weaned down to 30 mg, then cold turkey. I have now been totally off Cymbalta for 25 days and have gained 10 more lbs. I can't even buy clothes big enough because my stomach looks 9 months pregnant. My thighs are as big as a professional football player."

• Hey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2020

For Anxiety "Took my first Cymbalta yesterday. About 2 hours after taking it, I felt like I had no energy. About 2 hours after that, I was running to the bathroom. That night, I went to sleep fine, but woke up at 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I got out of bed at 5:30 am, grabbed a cup of coffee, and within 3 minutes, I was having heat flashes followed by freezing flashes, felt like I was going to get sick, and had zero energy. Went to the doctor at 8:45 am and was having a reaction to the drug and broke out in a cold sweat in the office. It is now 5 pm, and I still feel like I was run over by a train, no energy, stomach is still iffy, and my head has pins and needles."

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

For Anxiety "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
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I have been on Cymbalta for the last 2 weeks. The side effects have been difficult: stomach pain, the first few nights I couldn't sleep and thoughts raced through my mind. I was also having severe suicidal thoughts, and I was still waking up from the pain and tingling sensation in my arms and shoulders. This is week three, and I find that my mood has improved, but I'm sweating a lot. The fibro pain is present, and I'm tired a lot. I tried taking it at night but find my chest hurting the next day, so I switched to mornings on a full stomach, and that's improved the stomach pain. I have restless leg, and if I'm late on taking my next dose, I'm jittery. I don't really know if it's working for my pain, but my mood is much better, I'm not suicidal."

• nyh...
• August 1, 2012

For Hot Flashes "I started Cymbalta about 3 months ago for depression. At 30 mg, I was fine. We increased. They are worse than when I was going through menopause. My body is hot all the time. My feet are always hot and sweat. I don't want to stop the Cymbalta because it has had such a dramatic effect with the depression. I feel like me again mentally. I don't think these are listed as side effects."

• Car...
• February 4, 2021

For Anxiety "I took Cymbalta for only 4 days and had to get off of it. Even with taking 1.5 mg 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!"

• 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."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2011

For Anxiety "This medication did amazing things for me after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I suffered panic attacks, inability to control my emotions, crying to bouts of anger, along with other symptoms. Within 2 weeks, there was a huge change. I am now laughing and joking again, I have no mood swings, no more crying, I have no anger issues now, just incredible. I did suffer side effects for the first 17 days and was very nauseous. The first few days are the worst, and then it eases off, some minor headaches, a small amount of fever, a little more sweating, some dizziness, but overall, it was worth it. Back to a happy-go-lucky girl."

• Gym...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started this medication, Cymbalta, about 5 weeks ago after a suicide attempt. Seems to be working great thus far. Uplift in mood and slight 'zippy' feeling, almost like a very light dose of Adderall, which I used to be prescribed. Only 2 major side effects: trouble initiating sleep (but once I do get to sleep, I do so with less frequent interruptions than before, and it's easier to fall back asleep after a bathroom trip) and increased sweating (but I actually like leaving puddles at the gym, so this is a bonus for me). 8/10. Any higher of a rating and I would be tempted to abuse this drug."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2016

For Back Pain "After reading all the reviews and trying just about everything under the sun, I have found something that works for my lower back pain. I was in a car accident when I was 14 and broke my L4 and L5; since then, I have been dealing with back pain (I am now 40). Last year, my doctor discussed Cymbalta with me. After doing some research, I decided to give it a whirl. I was almost turned off the idea due to some of the negative experiences...glad I tried it. I am currently pain-free. I did experience some side effects, all of which disappeared before five months: excessive yawning, not being able to ejaculate during sex, feeling of tiredness, some anxiety, sweats, weight gain, vivid dreams, kept peeing a little after I thought I was done. Give it time if you try!"

• nit...
• August 13, 2015

For Chronic Pain "Besides extreme sweating (soaking through T-shirts) 24/7, I don't see what it does for pain besides nothing. The feeling of I don't give a rat's ass about my life is another fun-filled side effect. I've been on it almost a year, take 30 mg in the morning before going to bed, and 60 late in the day. I'm thinking of weaning myself off it, I'd rather take Xanax twice a day."

• Mes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I have trigeminal nerve damage and have been on gabapentin for a while, but it is causing me to gain a lot of weight. So, my doctor recommended Cymbalta. I only took one pill and knew I did not want to take any more. It made me extremely sick... nausea, sweating, blurred vision, restless thoughts, unable to focus. This was terrible for me. After being off of it for three days, I still am finding it hard to focus, and my eyes are not quite back to normal. I am only in my 40s too. I would highly suggest you do your research before taking this medication."

• 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."

• eve...
• April 26, 2011

For Anxiety "Cymbalta has changed my life. I suffer from anxiety and trichotillomania, which is an obsessive hair pulling disorder that stems from the anxiety. I've tried many different medications, such as Prozac and Zoloft, etc. I had bad luck with those. The first two weeks on Cymbalta were rough. I was very, very dizzy, felt sick, and did not want to eat. I was very tired and would sweat. I started to take the medication at night because the dizziness was too much. After a week, they upped the dosage, and it got a little better. By three weeks, I felt relieved, and by week five, I felt amazing. I feel like a normal person, my mind is clear, I'm not anxious, and I stopped pulling my hair. The side effects went away except for being slightly tired."