Cymbalta and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2022

For Depression "Started on a low dose and saw some small improvement at first. The results didn’t last, and we upped the dose from 20 mg to 30 mg. Resulted in frequent diarrhea. I tried changing my diet and using probiotics, but after 5 months I couldn’t take it anymore. I messed myself more than once! I even went to the Dr. to make sure I didn’t have a bacteria or anything. I also got really tired and unmotivated. Once I stopped, I saw improvement in the diarrhea and energy in 2 weeks. A little over a month later, my gut is not completely healed but around 90%."

• Ogr...
• January 9, 2021

For Chronic Pain "Horrific, didn’t fix my post-vasectomy pain, and while on it, didn’t care about anything, like making sure the kids were fed or care about stopping for red lights or getting to work on time. But the doctor liked me being on it because I was tired all the time and slept a lot, was more docile, and didn’t complain about the pain. Just try it and watch your life go down the toilet. Would be good if I was in a nursing home at the end of my life, but I still have a life to live (only 50 years old)."

• 67s...
• February 20, 2012

For Depression "I have been taking Cymbalta for depression and have been on it for almost a month. I have noticed a change in my mood. I am starting to feel better about everything. I don't feel like I'm walking around in a fog anymore. I felt really tired for the first couple of days and mostly slept, but now I'm feeling much better. I haven't felt any other side effects. I have taken other medications for depression, Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor. Paxil and Effexor didn't work for me at all, and the Celexa worked for about a year and then didn't work at all. I hope that Cymbalta will keep working for me because I don't want to change medicines again. Cymbalta is working for me already, and I hope things will become even better the longer I'm taking it."

• 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!"

• 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."

• lik...
• November 11, 2015

For Back Pain "Though I read so many negative opinions about it, I decided to try taking Cymbalta. After two months, I decided to stop taking it. First of all, my relationships got bad, I was careless and numb. I also had a very strange feeling from time to time, like I was dreaming. Sometimes I was anxious and couldn't sleep, and had very vivid and bad dreams and panic attacks. It had an immediate effect on my libido, which got so low it almost disappeared. The main problem with the drug was that I felt good, even-tempered most of the time. This state always took my mind off the very bad side effects of the medicine, and I was so relieved from the pain, I set aside all the negative effects of it. It's day 1 without it, and I feel dizzy and so tired, I...zzz."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2009

For Depression "I took Cymbalta for about 6 months for clinical depression. Although it helped the depression a lot, I couldn't stand the side effects. I lost about 20 lbs (I'm already underweight), I started having almost constant migraines, and all I wanted to do was sleep. It was hard to get through work because I was so tired. Then on my days off, I would only wake up to make dinner for my husband, then I'd be back in bed."

• SIE...
• August 18, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "I have fibromyalgia and started taking Cymbalta about 5 months ago. At first, it was great. All my pain and depression disappeared. However, in about 4 months, I began to have severe wrist, elbow, and shoulder pain. My depression began to return, and I became exhausted. Another side effect that was intolerable was sensitivity to heat. I could not be outside for more than 20 minutes. I became violent. Today, my doctor started me on withdrawal with 30 mg (from 60 mg) for 2 weeks and then 30 mg every other day for 2 weeks. I can't wait to feel normal again."

• rit...
• April 6, 2010

For Fibromyalgia "Works wonderfully to control pain at a higher dose, but caused exhaustion during the day (took at night) - tried lowering the dose - after 3 days, could feel pain in shoulders and thighs beginning to creep back, so had to increase the dose again and then had to take an upper dose (prescribed) during the day to keep me going or I couldn't work - I'm a psychotherapist. The worst part is I'm terribly dizzy - legs have given out several times - sometimes limbs are useless - only upon getting up in the morning or after sitting or getting out of the car - never when sitting or once up walking around. So I love Cymbalta for pain - hate it for side effects."

• 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."

• Kei...
• May 27, 2015

For Depression "After the first 3 days of taking it, it worked for a week. I went from a very nasty, snappy man to calm and communicative. That lasted for about 2 weeks. Now my partner says I'm back to being nasty and rude. Careless and snappy. I'm tired all the time. It's not helping! I started at 30 mg, they put me up to 60 mg, now I'm back to 30 mg."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2018

For Chronic Pain "Cymbalta was prescribed to me for neuropathy pain - it didn't work! Instead, I was cursed with the following side effects: gained 28 pounds in 2 months, lethargy, gynecomastia (breasts for men), sky-high cholesterol, and a severely damaged metabolism, impotence, and near sterility. I can ravage the male body. Avoid this drug at all costs - IT IS NOT A CURE-ALL."

• Ann...
• May 15, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "Although OK when I first started to take this 30mg capsule, then increased to 60 mg daily... After some years, I am showing more signs of tiredness, confusion, anxiety, hot flushes, and forgetfulness, and general mental decline, and still get depressed, among symptoms... Am truly concerned about this, as is my husband and children (as I am not yet 65 years old)... And have always been in good health. I do not smoke, do drugs, and very seldom drink alcohol..."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2021

For Anxiety "I personally did not hesitate to start mine. I started off on Cymbalta 20 mg in July 2021. I have been on mine for about a month. I cannot believe what it has done for me. It has helped my panic attacks and my anxiety at least 50% so far, it has also helped my neuropathy at least 75%. It also has helped my arthritis pain from RA at least 50% in my hands. I am just amazed. I do take mine in the morning, and I do tend to get tired. It is now August, and my doctor has upped me to 30 mg, I will start tomorrow. I even have more energy and even went on a diet, and I’m very proud of myself. Don’t be scared because if you have any side effects, you can always stop. I am very pleased, and I won’t say that I wasn’t scared. LOL"

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2010

For Anxiety "Did not work for me. Was having some side effects from Zoloft, so I went to my MD to change things around a bit. Zoloft was the only thing I had ever been on, but the tiredness and no libido were getting in the way of my children and marriage. My doctor put me on Cymbalta, and at first, I thought that I was really going to like it. I felt more energetic and definitely more patient with my husband and children. BUT then I started getting anxious off and on, which gradually got worse until I couldn't stand it anymore. Now I'm trying a different SNRI, Pristiq. Time will tell, but Cymbalta was definitely not for me."

