Duloxetine for Anxiety User Reviews
Brand names: Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka
Duloxetine has an average rating of 6.5 out of 10 from a total of 392 reviews for the treatment of Anxiety. 58% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 29% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Duloxetine
- Jes...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 4, 2020
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta changed my life. I felt the change almost instantly. Freed me from lifelong depression. I feel as if I am reborn. Yes, I do feel a lack of appetite, but honestly that’s a plus for me. The other side effects I felt have all subsided now, and it’s only been a week. I felt like a zombie for the first four days, but now my energy is back, and I am happy. Haven’t been happy for a very long time."
- MAa...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- November 1, 2021
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I understand some of you may be searching for reviews on Cymbalta right now and have come across some negative experiences. For that reason, I felt compelled to share my experience. Cymbalta quite literally saved my life. I was extremely suicidal and my anxiety was taking my ability to even function normally. I was not eating, sleeping, or working at worst of it. Cymbalta has taken away 99% of my depression/suicidal thoughts and I would say about 85% of anxiety is gone, and what is left feels very normal and tolerable. I had a horrible experience with Lexapro previously and was scared of meds, and I was going untreated for a long time. If you are considering it, please speak with your doctor and do not let the negative reviews make your mind up for you. Please be aware there are also us patients who have been saved by this medication. If I listened to the negative reviews/experiences from others regarding Cymbalta and continued to go untreated, I would not be here today."
Frequently asked questions
- SSRIs vs SNRIs - What's the difference between them?
- 8 Cymbalta Side Effects: Should I be Concerned?
- What helps with Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms?
- How to sleep while taking Cymbalta?
- Anonymous
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- December 14, 2019
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I'm finally free from the grips of anxiety and depression. I just feel normal. First week of Cymbalta was rough. Didn't know if I could do it. Nausea. Couldn't stay awake. Diarrhea. I stuck with it. Week 2, symptoms started to fade. I'm on month 4, this is the best I've felt in so long! I'm not numb, I still get nervous, I'm still awkward, I'm still myself! But it doesn't control me! I'm in the moment now! I'm not faking it! The only side effect now that I currently have is occasional night sweats, which I will take any day of the week over how I felt before! I've lost weight. I no longer have low blood sugar. I feel like my entire body makeup has been changed for the better! It's hard to explain. And I know some people may be skeptical. I'm 40 years old, and this is the best I've felt in over 20 years."
- Pst...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- June 3, 2020
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Ok, I gave a review at 5-6 months being on Duloxetine. Now it's been a year. I started out on 30mg for a week, then moved up to 60mg. Felt great for a while. After about 5 months, I noticed I started to feel anxious and just didn't feel right. When up, so we moved it up to 80mg. Pushed through, 80mg helped, but still didn't feel right for a few months. Now I'm on 100mg. I take 60mg at 9 am and 40mg at 5 pm. And man, do I feel great! I finally am back. Life has been amazing. I know this medication isn't for everybody or people have had bad experiences on it, but it has truly helped me, and I'm so thankful for that! Only rated it a 9 because nothing is perfect."
Are you taking this medicine?
Your review helps others make informed decisions.- JDM...
- June 10, 2019
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Remember this, everyone is different. Find the right medicine for you. I went on Cymbalta 7 years ago after I had an autoimmune disease and suffered from depression & anxiety. It was great. I went off of it for 3.5 years. Now, married with two kids, my life was what I wanted, yet I was miserable—so much anxiety, mood swings, snapping at my husband and kids, no interest in fun activities. I couldn't stand myself. I decided to give Cymbalta a try again (generic version). Initial side effects lasted a week. SO tired, brain fog, no appetite, headache. By day 7, all gone. I can't believe how fast it's working for me. My anxiety is gone. I am calm and easy going. I feel like the best version of myself. I'm laughing with my kids and husband and don't overreact. I actually am looking forward to doing activities and I have been enjoying them. I have been more productive at work and oddly more organized. I've tried other medicine and it's shut me down like a zombie."
- Pst...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- October 21, 2019
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I've seen a lot of horror stories about Cymbalta, but it's been great for me. I started at 30mg for a week, then went up to 60mg. I've been on it for 5 months now and feel great. I had no side effects at all. Everybody reacts differently to meds."
More FAQ
- Does Cymbalta cause weight gain?
- How long does it take for Cymbalta to work?
- What do Cymbalta brain zaps feel like?
- Can I take Cymbalta (duloxetine) and Trintellix (vortioxetine) together?
- Bon...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- April 4, 2023
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "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."
- Pen...
- Taken for 2 to 5 years
- March 11, 2020
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Taking Cymbalta is like having someone turn off the switch that controls my anxiety. It’s hard for me to comprehend how I lived with constant anxiety for most of my life now that it is controlled. I will say this is a medicine that you must commit to taking as prescribed. Missing doses will bring the anxiety back full force."
