Duloxetine for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• Mon...
• January 12, 2019

"Duloxetine/Cymbalta - I used this for about 8 years. It was to help me with my anxiety, depression, and racing thoughts - I have to say, it worked amazingly, but if I missed even a day, I could feel the effects. It helped me so much that I eventually wanted to get off of it. I weaned myself off of this slowly and had a great outcome. I've read so many posts about how awful getting off this drug can be, so I was super scared to even attempt it... but I knew I didn’t want to depend on it forever. I never got sick or had horrible withdrawals. I want everyone to know that even though some people had a bad experience with it, not all of us did! It worked great for me while I needed it, and when I was done and didn’t want it anymore, I got off it just fine!"

• CMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2019

Duloxetine "I took one pill, and I’ll never take another. I was prescribed Cymbalta for both chronic pain and anxiety. I was on Lamictal for anxiety at the time, which kind of worked but not great. I took Cymbalta at 6:30 in the evening, and within an hour, I had severe diarrhea (which lasted almost two days). As I tried to go to sleep, an anxiety attack set in, the likes of which I have never experienced before, and it swallowed me up. For the entire night, I was curled up on the floor under a sheet, shaking. My mind was trapped in pure fear and panic. I could barely walk to the bathroom, which, thanks to the gastrointestinal distress, I needed to do often. My mind was racing, and voices were screaming in my head, and there was no way to make it stop. It was absolutely the worst thing ever. It started to fade around 6 or 7 am, and by 4 pm, I was feeling almost normal, just a little shaken up. I hope I never have to endure torture like that again."

• Mis...
• April 20, 2015

Duloxetine "I was prescribed Cymbalta for anxiety. It has had a major positive impact. I was a competitive distance runner for about 25 years and sprained both ankles and wore out my knees. I was so achy in my joints all weekend and realized I did not take my medicine Saturday or Sunday because I put my pill case away when the cleaning lady came-HA HA. It helps with anxiety and joint pain. I am very pleased with the results."

• Kiy...
• October 3, 2016

Duloxetine "I just started Cymbalta about 2 weeks ago, and so far it has been great. My anxiety was really bad for months, leading to severe depression, and I finally had to talk to my doctor about taking something. I was reluctant about taking anything and hadn't before now. I am so glad I did! I take 30 mg now 1x a day and like the lower dose. Initially had a couple of bad reactions. After 12 hours of my first pill, I got severely hyper, but it settled about 6 hours later. Then I took a day off and restarted. It's been fine ever since. I can't explain how great it feels to not have those negative thoughts constantly harass you, and the renewed sense of self and confidence is overwhelming. I only noticed dry mouth, and I'm more forgetful it seems."

• Anonymous
• June 16, 2009

Duloxetine "I've been taking this medication for 3 weeks. First week I was on 30 mg, I felt almost immediate relief from my anxiety/depression. The first six days I experienced fatigue and slept 12 hours a day. By the 7th day I was sleeping less and feeling more emotionally balanced. Second week, my dosage was increased to 60 mg and the same thing happened. I slept 12 for about 6 days and by the 7th day I felt good and was sleeping normally. I do have some clenching of my jaw and dry mouth, but a glass of water seems to help. I take my medication at the same time every morning after eating and drink lots of water throughout the day. I'm not taking any other drugs. I've found great relief with Cymbalta. My husband is thrilled with the calmer, happier me. Me too!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2025

"I just wanted to give my personal review of duloxetine that overall helped me tremendously in a moment of extreme anxiety (associated with fibromyalgia, head tension, rapid heartbeat, severe dizziness, etc.). At the 3rd-4th day, all the extreme symptoms of anxiety seemed to vanish little by little at 90%. But the main reason for this review is the side effects. I take 30 mg every day, and all I had was a slight to mild nausea (that at 3rd-4th day seemed to vanish little by little). Other than that, no other side effect. Benefits: no muscle pain, no rapid heartbeat (rare occasions), calmness, better judgment, more relaxed, and no nervousness. So, in my humble opinion, listen to your doctor, don't be afraid of the medication itself, and be strong if you start it. Give it some time, be patient, and if side effects bother you or persist, talk to your doctor again. So, if you have a mandatory trip somewhere and you know that you suffer from traveling nausea, you will be strong and do the trip."

