Cymbalta User Reviews & Ratings (Page 4)

• jef...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "Cymbalta worked very well for nerve pain and occasional anxiety on the first day. I was taking 60 mg once per day. I was 54 years old when I first started taking Cymbalta, and I wasn't working (hard) at a foundry and am now retired. Also, I was always athletic and played racquetball, tennis, basketball, jogged, etc. After about six years, I slowly noticed I wasn't able to do the usual things I did all my life because I would get winded and short of breath. I had yearly visits to my doctor, and I was in excellent condition as I went for my blood work and vital signs. It got so bad about nine years of taking Cymbalta that at 62 years of age, I mainly went to the one grocery store in town and back home. I would take the usual two 10-12 pounds of food to the house, and when I got to the refrigerator, I had to put the bags down and wait a bit to catch my breath. So, six months ago, I stopped taking Cymbalta, and my normal breathing slowly came back. 69 and getting younger."

• Jem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2023

For Depression "I had high hopes for Cymbalta. My doctor told me it would help with insomnia, back pain, depression, and anxiety. It did work somewhat with anxiety and relieving my back pain, but it didn't help with insomnia or depression at all. Depression was the main reason for trying Cymbalta out. I had no appetite (which was good). I think this drug causes high blood pressure in some people, I felt a pressure-like sensation while on this drug. I also had tinnitus before taking this drug, but it didn't really bother me. I always told myself it was the crickets chirping in my head, but now the tinnitus is so loud and annoying! I've decided to stop taking Cymbalta mainly because of the tinnitus. I'm weaning myself off of this med now. It's not worth the side effects that aren't going away. I was taking 20 mg a day."

• Ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 5, 2023

For Anxiety "I’ve been on Cymbalta for a few months, and honestly, I do not plan on changing it any time soon. Cymbalta has helped me gain control over my emotions, I do not have huge reactions anymore, and I’m a little more relaxed with my anxiety. It didn’t help my depression at all, but it makes up for it. I had a few side effects of slight stomach pain if I didn’t eat or drink when I took it, vivid dreams, and night sweating. I really recommend Cymbalta to at least try. We are all different, and it’s important to remember that."

• DGL...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 3, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg for fibromyalgia. For the first year, it was wonderful! I was willing to sing its praises to everyone. Between years 1 and 2, it stopped working. I continued to take it since the withdrawal symptoms I read about were so scary. I finally stopped cold turkey after about 6 years. No withdrawal symptoms. Too bad it wasn't the wonder drug I had hoped for."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Did not help me - it significantly increased my anxiety symptoms."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 25, 2023

For Anxiety "The first couple of weeks on Cymbalta can be difficult while your body gets used to the medication, but if you stick it through, it can do wonders for anxiety and depression. It saved my life and has allowed me to experience living again. Although it does make my eczema a little worse and my hands sweat. It’s a fine trade-off for healing with my severe panic attacks and anxiety."

• hig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have dealt with generalized anxiety disorder since my early 20s and have tried many SSRIs. The results were typically lukewarm or ended with increased migraines. In the early 2000s, I was put on Effexor (SSNI), and it worked. This was pre-time release formula. Although I titrated off, as directed, I still suffered significant withdrawal. Fast forward to 2013, and my doctor suggests I try it again. This time it's the extended-release. It was 3 days of hell. Nauseous, confused, and couldn't eat or sleep. Ended up in urgent care with instructions to stop immediately. The current psychiatrist decided to push Cymbalta (duloxetine) for a few months. I argued because I had such a hard time with Effexor. But after a few months of arguing, I agreed to start at a low 20 mg dose. He wanted me to double the dosage every week for 3 weeks. Side effects were worse than Effexor. Visual disturbances, could not eat or sleep, my heart rate slowed to 40 bpm, and I couldn't regulate my temp. Immediately stopped taking it."

• Mag...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 19, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "The worst experience of my life, the weight gain, the constant brain fog. If you forget to take it, the withdrawals are enough to make you want to kill yourself or others!!! This drug should not be prescribed to people without a tapering program in place for them to get off it. Why don’t we have tapering management centers the way pain management centers do?"

