Duloxetine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 2)

• Chl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

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."

• g0l...
• November 16, 2018

Duloxetine "I had a large but benign brain tumor removed a year and a half ago. After my recovery, I had depression and anxiety, which I had never really experienced before. After dealing with it for over a year, I started generic Cymbalta three months ago. For the first two months, I took 30 mg a day. I experienced some initial insomnia, one day of upset stomach, and loss of appetite (lost 8 lbs) for about three weeks. It helped immediately with depression, while anxiety issues took about five weeks to improve. After two months, my doctor increased the dosage to 60 mg a day, which I've been taking for four weeks now. My anxiety has significantly improved, I feel it coming on now and then, but it doesn't last. I've regained the lost weight but nothing extra. I'm sleeping for 6-7 hours a night, which is about average for me. This medication has really helped me, I don't take anything else with it. I'm sorry to hear it affects some people so negatively, but please try to stay on it until your body can get used to the side effects. This drug has greatly improved my life."

• Add...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2020

Duloxetine "I am taking Cymbalta 30 mg for a week now. My primary care physician gave it to me for bilateral hip pain when I sleep. It has been helping. More so, however, it has decreased my anxiety. Amazingly so! I feel calmer and I haven’t been grinding my teeth, which I do all the time from anxiety. It’s working for me. I think the 30 mg dose is plenty."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2021

Duloxetine "I feel so lucky, this has gone beyond my expectations. I don’t ever want to be off it. Only side effect has been constipation but I feel so good I don’t care. Even if I forget to take the tablet I have NO SIDE EFFECTS! I was really hesitant to start this as the reviews didn’t seem so good but it truly is an individual experience."

• Jay...
• September 6, 2018

Duloxetine "I had pain throughout my entire body. I felt like I was dying. My moods were at an all-time low for months. No ambition, just wanted to sleep and give up on life at age 45. I had been on other medicines for several years, they worked ok, but I still had issues. I just tried to cope with them until it became too much. I am on day 2 of Cymbalta 60mg, and I can already feel the difference. I wake up feeling alive, and I’m not hurting all over my body. My mentality is about 80% better already. Thank goodness this worked!! I hope it helps others as much as it has helped me!"

• Mom...
• May 15, 2017

Duloxetine "I feel like some of you people commenting on how inept the doctors are at prescribing medication for you fail to realize how medications affect people differently. You had a bad experience? That is in no way, shape or form the doctor's fault. At all. Your body chemistry is just different than they expected. These psychiatric issues are not an exact science. Medicine is not an exact science. That aside, I've only been on Cymbalta for about a month, but I have already noticed a vast improvement. I feel less anxious overall and haven't experienced a panic attack since I started on it. Again, this isn't an exact science, and sometimes it takes experimentation to get the right combination. Hopefully, I've found a proper solution to my issues."

• spe...
• August 21, 2013

Duloxetine "I was started on Cymbalta 30mg about 6 months ago. I was increasingly anxious and irritable and quick to start arguments. My presenting complaint was, however, tinnitus due to jaw clenching! Cymbalta almost immediately calmed me down. I feel less guilt feelings about everything. I can walk away from arguments unless really pushed - and then just watch out! My spouse thinks I am better for it. However, I do feel rather fatigued and now find it difficult to exercise, but once I start I have no problem. I can focus and work with a less antagonistic attitude. Sleep is better. Sex is better. No weight problem. I do drink very moderately with no problem. Missing doses is a major problem: headaches, dizziness, nightmares."

• Kat...
• December 28, 2007

Duloxetine "I have been on Cymbalta for 8 weeks. I suffer from medical anxiety. I have not felt this good in years. The first 2 weeks, I did have a lot of side effects: sweating, dizziness, insomnia, upset stomach, but after that, I started feeling better. I have lost 20 lbs because I no longer feel hungry all the time. I feel like I did 20 years ago, so much happier. I can't rave enough about it."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2024

Duloxetine "I have had anxiety for about 8 years now. I’ve been taking Lexapro for about 6 years and have paired Cymbalta with it. I can honestly say my anxiety is nonexistent since I started it. I had no side effects other than tiredness, but it really does work. This is coming from someone who will go down a rabbit hole of reviews."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2024

Duloxetine "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 gastrointestinal issues and fibromyalgia, and each one had side effects like severe sweating and no sex drive. So I would try a new pill for 2 months, 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
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2017

Duloxetine "Cymbalta saved me. I was in a state of constant recurring anxiety with many physical symptoms such as vomiting every morning, shaking, and overwhelming feelings of panic and disassociation. My thoughts were swirling (due to a very stressful situation) almost constantly. I started on 30mg and noticed an improvement within 2 weeks. I still had some anxiety in the mornings so my dose was increased to 60 mg. I have no anxiety now and am able to more calmly and clearly work through stressful or worrisome situations. I had very great reservations about any kind of medication and only decided to try because I had no options. It has been a godsend for me and I have had zero side effects. Don't rule it out, it may save your life."