• KIW...
• December 21, 2008

Duloxetine "Cymbalta is a godsend for me and all those people out there who suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, diabetic nerve damage, fibromyalgia, pain or whatever else it is used for. I myself have S.A.D. (Social Anxiety Disorder) and at times depression. I was taking Zoloft and I still felt the anxiety, so my doctor prescribed Cymbalta. It took about a week to actually kick in, and when it did, I felt it and loved it. I would recommend this medication to those who are trying to find a way to help them live their life with ease. It's not a cure, but it is very helpful as long as you take it when you are supposed to. Cymbalta is the best. Thanks."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2019

"I am so happy I took the jump and tried this medicine! I have been put on several different antidepressants and anxiety meds, and nothing has worked. I have been on duloxetine for 2 weeks now and feel amazing! I was nervous to take this medicine due to the poor reviews. Don’t let those get you down. This could be your miracle drug. I can function so much better now. I have the drive to clean my house now, I can take care of the kids and not feel anxious with the tasks of everyday life. My OCD is also much better. Barely any intrusive thoughts, and when they do come, they are easy to shoo away. I hope this medicine continues to work the way it is. I haven’t felt this relaxed in years!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2018

Duloxetine "This medication honestly changed my life. I thought I was fine while taking it, so I went off cold turkey. It was the worst experience of my life. I took my 2 pills after about 9 days off. After an estimated 3 hours, I felt like my normal, happy, non-anxiety self again. I don't recommend it to anyone, though. I tried about 4 different medications before Cymbalta was the one that helped me. Good luck!"

• SNR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2021

Duloxetine "I tried taking Cymbalta a few years ago, and the treatment had lasted for a few weeks. What I experienced was weight gain, more obsessive thoughts, sexual dysfunction, and erection difficulties. To me, the cost of taking Cymbalta outweighed its benefits. I am sharing this not because I want to discourage anyone with similar disorders like GAD or depression not to try it, but to emphasize a possibility of unbearable side effects for some people. This medication might work amazingly for some people, but please bear in mind that some SSRI/SNRI might fit our genetics, and some don't. If one doesn't work for you, you could discuss it with your doctor and try another one until you find the most suitable one for you. This is science. I was well informed of the possible side effects and benefits of it, and I don't blame it. I'm even happy to see it works pretty well for some people!"

• Meg...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 18, 2023

Duloxetine "I have severe anxiety and panic attacks, have since I was a child. I took this for about two years until I realized the reason I was having so many depersonalization episodes and panic attacks (that seemingly had no cause) was because of this medication. When going on it, my doctor forgot to mention it would be a living nightmare to try to get off. I've been tapering off this medication for the last couple of months, decreasing by one bead at a time per week because if I decrease it any more than that, I have brain zaps, vertigo, migraines, nausea, hallucinations, mood swings, increased suicidal thoughts, and severe anxiety/panic attacks. Even tapering as slowly as I have, I'm experiencing the mood swings and severe anxiety. This medication IS NOT WORTH IT. Please save yourself some time and just try something else. I don't know why this stuff is even FDA approved. I can't wait to be off it."

• sti...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2018

Duloxetine "After my first dose of the generic version of Cymbalta yesterday evening for major anxiety and minor depression. I was surprised to feel a difference within a few hours. My mood lifted, and I had more energy. I still felt slightly anxious. Initial side effects: quite bad insomnia, slight jitteriness, slight diarrhea, very slight confusion at times, and nausea for the first 12 hours after taking it. After 2 weeks, I now have zero side effects and have changed to taking it in the mornings. It is a miracle drug for my depression! The constant dark feeling of sadness has lifted completely. It has also helped my anxiety quite a lot, however, I still have periods of anxiousness. I am definitely going to stay on this medication as it has drastically improved the quality of my life."

• zio...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2016

Duloxetine "I'm taking Duloxetine 20 mg per day for anxiety and minor depression. I have taken this med for almost two months and keep a daily journal. As a 'blind study,' I started this drug without my wife's knowledge. I noticed a decrease in my overall anxiety in ten (10) days, and my wife mentioned my calmness in two weeks. I am a 70-year-old male, and I supplement Duloxetine with Buspar on an 'as needed' basis for anxiety. The Duloxetine seems to smooth things out without the numbing effect of a benzodiazepine. I'm on the minimum available dosage and will soon ask my PCP to up my dosage to 40 mg per day. There have been absolutely no bad side effects from the drug."

• Lis...
• January 9, 2017

Duloxetine "I'm on Cymbalta 30 mg for my anxiety and depression, and I have been on it for a month. I have no side effects, but nausea and being tired, but that all went away in about 2 weeks. Great meds, works great for me."