• mir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2023

For Chronic Pain "I suffered a cheerleading accident that resulted in a fractured neck and a bad concussion, causing terrible migraines, motion sickness, and loss of feeling in my hands and feet, making it difficult to sleep. Seeking medical attention, I was referred to a neurologist who prescribed 30 mg of Cymbalta. Initially, the medication was a godsend, helping me sleep through the night, eliminating my migraines, and restoring feeling to my limbs. However, after three months, my doctor decided to increase my dose to 60 mg and then to 90 mg. Missing or taking the medication just 30 minutes late would render me unable to function. My weight fluctuated randomly, and I experienced passing out, teeth sensitivity and yellowing, brain zaps, and depression. Over a year, I tried to taper off the medication, but with no success. Withdrawal symptoms were intense, including intrusive thoughts, changes in appetite, vivid dreams, and severe mood swings. Prior to taking this medication, I urge you to research the '33-page document of Cymbalta symptoms.'"

• kro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2023

For Depression "I have taken Cymbalta several times in the past with no problems. Now I am 55 and menopausal. We tried Lexapro, and it actually made me more depressed. This time on Cymbalta, I'm feeling the full effects of 'zombie mode.' However, it's a week in, and that's slowly going away. I'm upbeat and calm at the same time (other users know what I mean). My fibromyalgia pain is SIGNIFICANTLY less also. I mean it's like a 'wow, I moved and my body didn't scream' kinda thing. Like others have said, it's a gamble with these medications. For some, they are wonderful, for others, not so much. Give it a proper 1-2 week chance and see if it blesses you like it has some of us."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2023

For Depression "This medication was a nightmare. Caused me to dissociate regularly. Felt as if I was in a waking dream. It made me removed, and I felt as if things weren't real. It also gave me bizarre dreams and made me emotionally blunted."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "30 mg does nothing for me. 60 mg made me feel manic, so I tapered down to 30 mg. I’m trying 60 mg again, but this time with Latuda. I’ve been taking it for less than a week, so I haven’t noticed a difference yet."

• Bon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 4, 2023

For Anxiety "I had been suffering since I was a kid with severe panic disorder, anxiety, and depression. I was put on Prozac after my 3rd child for extreme postpartum depression. It helped but wouldn’t totally get rid of it. Years of on and off depression, trying new meds... (you name it, I tried it!!)... At 50 years old, I was put on Cymbalta. It was life-changing. Almost 17 years later, thank God, it’s still working!! I’m on 40 mg daily. I’ve done things I would never have thought I’d be capable of doing. I always said that if I were offered a million dollars to go off of it, I wouldn’t!! I still feel the same way! It saved my life."

• JC1...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 3, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Do not go on Cymbalta. If you ever have to or want to stop taking it, the withdrawal is nightmarish and severe. It's so bad it has its own term, 'Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome.' I tapered down very slowly, and on the first week I was totally off of it, I almost lost my mind. My anxiety was through the roof. My thought processes had no logic. I would cry uncontrollably at minor sad and happy things like commercials, news reports, movies, etc. everywhere...in my car, at work, in a store, etc. I had to go back on a low dose of it and then start taking a low dose of Prozac, tapering slowly off of that to make the Cymbalta withdrawal somewhat tolerable. The makers of the drug have never let the public (or doctors) know about how severe withdrawal is. There's no black box warning. Many psychiatrists don't even know about this. Google 'Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome' and 'Prozac Bridge.' It's all there, and personal attestations like mine. No matter what your doctor is prescribing this for, say no."

• fee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2023

For Depression "I really hate it. I've been on it for just a month now, I think, and it's terrible. I can't sleep, I've begun seeing things again, terrible vivid dreams, very increased hostility, I am angry all the time, increased expression, increased suicidal thoughts, etc., etc. Overall, I really don't like it. My doctors all say, 'wait for it to register with your body. It will get better,' so I guess I will carry on taking it to see if it makes a difference."

• ery...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 17, 2023

For Anxiety "I have recently stopped taking Cymbalta after using it for a little over a year, and I am faced with numerous issues associated with this medication. While it initially managed my anxiety well, once I experienced heightened stress levels, it stopped working beyond my baseline anxiety. The smallest things would cause me to feel like the world was ending, and I ultimately realized that this medication may not have been suitable for me, especially considering the adverse effects I experienced after forgetting to take a dose. Since discontinuing its use, the difference in my overall mood is astonishing, and I am now capable of experiencing emotions again. I had not realized how significantly it affected my memory and ability to concentrate until I read about other individuals' experiences, which now makes sense to me. Despite the positive changes I have observed since stopping the medication, the withdrawal process has been dreadful. I am currently experiencing constant panic and pain, and I regret ever starting this medication. I do not recommend its use."