• Xyz...
• May 6, 2021

Duloxetine "I’ve been on Cymbalta for almost two weeks. The first few days were a little tough. My mind was racing a bit, and I had tension in my throat and jaw. I was a bit more anxious those first couple of days, but it got a little better, and I feel SO much better. I’ve tried Zoloft, which made my anxiety worse, then Citalopram, which didn’t really do much of anything except make me restless and jittery, but Cymbalta is finally the right one. I feel like a normal person for the first time in a long time. My piece of advice: I see a lot of people on here saying that they’ve felt miserable for 3-4 weeks, even a month plus. That’s too long in my opinion. I was told if you’re still miserable 2 weeks in, tell your doctor and switch up your meds."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2017

Duloxetine "I've suffered from anxiety and depression off and on for most of my life. I've tried many antidepressants (mostly SSRIs) without success. The side effects of these drugs were unbearable (mainly acute insomnia and panic attacks). Finally, after 30 years of intermittent mental suffering, despite running 30 miles a week and seeing a therapist on a regular basis, my primary care physician prescribed Cymbalta. It is a miracle drug. Although I've only been on it for 3 weeks, I'm already feeling relief from a major depression that started 6 months ago. I no longer have suicidal thoughts, negative, obsessive thinking, panic attacks, and I sleep like a rock. The world is so much brighter - I feel a sense of calm, contentment, and happiness."

• Sar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2013

Duloxetine "Cymbalta changed my life. Initially, for the worst - I was vomiting and felt like I was dying for the first few days. Then gradually, the side effects lessened. The vomiting stopped after 2 days, the foggy head and ill stomach cleared after a week or 2. Then it changed my life for the better - to my shock and my doctor's amazement, the lowest dose (30mg) worked! No need to experience the side effects of moving to a higher dosage (thank goodness!). I was previously unable to socialize and frequently had a fight or flight response that was way over-reactive. Now, although not perfect, it's way more under control. I've used Cymbalta for almost a year. I would definitely recommend Cymbalta!"

• Kip...
• March 20, 2020

"I was suffering from severe anxiety due to a rare drug reaction to an antibiotic. I had never had anxiety before, and I was 65. I lost 43 pounds in 6 weeks (I had to force myself to eat) and this condition lasted for about a year. I tried Zoloft and it made things worse. I was prescribed duloxetine but kept the bottle on my bedside table for a month. I was afraid to take it after reading many bad reviews. Finally, I took the plunge and took my first 30 mg pill. I was feeling better within 5 hours. I had insomnia for about a week (I already had that from the anxiety) but that disappeared. After a week, my anxiety completely disappeared. It has been about a year, and no anxiety at all, despite the present coronavirus crisis - normal worries of course, but nothing unusual. I am sleeping well, and I am happy. This drug saved my life for sure. I know my reaction to this drug is unusually positive. Most don't have such immediate positive results, and some have bad ones, but I was lucky."

• SJf...
• July 31, 2013

Duloxetine "The only real way to see if medication works is to ask the people you live with. I've been on Cymbalta for over a month and have had no side effects. My family can testify that I am so much calmer and less reactive. In fact, my 18-year-old daughter happened to be with me when I went to the doctor and he asked how I was doing. My daughter replied for me and told him, 'I don't know if it's all in her head, but she is amazing now. She used to be so irritable and grumpy. Now she's really nice.' How's that for honesty? Like they say, 'Out of the mouth of babes!' I really, really do feel happier, and it's great knowing my family can see the difference. I remember saying to my doctor 'I'm not coping,' but I truly don't feel that way anymore."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 13, 2020

Duloxetine "This drug Cymbalta certainly helped turn my life around. Starting on 30mg, I moved up to 60mg after a week and stayed on that for a year or so. It completely cured my anxiety and helped me sleep. Side effects were difficult to hold on to pee, constipation, and tiredness. Also, bad night sweats. This dose was great for my anxiety but it didn’t keep the migraines at bay, so I was still getting flare-ups about 3 times a week. I was upped to 90mg, but within 3 months, I was back to 2/3 migraines a week. So up again to 120mg. On this dose, I had no emotion; I couldn’t cry or feel sadness or happiness. I just felt numb and weary. But no migraines! The side effects are too much, so I’m back down to 90mg. Migraine is just under the surface and breaks through 1/2 times weekly. The plan is to reduce Duloxetine so my anxiety is under control, and then add in another med to deal with the migraine. I would recommend this drug for anxiety but not quite so good for migraine, so it was a compromise."