• Ste...
• April 5, 2012

Duloxetine "I love this medicine! My anxiety started off as mild, and as years passed, it slowly got worse. I went from having social anxiety to generalized anxiety and then major depression. It took me 7 years to find this medicine, but once I found it, I gained my life back. I still have a little anxiety, but most is gone. This medicine was great for my major depression. Yes, it does have some side effects, but most will disappear with time, and like most other users will vouch, the benefits far outweigh the mild side effects."

• Kel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2020

Duloxetine "I have been on Cymbalta 30 mg for about a year and a half for anxiety. When I first started taking it, I could not stay awake. If I sat down and got still, I was asleep. After about 3 months, that started wearing off (never fully). I have also had muscle spasms since I started, and they have not gone away. I recently started having panic attacks and couldn’t seem to focus at all. I talked to my doctor about switching meds, they decided that moving to 60 mg would help my anxiety more. I took 60 mg for about a week and was having so many more muscle spasms. I also had headaches every day. I felt all over the place. So I went to my doctor again, saying I thought I needed something else. I will start taking Wellbutrin. I really hope this is going to be the medicine for me. My anxiety is out of control right now coming off Cymbalta. I also am having a ton of dizziness."

• Ame...
• November 5, 2017

Duloxetine "I tried to go about my life without being on an antidepressant, but life didn’t seem very livable anymore. I tried Lexapro, and though it stopped the heart pounding and shortness of breath, I was still very depressed and always exhausted. I also went from 130 to 150 pounds in about 2 months. I switched to Cymbalta, and everything changed, I have never been happier. I wake up full of energy, which is something I have never had. I have also lost the weight I gained! Like others have said, everyone is different, and medications will affect you differently. I was surprised to hear my friend had a bad experience with it. I very much recommend at least trying it because it has helped me so much!"

• Chr...
• September 22, 2019

Duloxetine "It worked for me at the beginning. In 2017, I went from 60 mg to 30 mg. I was on it for anxiety. But after a year, it really wasn't working, it made me very moody and snappy. It actually was giving me more panic attacks and diarrhea. The worst to get off it. Worst symptoms I experienced, I felt better off of it. I feel like I got worse after this medication."

• Bry...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

Duloxetine "I started on 30 mgs a day and stopped on the 5th day. I felt so nauseous and intestinally challenged. The drug also caused my heart to go into afib/aflutter with moderate tachycardia. As soon as I told the doctor what was happening, he had me stop immediately. Now I am waiting to see a cardiologist to assess the arrhythmia situation. I know the literature says that my side effects are rare, but it happened to me."

• Anonymous
• June 20, 2008

Duloxetine "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."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2012

Duloxetine "I went from being extremely angry and so anxious I couldn't leave the house to now being able to go out in public, socialize with others, and live life. I feel much happier, have more energy, and am much more pleasant to be around."

• dup...
• June 7, 2011

Duloxetine "I was having panic attacks so bad I would have to pull off the road while driving. My husband was waiting on a double lung transplant when these attacks started. After the transplant, the caregiving made these attacks become worse. I couldn't breathe, I wanted to cover up under something and not come out. My doctor gave me Lexapro, and one dose made me worse. He asked me to try Cymbalta, and after one dose I became immediately better. I've been on Cymbalta for 4 years, and would hate to go back to the times when I had those attacks. It obviously was the medicine I needed."

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2017

Duloxetine "I'm pretty sure that I don't suit this medication. The first three weeks were absolute torture with blurred vision, headaches, nausea, and no energy. After that time, the medicine did seem to help my anxiety and depression. However, after three months, the side effects came back worse than the first three weeks. I went to my doctor and asked to switch medications immediately. Coming off of the Cymbalta was the worst experience of my life. At one point, I had uncontrollable shaking and muscle movements. I couldn't even concentrate enough to go to the kitchen and make a sandwich. I know this drug works for many people, but for myself, it was like taking poison."

• Sly...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 12, 2015

Duloxetine "I had been using Cymbalta for 3 years, and all was great until the generic one appeared. I took it for several weeks and started getting a metallic taste in my mouth and got cysts in my mouth and on both sides of my tongue; nothing tasted right. I had my doc write a script for the use of only the original Cymbalta because I saw on another forum that this was a reaction to the generic. All the cysts cleared up and were gone, and everything is normal after 2 weeks of original Cymbalta!"

• bol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2012

Duloxetine "I've been on Cymbalta for 2 days, and it is great. My daily high anxiety is completely diminished. I can make decisions without anxiety. I am having trouble with sleepiness, however, I know this will subside. I got back on antidepressants because I've had a tough time dealing with my mom's death in May and am currently going through a divorce."