Cymbalta and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 2)

• rus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 28, 2013

For Chronic Pain "My rheumatologist had me on a very high dosage, so much that I had to pay for two separate scripts at the pharmacy. I guess so many people do have a positive response to this med, my doctor thought increasing the med mg would result in symptom improvement, however that wasn't the case. I hated (that's a strong word for me) Cymbalta. I was told I acted like another person while on it and not in a good way. Even though I strictly followed my pharmacist and doctors' directions when tapering off this med, I still had severe withdrawal during and after reducing the mg. I even called the doctor and pharmacy because I was so concerned; I all but went to the emergency room in the beginning stages since I had never had withdrawal symptoms before."

• Pus...
• August 21, 2017

For Chronic Pain "This is the worst drug ever put out. I'm 70, and it has ruined my life. When weaned off, it has nearly killed me. I have been over a year of withdrawal and am still going. They should be stopped from selling this and tell everyone you know to never be put on this crap - it will ruin your life."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2012

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Excellent for controlling anxiety that, for me, can spiral into major depression. I feel more like myself on Cymbalta than I did on Zoloft. It has been excellent at relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain. Cymbalta benefits do come at a cost, financially and physically. The most annoying physical symptom is profuse sweating. I never sweated much, even on hot days. With Cymbalta, it can be cold outside, and I'm in my car AC on, face dripping with sweat. I can easily tell this from a menopausal hot flash. The two sometimes occur together. Cymbalta can give me bad morning headaches, and I can't use Motrin while on it. Once you're on Cymbalta, you can't just stop it without getting severe withdrawal symptoms, especially dizziness."

• mrd...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2019

For Depression "Was put on this 5 years ago. It works well, but there is one thing they won't tell you. The withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. I will probably never be able to stop taking this. If I miss only one day, I get vertigo and brain zaps. Read up on it, and it turns out they lied to the FDA about how many people had withdrawal symptoms. It's 70 percent! Some people experience withdrawal symptoms that last a year! So what does the FDA do? A little fine and a class action lawsuit that already expired by the time I realized how bad the withdrawal symptoms are. Eli Lilly should have been sued out of existence, but of course, big pharma has the FDA in their pocket. Really read up on the documentation in the FDA report and what it says about how they fudged things. It's unbelievable. I wish I had never been put on this."

• Nan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2019

For Depression "Absolutely terrible. I was prescribed 20 mg Cymbalta to replace Prozac, which didn’t help my depression at all. The first few weeks, there were no changes, so we increased it to 30 mg, then 60 mg. I lost the ability to feel emotions at all. I was numb. I couldn’t make myself eat. I lost 5% of my weight. I had started self-harming just to feel something and felt suicidal. For some reason, I told myself to go to the doc one last time. It’s recommended that Cymbalta should be tapered off slowly, but there’s almost no way to do that from 60 mg to 30 mg as it is a big jump and the capsules shouldn’t be opened. The doc said I should quit cold turkey since I was in such a dark place. The withdrawal was torture. I couldn’t leave the house for two weeks because of vertigo, “brain zaps,” headaches, and confusion. I’m on Wellbutrin now, and it’s a hundred times better in my experience."

• JMs...
• November 5, 2013

For Depression "I was on Cymbalta 60mg for 18 months. I've been on many different antidepressants throughout the years. My issue is not when you take it but when you go off. Please do not take this medicine. I've gone through hell the last 12 days getting this drug out of my system. Google Cymbalta withdrawal or Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome to learn more."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "Cymbalta is great, and for me, I had 0 side effects. I removed a star because the withdrawal is what I can only imagine is akin to heroin withdrawal. I had read this before I started taking it and assumed people had a low pain tolerance, but nope. Some biblical stuff. Anyway, I take 20 mg in my PTSD cocktail. I can finally get out of bed in the morning, and life feels less flat. It’s easier to get up and walk, if that makes any sense, whereas before it was a huge taxing effort. I would 100% recommend this drug, but only if you are in really bad shape, and the normal alternatives haven’t worked. I wouldn’t wish that withdrawal on my worst enemy. Prozac made me suicidal, Zoloft was amazing but made me fat, Lexapro made me feel like crawling out of my skin, Trintellix was great for memory but no effect on mood, Wellbutrin did little to nothing."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!! I was on Cymbalta for almost a year, it hardly helped with my depression and did NOT help with anxiety, and intrusive thoughts came back. I tried every dose, but it just made me worse. I was constantly crying and panicking over things that I thought were going to happen. And let me tell you, it’s absolutely sickening how horrible the withdrawal is. Cymbalta isn’t for everyone, but it messed me up."