• kar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2012

Duloxetine "I am a 23-year-old girl and I have suffered from anxiety for as long as I can remember. I had tried so many different medicines from Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, and Celexa... nothing worked. I would get a little better, but once again, I would suffer a horrible bout of anxiety attacks. The first day I started Cymbalta, I felt a rush of calmness over me. I immediately felt at ease and not as antsy and nervous as I always was. I could finally relax and do everyday normal things without worrying about when I would suffer another attack and ruin my day. I have not had an attack in about 3 months now and feel so great! I do not feel zoned out like I did on the other medicines. I am happy and confident and overall have a better sense of well-being."

• Reg...
• July 29, 2020

Duloxetine "I have been on Cymbalta 30 mg daily for almost two weeks for anxiety and depression. I have taken the medicine two times before with no side effects. This time however, my first week side effects were diarrhea, nausea, unable to eat much, worse anxiety, and hot flushes in my chest causing a bad panic attack. New thing for me. Never had this hot sensation in my chest before. Second week felt a little better for two days, then boom, hot flushes again throwing me into another panic attack. This one milder than the previous week. I’m so confused. Not sure whether to keep taking or not. Scary stuff when I get these hot flushing sensations across my chest and my heart rate goes up."

• Com...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 6, 2018

Duloxetine "About 8 years ago I was going through a major depression and anxiety, and bipolar, and OCD all wrapped in one. The psychiatrists I had been seeing tried using the old-school drugs like Zoloft, etc. Nothing was helping, so I checked myself into an inpatient program. Then the miracle happened. The in-house Psychiatrist put me on Cymbalta. He explained that it differed from the older medicines in that it affects two parts of the brain. I experienced very few side effects, and within a couple of weeks, I was feeling like my old self. It truly is a miracle med, in my opinion."

• ame...
• September 30, 2013

Duloxetine "Cymbalta saved my sanity. I was under incredible work pressure and stress for three solid months (new job covering for one coworker on maternity leave, another coworker having a sudden heart attack and Crohn's flare up, me running the office for three months, even though I'd just been hired). I had a doctor's appointment and broke down on the table. He prescribed Celexa first, which gave me severe panic attacks. Then he switched me to Cymbalta, and I was back to normal within days. The downside: It is extremely hard to stop taking it. I was intended to take it only for the short term, until things calmed down at work. Two years later, I'm still on it because going off was WEIRD. Numbness, tingling, weird sensory inputs, distraction."

• SoC...
• March 14, 2017

Duloxetine "I'm hoping my comments reach out to those who, like me, gave up on medication time and time again as it affected their workouts. As a long-distance runner and someone suffering from years of major PTSD and anxiety, it was nearly impossible to have the stamina to run while on meds. I'd have to grin and bear the struggles of my PTSD without meds during my years of marathon training. Cymbalta and Latuda have been the perfect combination for me. Though Latuda is more for bipolar, it has helped many people with PTSD, like myself. I have no weight gain, and I have plenty of stamina to do my running. I'm so grateful to God and my doctor for finding the best program for me. If you're an athlete, help is out there."

• mic...
• April 21, 2013

Duloxetine "I absolutely love Cymbalta; it's a miracle for me. My anxiety, depression, and spinal pain have all been reduced or gone away. I also lost weight and could eat anything I wanted. After 6 months, I switched to Celexa to save money. Big Mistake. I started gaining weight, and it didn't have much effect on anxiety or depression. I switched back to Cymbalta, and am happy again."

• LJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2018

Duloxetine "Dealing with severe anxiety and OCD my whole life, I decided to try medication when I turned 20. While my first few days on Cymbalta (10mg) were torturous, probably partly due to mental reservations about taking a pill every day (I experienced vomiting, headaches, dizzy spells, nausea, inability to sleep, and complete loss of appetite), I'm SO glad I stuck with the drug. Now I am on 80mg, and without sounding completely corny, I feel like I'm finally the person I'm meant to be. Since starting the pill, I've started rock climbing, learned to drive, and just become a much happier, friendlier, and more confident person. My friends and family have all noticed a huge shift in my personality and I'm so thrilled I went on Cymbalta."

• SJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2019

Duloxetine "I had tried a lot of drugs for my horrible anxiety and depression. I've been taking 80mg of Cymbalta. Nothing before this touched my anxiety, and I was housebound for 10 years. The positives are my anxiety has gone from a 10 down to at least a 6/5, depression from a 10 down to a 7/6. I can orgasm, on other meds can cause issues. The negatives - The withdrawal is REAL (try not to miss a dose), constipation, my body metabolizes this medication fast. I have to take an extra 20 mg dose in the morning. When I was just on the 60 in the evening I'd get bad brain zaps/dizziness. The biggest downside to this med is getting off of it. If you need to come off it, taper as slow as you can and ask to go on Prozac, which can really help with withdrawal. I recommend giving this med a try for anxiety. It's the only thing to help me. If you have depression alone, I'd try something else first like Prozac or Wellbutrin, as they are really easy to come off if they don't work for you."