• Luc...
• October 15, 2015

For Depression "I was on Cymbalta for years but became incredibly exhausted. Doc said the accumulation of using the drug so long can lead to tiredness and also weight gain. Promptly changed drugs to Wellbutrin, Epitec, and Aspen Trazodone. Felt amazing and lost almost 15 kg. Wellbutrin started causing tremors, so now replaced Wellbutrin with Brintellix and gaining weight, sadly, as a great drug."

• Anonymous
• October 31, 2011

For Depression "For anyone taking this or planning on taking this, DO NOT DISCONTINUE WITHOUT WEANING OFF! That said, besides brain zap, yawning, and anorgasmia over the first 3 months of treatment (18 months and counting), Cymbalta has been a great treatment for my anxiety/depression issues. I have only experienced these side effects when changing doses or missing a dose (30 mg a day, last 15 months, 60 mg a day for first 3). At one point, I wanted to come off it. GP guided me through a 12-week taper-off course, but my 2-5 drinks a month were causing the problems I had associated with the medicine. I no longer drink, and it's all so cruisy. I take mine 1-2 hours before 'bedtime.' Works for me because I tend to sleep deeper and wake with lots of energy."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 29, 2016

For Depression "For over 20 years, I've used antidepressants, and this, by far, is the best I've ever used. However, there are some downsides. I'm constantly hungry all the time. I've put on 2 stone, which is giving me another problem to deal with because that doesn't make me feel good, and excessive sweating. I've reduced my dose with doctor's supervision to try to help these side effects, and the tiredness is so bad, but I've definitely had little or no anxiety."

• soc...
• October 5, 2009

For Depression "I found this product to be worthwhile taking. It's been about 3 months since I have been on it. I was really tired the first 2 weeks, but now there are just yawns throughout the day. My social life has gotten better due to problems with anxiety and depression as well. Maybe due to other medication prior, my learning is better, though focusing is not better due to my ADHD, and my back pain has been reduced. I have made more friends and feel much more normal, more so than not, and I don't feel like I lost myself like another drug did to me in the past. I would say this isn't bad due to the mild side effects."

• Anonymous
• November 30, 2009

For Anxiety "First couple of weeks were quite bad with nausea, yawning, panic attacks, but then quite suddenly I was able to leave my house, go for walks without anxiety. All was good for about 4-5 months (on 60 mg), then anxiety came back. Now I'm on 90 mg, and it's better yet again. I got severe back pains and was given tramadol...not a good idea. I had some intestinal bleeding and severe mood swings. Vicodin seems fine, so does codeine taken with Tylenol."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2022

For Depression "Have been on Cymbalta (duloxetine) for 6 weeks. Started at 30 mg, some nausea feelings first week, had restless legs that bothered me first week or 2. Also, very tired and constantly yawning. Doctor upped me to 60 mg after 4 weeks. Not really any bad side effects. Was treated for depression and pain from arthritis. Has not been a magic wand but definitely has helped. Pain greatly diminished. Needing a hip replacement, I am able to walk most of the day pain-free. The memory loop of bad experiences that used to play nonstop over and over in my head has stopped. Yes, bad memories still come, but they go, but I'm not having them keep me awake all night. This has helped make life bearable. Each day seems a little bit better. I have some brain fog and problems remembering. Also, sex isn't as good as it was, but am able to go very long without orgasm. Already on ED meds before but know without them, erection would be impossible. A bit of a trade-off, but for me a better place."

• Anonymous
• January 21, 2010

For Anxiety "I took this drug for a couple of years. At first, I was very tired all the time, but that passed. It did help with the anxiety for the first 6 months or so, but I always had the brain zaps everyone talks about. They were very frustrating, and after the 6 months, it was not effective. I didn't like the way I felt and quit taking it."

• Hwk...
• March 10, 2012

For Depression "This medicine worked well for the first 5 months, but has since stopped working. I have also put on 20 lbs in the past 4 months, and I am very tired. I am about to go off of the medication, but I am very nervous about side effects."

• Spl...
• January 30, 2010

For Depression "I started taking this medicine about a month ago for depression. My doctor gave me 2 weeks of free samples, 30 mg, to try, and I really liked it, so he gave me a prescription, which was very expensive. Another week went by, and this past week I have felt mentally blah, unmotivated to do anything, extremely tired and lazy-which is unlike me-and unsocial. I realize that this could be the result of something else, but I stopped taking it yesterday just to see, especially after reading about the withdrawal symptoms. I haven't noticed any withdrawal symptoms and feel a bit less lazy, though it is soon to tell. I also take 100 mg of Lamictal."

• Dan...
• November 23, 2011

For Pain "I have back pain due to an injury at work. I also have endometriosis and massive scar tissue from my two abdominal surgeries. I was having problems well over a year, and when my husband decided to walk out, my back started hurting more. My doctor told me that depression can worsen pain. He gave me the Cymbalta 30 mg, and after one week I'm supposed to up it to 60 mg a day. I am on my fourth day taking it. The first day I had the jitters, and my heartbeat was higher than normal. I also had almost no sleep that night. So I checked out reviews and found that you shouldn't have caffeine with this prescription. Least to say, fourth day, no side effects, but no coffee either, so I'm feeling pretty tired. Less pain, but I'm still sore and have tight muscles."