• mk2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2024

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started this medicine 5 months ago. Prior to my use of Cymbalta, I was taking 40mg daily of Celexa and interchanging lorazepam and buspirone for 3 years. Cymbalta (duloxetine) has CHANGED MY LIFE. I have struggled with major depressive disorder and anxiety symptoms from chronic OCD for many years, and this medicine has made me feel more alive than anything I have ever tried. I can wake up, I am capable of cognitive thought outside of sadness, and I am able to feel emotions and FINALLY have an orgasm. No medication is perfect, but I have finally felt free of the dullness and numbness that has consumed my life for so many years. Here is what you could expect (using prescription of 60 mg (2) 30 mg cap 2x a day): - light stomach irritation and sensitivity to eating - mild nausea and occasional headaches - more sweat - lowered appetite - real withdrawal! Follow a schedule! - insomnia - drink tea and take simple sleep aids!"

• Ski...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 25, 2019

For Depression "I was prescribed 30 mg at first to help with depression. After talking with my doctor, he decided to increase the dosage to 60 mg. I was using it for 9 years, and at first, it seemed to help. But after a couple of years, it felt like I had a tight band around my head. And I was always dizzy when I stood up. I tried to stop taking it, and it felt like I had the flu. So I continued taking it. Then last year, I got tired of the head pain and dizziness. I opened up each capsule to remove 5 mg. I then waited for 2 weeks to remove another 5 mg. By doing it this way, I didn't have any withdrawal symptoms and am finally off of it! If it works for you, great! But be prepared for a struggle to quit taking it!"

• Pur...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 26, 2019

For Depression "This drug is a nightmare to get off of. I don’t recommend it ever. I was on it for ten years. I am still having withdrawals after 60 days!!!! I vomited for three weeks. My body cannot get back in sync."

• suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2014

For Chronic Pain "Almost 2 months on just 20 mg pain mgmt narcotics for chronic pain, many procedures little help, also CPTSD, GAD, pos. bipolar, depression. MY BACK PAIN AND SCIATIC GONE after 5 days on a low dose. Reserving judgement on the rest. Increase dose to 60 mg. I expect to get a hint in the next week. May have overactive mind/severe difficulty sleeping tho. Higher dose may help. But the pain relief - wouldn't have believed it if someone told me. So have to weigh pain vs insomnia or other side effect I might get. Good luck with this medicine! Insanely expensive and I know from girlfriend's experience withdrawal can be bad."

• Fra...
• April 5, 2013

For Depression "I started on Cymbalta 30 mg and it improved my mood, so my prescriber increased it to 60 mg. 60 mg caused increased irritability and negative thinking, so I decided to taper off. This caused flu-like symptoms and 'the shakes', so I started researching Cymbalta withdrawal. Surprisingly, a LOT of people have similar symptoms when coming off Cymbalta. The only way to avoid it is to open the capsules and divide the pellets to take a gradually reduced dose over several weeks. My prescriber suggested returning to 30 mg to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms, and I have stayed there for the past 2 months. I am back to experiencing positive effects - I feel like I am coming out of a fog I didn't realize had been surrounding me for years."

• Lib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have panic disorder and agoraphobia, as well as spondylolisthesis. I took Lexapro for about 5 years and thought it was doing a good job...until I built up a tolerance to it and started having withdrawal symptoms halfway through the day every day. My doc switched me to Cymbalta, and it was a real eye-opener. I had no idea how poorly Lexapro was affecting me until Cymbalta changed things for me. I had been sluggish, unmotivated, tired, gained a lot of weight, and was still in pain all through my years with Lexapro, and since I was just so darn happy to not be suffering from random crippling panic attacks constantly, I figured that was 'good enough.' Not true. Now I know better. With Cymbalta, I have far more energy, my mood is boosted, my pain is reduced, I've lost weight, and I'm just generally more 'chipper' as well as being able to focus better at work and not suffering from panic attacks. Total life changer."

• Anonymous
• June 20, 2008

For Anxiety "I was on Cymbalta for two years. I had no side effects and it worked really well for my anxiety. I had no sexual side effects, which was great. I decided to go off of it thinking that I didn't need it anymore. I thought that I tapered it by taking 20 mg for a month. Once I started taking 20 mg every other day, it was like experiencing the withdrawal symptoms over again each time. I finally just stopped taking it and had awful withdrawal symptoms - more monitoring would have helped."

• ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2018

For Chronic Pain "I have gained 50 lbs from this med, so I stopped it. I went through the absolute worst withdrawals. I've been off for 3 months and now just started back up tonight. I will figure out how to get the weight off, but for fibro pain, it has been the best one yet."

