Duloxetine for Back Pain User Reviews (Page 2)

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2016

Duloxetine "After reading all the reviews and trying just about everything under the sun, I have found something that works for my lower back pain. I was in a car accident when I was 14 and broke my L4 and L5; since then, I have been dealing with back pain (I am now 40). Last year, my doctor discussed Cymbalta with me. After doing some research, I decided to give it a whirl. I was almost turned off the idea due to some of the negative experiences...glad I tried it. I am currently pain-free. I did experience some side effects, all of which disappeared before five months: excessive yawning, not being able to ejaculate during sex, feeling of tiredness, some anxiety, sweats, weight gain, vivid dreams, kept peeing a little after I thought I was done. Give it time if you try!"

• Ghl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2019

Duloxetine "I am using Cymbalta for about a week now. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and have been suffering for 8 years. Cymbalta was an answered prayer for my pain until I started having another upper back pain. Two days ago, I stopped using Cymbalta, and my upper back pain was gone."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2015

Duloxetine "I started taking Cymbalta about 6 months ago, and I'm finally starting to feel better. I have chronic lower back pain and have previously been prescribed Hydrocodone/Tramadol, which basically was like putting a carrot on a string for my brain to be preoccupied. The only downfall I have experienced is the terrible night sweat. Is there any relief from it?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2013

Duloxetine "I started taking Cymbalta for chronic low back pain, and to my surprise, my daily nightmares stopped immediately after the first dose of 40 mg. I just started this medicine a month ago and need to get my script filled. I took my last dose 2 days ago. For the last two nights, I have had nightmares! My script is expensive, costing $60/month even with insurance. If this medicine continues to prevent these constant nightmares and gives my boyfriend a decent night's sleep, myself included, then I will figure out a way to pay this added expense. I am 30 yrs old and have dealt with nightmares since I was a child. They have gotten worse as I get older. I have been to sleep disorder clinics and had plenty of tests. I can only hope this medicine continues to help me."

• Ken...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2018

Duloxetine "Wonderful until you come off it. 8 years on Cymbalta for chronic pain and now 2 years of brain zaps, fog, fatigue, anger, depression, etc. It is worse than crack. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy."

• jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2023

"I only managed to take two days' worth, and I took the generic kind for back pain. I did not notice it helping, but I felt sick from it. I took it at night, and sleep, dreams, and songs playing in my head were weird. Then, the day after taking it, all I wanted to do was lay around from nausea and fatigue. I'm not saying nausea and fatigue lightly, like a miserable, weird feeling."

• Dir...
• September 30, 2019

Duloxetine "When I first started taking Cymbalta, it really helped my back pain. Now, after 30 days, it’s barely helping my back pain anymore. Therefore, my doctor is suggesting taking me off Cymbalta slowly and starting a low dose of Lexapro. In the past, when I used to take Lexapro, it gave me back aches and neck pain. Thanks for having a forum. Dirk."

• bil...
• March 12, 2013

Duloxetine "I started with a 30 mg dosage and was increased to 60 mg daily. It was helpful with the constant burning in my feet that is secondary to peripheral neuropathy. My dosage was increased after a couple of months to 60 mg twice daily. I didn't last a week! This medication has always given me increased sweating, especially night sweats! My doctor prescribed Hytrin (mostly used for hypertension and benign prostate hyperplasia) to combat the sweating, and it seemed to help because the incidents of night sweats decreased. That all changed when my dosage was bumped up. I was having night sweats EVERY night and had a major increase in insomnia. I am getting 2-3 hours of sleep a night (or day because I work at night). I went back to 60 mg daily and see my doctor tomorrow."

• Tra...
• March 31, 2015

Duloxetine "I had left SI joint pain for 8 years, been to a million doctors, tried a million remedies. But my doctor put me on Cymbalta. A few days later, I ended up in the ER with excruciating pain. But when they added a shot of Lorazepam, the pain I'd had for years went away. For 9 months, with the combination of Cymbalta 60 mg and Lorazepam 2 mg, I was completely pain-free, but after 9 months, the effectiveness has waned. I still take both meds to take the edge off the pain, but nothing else really works. Except when I was told I had Fibromyalgia and night sweats, and I found out those are caused by Lyme disease. Luckily, I found a Lyme-literate doctor who is treating me."