- dan...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- July 2, 2014
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was quick to anger, severe mood swings would yell at my kids for the slightest things. I was ready to punch anybody that would make me mad and (it didn't take much!) I started with Cymbalta 30mg and I noticed a slight difference. I was increased to 60 mg and I felt the change right away. I'm so calm, and I'm back to being a happy mom. I take it at night because it would get me sleepy during the day if I take it in the morning. Some of the side effects I've experienced have been dry mouth, lack of appetite, hot flashes, tiredness! I love this medicine, it has changed my life. The relationship with my children is much, much better too. I no longer have crying spells, and I'm a much nicer person. Try Cymbalta."
- Amo...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- October 13, 2018
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta changed my life. I was going through the worst life experience I could imagine. Thoughts of suicide dominated my life and panic attacks were often. Then I started taking Cymbalta and everything changed. I started having the ability to see a hopeful future and my panic attacks disappeared. The days I forget to take it look grey until I take it and hope returns. I'm too fearful to exist drug-free in my later years. I've never experienced any side effects, just positive ones. I wish I had started taking something like this when I was young. To me, it's a miracle drug."
- Sco...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- November 19, 2024
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was put on this as my mother is 55 only, and I was told a few months back she only has 8 to 14 months left to live. My life quickly took a major hit. I am self-employed, and before taking these, I was skeptical because I've tried loads of different types of antidepressants, the last one being Lexapro. After a few months, I was completely numb, couldn't be happy, just a zombie, really. I've been on these for about 4 months, and so far, so good. Hopefully, keep working the way they are. I take them at night, and I fall asleep quite quickly after taking them. My mom was the glue that held the family together, and without these, I would be really struggling. Now I'm just trying to enjoy my last few months with her. I still feel sadness, which is good, and I can still go to the gym to help my mental health while on these. Any Christians out there, keep my mom in prayer. Thanks."
- Mis...
- Taken for 10 years or more
- March 17, 2019
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta worked to save my life after perimenopause made my already existent depression increase tenfold. My depression was so dark, I felt like I was being held down in a dark abyss. If I didn't seek medical help, I honestly believe I would have taken my own life. 60mg of Cymbalta daily, and I could get out of bed, live my life, and function as a loving single parent who could provide for her family. Now, ten years later, I will discuss the increasing anxiety I am feeling. Will my Cymbalta dosage increase? I don't know. But I do know for those 10 years, I was not just surviving, I was living. Thanks to Cymbalta."
- XYY...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- April 2, 2016
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Changed my life. I had been experiencing slight bouts of anxiety starting at around age 19. Hitting me hard, randomly of course, only a few times a year. Then when I was 24, something changed with my anxiety and I became completely crippled by it. I was being consumed by constant anxiety, worry, fear, etc. every single minute of every day, including when I slept. I was out of control emotionally and mentally. I had to take a box of tissues with me everywhere because the anxiety was so severe I would burst out into tears even during the 'happiest' of times. Finally, after suffering for months, I decided to give Cymbalta a try, reluctantly though. After a week of relatively mild side effects, it had changed my life and saved my life."
- Anonymous
- August 25, 2018
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta was really hard to take at first. I felt very out of it the first day. The second and third days, the nausea was unbearable. I had terrible stomach cramps, but the worst was the insomnia (but I had that before I started taking Cymbalta). I was advised to try to stick to it and not give up because the benefits were coming. After 6 days, I was so happy that all the side effects disappeared. I'm sleeping on my own without insomnia meds. I feel like myself again, and the terrible panic and depersonalization I was having are gone. I know I still have some time to go until it's in full effect. I'm only in my second week, but I'm excited to know that it's going to be even better. Yes! Side effects suck, and you feel you can't take it! BUT I think about the quality of life I was having without it, and I'm grateful because it was so bad I was thinking of doing 'anything' to stop it. Cymbalta is giving me the opportunity to enjoy life again. If you are struggling with side effects, just hang in there. It will get better."
- Off...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- April 23, 2014
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "This medication was a lifesaver for me as it helped me to overcome anxiety at work and allowed me to regain my focus. This also helped a lot with my irritable bowel syndrome issues! Only downfall was the first few weeks where I lost a lot of weight due to having no desire to eat, and I had to switch to taking it at night because when I took it in the morning, it made me dizzy and tired all day. I am taking 30mg once a day and have been on this for about 8 months. Hang in there if you just started the medication because it takes about a month to really kick in."
- Ste...
- Taken for 1 to 6 months
- February 12, 2021
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I had insomnia badly for the first couple of days, but taking it in the morning helped. I also experienced lack of appetite for the first couple of weeks and felt very energized. It faded, but same things when the dose was increased to 60mg. It was great for anxiety, even helped with things that I didn't know were from anxiety; however, I had no relief of back pain unfortunately. I currently have no side effects after 2 months."