• Rko...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2023

For Chronic Pain "I started taking Cymbalta a week ago; the first thing I noticed was dizziness and dry mouth. I also noticed difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. I also noticed that my overall pain wasn't as bad as before. It took a few days, but the dizziness has subsided, and I currently take melatonin at night to help me sleep. I will see how I feel in another week or two and may provide an update."

• Dep...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2023

For Depression "I've been taking Cymbalta now for 34 months and am about to totally stop taking it 20 days from now. Started with 90 mg, then took 60 mg, with 30 mg for the last 3 months. I had a great experience with this medicine following mild depression with high anxiety. I started enjoying my life, lost weight, improved relationships, got completely rid of panic attacks, and more. My absolute advice to anyone experiencing mental health issues is to find doctors you trust, work with your psychiatrist and psychologist openly and closely, listen to them, and stick to the plan. I've done everything they suggested. Please do so. Some drugs might not work for you - Escitalopram didn't work for me, for example. Then let your doctor know so she/he can change. One will work for sure. Please don't underestimate the therapy sessions. These work more than medicines in the long run. Wish you all a good recovery!!"

• JCR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "I’m on 30 mg daily, and it works great! The only downside for me is it seems to make me crave alcohol! I wonder if anyone else has had this experience with Cymbalta."

• 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."

• Lin...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 26, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "I am 63 years old and have had depression since childhood. I was told I was nuts and to just get on with life. In my early 30s, I began experiencing extreme pain in my ankles, knees, and hips from arthritis, rheumatoid, and osteoarthritis. I was still told there was nothing wrong with me. Seven years ago, yes, I was diagnosed with chronic depression and fibromyalgia and put onto Cymbalta. After 50 years, I was free of pain and loved life. Four months ago, I was told to wean myself off them, which I did. The pain slowly kicked back into the stage of hardly walking, and my depression turned into suicidal thoughts. Two days ago, I ended up at the hospital and was put back on Cymbalta and four nights of sleeping meds. At my age, I don't care if there's long-term damage from taking this drug, at least I feel sane, and all that dreadful pain has gone. I think this drug works best when you have both underlying conditions, not one."

• Sum...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2023

For Depression "I was on Cymbalta for over three years. I was put on Cymbalta after being hospitalized for severe depression due to family issues. In the beginning, Cymbalta was initially life-changing. I was no longer emotional, but the side effect: I had no emotion toward anyone or anything. I lived three years of my life with no feelings, emotions, or desires. As horrible as it is to be depressed and emotional, it's even worse to feel absolutely nothing! The withdrawal from this medicine is no joke, it is hard, and it takes months."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2023

For Major Depressive Disorder "Cymbalta is a solid drug that I found tolerable. It took away about half of my anxiety and depression. This is more than I can say about most other SSRIs that I have tried. I just tried Nardil and had severe side effects from it, so now I am going back to Cymbalta after my washout period. The only side effects of Cymbalta are some headaches and slight insomnia."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 17, 2023

For Anxiety "All I can say is wow, wow, WOW! Since my early 20s, I have been on several antidepressants/anti-anxiety medications because, well… genetics. LOL, Zoloft was awful and made me extremely depressed. Effexor was okay, but it had side effects, and getting off of it was so awful that it scared me from ever using an antidepressant again. Wellbutrin worked decent for a while, but I developed resistance, and I had trouble sleeping on it. Cymbalta is HANDS DOWN the best psychotropic medication I have ever taken. I was on 20 mg for a month and started 30 mg today. The effects started within a few days, literally! Since day 4 or 5 on it, my DAILY anxiety attacks and panic attacks for months are GONE. I’m getting out of the house again. In terms of my depression, I have hope for the future and no longer wish I could disappear off the earth on a daily basis. I don’t realize how dark things felt for me before starting Cymbalta. This may not work for everyone, but this medication has saved me."

• Mis...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 3, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "Was misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia and prescribed Cymbalta in 2017. When I was correctly diagnosed with a different condition and no longer wanted to take a medication I didn’t need, i.e., Cymbalta, it was too late! You cannot stop taking this drug! The side effects are horrific even if you miss one dose! I tried reducing the beads in the capsules slowly, but it was awful!"