• Chi...
• October 12, 2017

Duloxetine "I used this medication for 3 weeks. It worked so well for my back pain and my anxiety. I was so happy I finally found something that would help me, get off my pain meds. One day I woke up with chest pains. I thought nothing of it. I went to work, and it got worse, and my blood pressure was 197/110. I left work, went straight to the ER. We found out this medication's side effect was raised blood pressure. I am a healthy 120 lb, 38-year-old woman. I'm doing much better now. BP is back to normal, but I have pain. Now I'm trying something new with the back doctor. I hate pain meds. I've been on and off for 5 years. I have a herniated disc and bulging disc and anxiety due to a car accident. I had some signs of chest pain before. So don't ignore it."

• Mrs...
• April 26, 2016

Duloxetine "I would not have taken this medication if I knew it was going to affect my sex drive. I am thankful that I was only on it for a short time, and I have stopped taking it a few days ago. I have been married for a long time, but we have a very active sex life now that our children are gone from the house. If I would have known that I wouldn't be able to have an orgasm during sex, I never would have agreed to taking this drug. So if you value your intimacy with your partner, do not take this drug or expect a lot of frustration !!!"

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2018

Duloxetine "I was on 150 mg of imipramine for 30 years, but it was not working anymore, so I was switched to Cymbalta and suffered with the sweats and sleepless nights. It eventually all went away, but it wasn't easy. I still don't seem to have much energy, and daily life seems forced, so not sure if I should increase from 60 mg to 90 mg. I am still having severe lower back pain, going for laser treatments and chiropractor. Any suggestions?"

• Jor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2019

"I was on duloxetine for neck pain, and it worked very well. Then fatigue set in, and I decided to discontinue, under my Dr. supervision. I was on the full dose for 30 days. It is now 15 days after weaning off, and the withdrawal is awful. Between brain zaps, sweating, visual disturbances, I cannot believe a drug has this many side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

Duloxetine "I took my first pill at 9:30 a.m. It’s 1:48 a.m. now, and I can’t sleep. I am very anxious and fatigued. I’ve noticed that I yawned several times today and felt super uneasy. Never taking the drug again. I’m trying to flush my body with water to get rid of it. Terrible side effects."

• McQ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2018

Duloxetine "I was put on Cymbalta and Lyrica at the same time. Back and nerve pain improved, but was like a zombie on this. My family said I had a blank look in my eyes, like 'no one home.' Short-term memory was gone. Since I was only on it for about 2 months, when I weaned off, I didn't seem to have negative withdrawal symptoms. Still on Lyrica, and pain level seems okay."

• Kay...
• March 27, 2015

"I have struggled with back pain for years, sick of taking every pill for pain known to man, as well as feeling like I couldn't get out of bed anymore. I asked for Cymbalta. I couldn't be happier I did, I realized the constant fatigue and heaviness was severe depression that lifted after a week (a week of side effect hell, I might add). My pain is 80% gone, and with two bulged disks and spinal arthritis everywhere, I am so glad. After the 1-2 weeks, a fog lifted, and I could live again. I am very thankful I continued with this med even after reading the horrible reviews and sticking with the side effects, which were horrible as well. Within two weeks, side effects were gone, three months later, I cannot be more pleased."

• lik...
• November 11, 2015

Duloxetine "Though I read so many negative opinions about it, I decided to try taking Cymbalta. After two months, I decided to stop taking it. First of all, my relationships got bad, I was careless and numb. I also had a very strange feeling from time to time, like I was dreaming. Sometimes I was anxious and couldn't sleep, and had very vivid and bad dreams and panic attacks. It had an immediate effect on my libido, which got so low it almost disappeared. The main problem with the drug was that I felt good, even-tempered most of the time. This state always took my mind off the very bad side effects of the medicine, and I was so relieved from the pain, I set aside all the negative effects of it. It's day 1 without it, and I feel dizzy and so tired, I...zzz."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2021

Duloxetine "I had insomnia badly for the first couple of days, but taking it in the morning helped. I also experienced a lack of appetite for the first couple of weeks and felt very energized. It faded, but the same things happened when the dose was increased to 60 mg. 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."