- Chl...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- March 1, 2020
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "NOTHING matters about this drug except the fact that withdrawal is horrific if you ever need to come off it. Don’t start! I am now in my 13th month coming off this drug. It has been the worst thing ever. I am now counting beads in capsules and reducing slowly; am down to 10 mg. Five more months and I hope to get my life back. This drug should be used only as a last resort when all else has failed. Would give it a zero if I could."
- fee...
- March 14, 2016
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was experiencing awful panic attacks and anxiety that wouldn't let up. I tried so many medications, but Cymbalta was the one that worked best for me. Started at 30 mg for a week, then went up to 60, and now up to 90 mg where I'm at now. The only downside was it seemed like it took a long time to get back to normal after almost 2 months, but I'm glad I'm here. I have not had a panic attack in weeks, anxiety is down, and I'm off all benzos. Stick with this medication, it did wonders for me, and I'm very sensitive to medications."
- Lal...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- March 13, 2014
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I started this medication after I basically had a nervous breakdown in June 2013. I couldn't function as a mother. I felt scared & nervous all the time. Lights were too bright. Sounds were too loud. I couldn't deal with all of the things that needed to be done around the house. Started out at 30mg for 2 weeks then went up to 60mg. Made me super tired in the afternoons at first (take around 7am). Cymbalta slowly brought me out of the 'fog' I was in. It took about 6-8 weeks before I could say I felt 'normal' again; whatever that is, right?"
- lil...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 20, 2020
"After reading some of the duloxetine reviews on this website, I was terrified to begin taking it. I decided to take the bull by the horns and started it, and let me tell you - it was nowhere near as bad as some of these reviews stated. I had mild nausea and was a bit sleepy for the first few days, but nothing that I couldn't handle. Those side effects have already started wearing off, and I can already feel a difference. If you are debating whether or not to take it, I would say do it. The horror stories on here are not true to my experience."
- Jay...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 10, 2020
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I nearly died taking this drug. I took one 30 mg tablet and felt like someone had hit me in the back of the head. After that, I started getting brain zaps, apparently, that’s what they’re called by the doctors in ICU. It made me feel very sick and unwell, but I thought it would wear off by 6 o’clock in the morning the next day. I called an ambulance. I was vomiting, shocking, cramping, even though I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything except for water. They took me straight into intensive care. My sodium levels had plummeted, and they put me straight in for a brain scan. I was four days in intensive care. They said another half an hour and I would’ve had a massive stroke. I was 49 at the time. The doctor said it had damaged my brain, and they don’t know how long it will take to come good, if ever. I felt alright after about a week. Never take this drug, you can die from it."
- may...
- Taken for 1 to 2 years
- April 17, 2017
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have never in my life functioned properly until Cymbalta. I have gone from panic attacks to public speaking with no hesitation. I finally have a real life. I don't overstress. I no longer ruminate. No shakings, no lasting side effects. A bit hyper and loss of libido but sorted out in a few months. I never want to come off it. Changed my life totally. Been on 60 mg for 20 months."
- Anonymous
- October 5, 2012
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I am a RN who suffers from severe social anxiety and moderate depression. Symptoms associated with SAD have included inability to write in front of others, eat in public, public speaking. Even drinking in front of others was difficult for me. I hated the shaking, heart racing/pounding, and everything else that went along with this horrible affliction! I remember it all starting around 15 years old but never could understand why. I'm 41 yrs old today and my anxieties have affected my life negatively and held me back in so many ways. I never felt normal. Many years and meds later, I came to believe my life would never change. That I would never feel 'normal' around people. Then I found Cymbalta..changed my life!"
- for...
- Taken for 6 months to 1 year
- February 15, 2024
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I read reviews for years and was always too afraid to try an SSRI or SNRI. I tried several SSRIs that only increased my anxiety. I got the courage to try Cymbalta after talking to dozens of people and reading the reviews on this site. The reviews often said that they wanted to give others hope since it worked for them. When something works for you, it is literally the difference between life and darkness. Please don't be afraid to try. I am grateful to all the people who developed these medications and for everyone who helps others with anxiety."
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Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Don’t let the negative comments on here scare you. The truth is, Cymbalta works beautifully for some people and some people hate it. But that’s true with ANY antidepressant! Cymbalta saved me from extreme, constant anxiety and panic attacks. But I have tried other drugs - Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, etc. Figured out I cannot take ANY SSRI. They cause my anxiety to go through the roof! Cymbalta is a SNRI. Works differently. I could not only tolerate it - it saved me. So, no - the medication shouldn’t be banned. It works wonders for some of us. If it didn’t work for you, accept it and try something else. But don’t scare other people away from trying something that could change their life in a positive way. They affect everyone differently, they all have side effects that differ for everyone and they are all difficult to quit taking."