• Mar...
• April 16, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "Cymbalta worked quickly to reduce depressive symptoms, i.e., deep sadness, lack of motivation, anhedonia, etc. In that, I would rate it a 10. I had been on it about 1.5 years and was taking 120 mg/day when my doctor didn't call in my prescription for a week. I had no idea why I felt so icky. I called my neighbor, and he diagnosed me with Cymbalta withdrawal via the Internet. Nobody told me that this drug has physically addictive properties. The symptoms abated once I took 60 mg. So, I stuck with 60 mg a day and called my doctor for a taper. It is awful! To all those that have just started Cymbalta, know this - you have at least a 50/50 chance of having 'discontinuation syndrome' on dose reduction. Read the site on Eli Lilly's history with Cymbalta lawsuits. Read everything you can before you take your next dose. The world is so unpredictable. Do you want to carry the burden of addiction and withdrawal in a time of crisis, insurance changes, medical illness, or injury? I don't."

• Use...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2021

For Depression "The withdrawals were so hard on me. The brain zaps were the most painful thing. I did not know a human can experience electric, painful zaps in their brains. It was the worst headache I could imagine. I was never so severely dependent (physically addicted) on anything like duloxetine. Benzodiazepine withdrawals were child's play in comparison to these withdrawals. Not to mention it worsened my depression. It made me completely numb like a zombie. You could crash a car in front of me, and I would not even flinch. I had terrible anger issues when trying to quit this. Screaming and destroying things. I had to taper off by opening the capsules and counting the beads. There are about 170 beads in each one. It took me more than one year to taper off slowly. The worst single substance I have ever tried. I would not give it to my worst enemy."

• Anonymous
• September 29, 2009

For Depression "This medicine worked while I was taking it, but when my doctor stopped my use, the withdrawals were awful! Be very careful! It was the worst thing I had ever been through in my life! He took me slowly off the medicine, but that did not matter. I've heard others with the same response as myself."

• Anonymous
• April 22, 2012

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I was given this originally for fibromyalgia. It worked well for the pain, however, it took a higher dosage to keep the pain away. The side effects became a problem, spacey and fuzzy all day. I tried to stop taking it, yet the doctor did not want me to stop. I stopped on my own, cold turkey. Wow, 6 weeks to get it out of my system! Went to the hospital with withdrawal symptoms, bad."

• Ccs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 25, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Didn't help much with depression, but I did notice it helped with pain. Sad, but not in crippling pain all the time. Beware though, withdrawal is terrible. Unfortunately, I've been on a lot of antidepressants and withdrawal was one of the worst."

• Sal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Cymbalta for over 3 years. When I started taking it, I was working and it was making me sleepy, so the doctor said to take it at night; problem solved. During the years, I have had 3 surgeries and I have to stop taking it, and I had no side effects or withdrawal symptoms. It helps with my fibromyalgia, mild depression, and pain. My insurance co-pay is $35, but during the donut hole, it is very expensive."

• ki_...
• June 11, 2009

For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome "I have been experiencing chronic fatigue (inability to muster up energy for anything) for as long as I can recall. My doctor gave me a trial for Cymbalta for approximately two months, and I noticed an improvement. My mom had a stroke, and I was away for a few weeks, and unfortunately, I ran out of my medication, so I thought I would be okay without it. I was wrong! I experienced major withdrawals after about two weeks. I was easily agitated. I did not leave my apartment. I could not sleep. Some nights I was up until 4:00 AM. Earlier in the week, I went back on it, and things seem to be slowly getting back on track."

• boa...
• April 30, 2016

For Depression "I was prescribed Cymbalta for postpartum depression. What I really needed was sleep. I was after having a C-section and taking care of three kids and no help. Now I have been on this drug for 9 years. I have tried several times to get off it. I feel like it has a choke hold around my neck. I am a registered nurse and work full time. I still get depressed while on this drug. When I try to get off it, I have suicidal thoughts along with a long list of withdrawal symptoms. I wish I was never put on this nasty drug."

• goo...
• May 2, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have severe anxiety and depression. I've tried all the meds out, as my doctor would say. Cymbalta was suggested. And me needing to feel normal tried it. Worst experience of my life. Was on 40 mg. Felt like I was having an out-of-body experience, like someone was pulling me everywhere. Dr. told me to stick with it and lower the dose (I actually did, did not recommend talking to Dr. first). Nothing changed. I was talking without thinking, having more and more panic attacks and higher anxiety. Absolutely zero libido, and I gained weight. I felt 'happy,' but a weird happy. So, finally, I TELL my doctor for the third time in 9 months, I want off this medication. Withdrawal symptoms, no joke. It's been a month and I still have withdrawal effects."