• CSt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2025

"22-year-old with 2 prolapsed discs (L3-4-5), associated arthritis, and severe (life-debilitating) sciatica since age 17, with no underlying cause. I had tried a variety of medicines (nerve agents and painkillers) and huge amounts of physio. Unfortunately, the sciatica had been at a stagnant level for the last 2-ish years. Duloxetine has changed my life. Does it make me feel flat, a bit nauseous? Yes. However, after 3 weeks of use, the sciatica was minimal, and I stopped having pain all the way to my toes. I don't have to take painkillers multiple times a day just to be able to work at a desk and study. Although the side effects are not great, for those suffering with bad sciatica who have lost hope in having a semi-normal life and feel completely let down by healthcare options, try it. I am only on 30mg, and the differences are just mind-blowing. I have been on it for only 6 months, and I have periods where the sciatica is worse, but people need to know about this option."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2022

Duloxetine "My doctor prescribed 30 mg of Cymbalta for my chronic back pain. I took my first pill at 9:00 a.m. I got hot sweats, cold shaking chills, had a headache, my pain level was threefold, I felt angry and suicidal; and I could hardly make it to the bathroom to throw up and have diarrhea. My body felt horrible, with the sensation of electricity running through my arms and legs. I could not hold still. I had no strength to get out of bed. This continued for about 5 hours. I should have been in the hospital, but I was too sick to go. My experience with Cymbalta was horrible... an absolute nightmare!!! I needed to be hospitalized, but I was too sick to go. I would have had to call an ambulance. I was in bed the entire next day. I finally felt better by day three from taking “just one Cymbalta pill.”"

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2021

Duloxetine "I only took 1 pill at 9:45 a.m., and by 10 a.m. I was moonwalking in my room. I'm jittery and keep moving around. I'm going to take it for 2 weeks to see how I feel. I'm assuming this is a temporary side effect. If you have an interview or anything important on, then schedule it BEFORE you take a dose."

• Doe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2021

Duloxetine "ZERO STARS! Twice now, I have been prescribed this, and twice I quit it cold turkey. (DO NOT QUIT COLD TURKEY, VERY DANGEROUS!) I just did not react well to this medication. It did help a bit with the pain alongside Topamax. I just didn't like the fact that you must have this with you at all times and cannot miss a dose. I’m not going to be “handcuffed” to a medication because if you miss a dose, you start horrific withdrawals. Sounds more like a street drug to me? Took weeks, if not months, to get out of my system completely. Never, ever, ever, ever again. I’d rather live with my SI joint dysfunction pain than use this as a Band-Aid! I did, however, finally find a surgeon who specialized in SI joint fusion. No more Band-Aids on a fixable lower back issue! Please do your research. Effexor is even worse!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 29, 2021

Duloxetine "I have been taking Cymbalta 40 mg daily since 2013. I had seen an ad on TV for taking Cymbalta for chronic pain and suggested it to my pain manager, and she said why not. I could have been the poster child for Cymbalta from the very start! I was completely relieved from the chronic back pain due to degenerative disc disease in my lower back. I continue to take it today, although I have had some problems getting the brand name Rx without a huge copay cost. Getting a reduction of this huge cost has been extremely difficult ever since the generic came out. Fortunately, my pain manager is very helpful and diligent about getting the cost reduced for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 23, 2022

"Switched to duloxetine from pregabalin for back pain. Pregabalin took the pain away completely (my pain is quite severe, 3 herniated discs compressing multiple nerve roots), but I couldn't handle the side effects of pregabalin, so the Dr. suggested duloxetine. I started on 30 mg once daily. The first few days I was lightheaded, but it went away. The other uncomfortable side effect was sweats. An hour after taking the pill, I would start sweating a lot for an hour or two. After a few weeks, that subsided. The pain was a lot better but still present, so I went up to 60 mg once daily. The same side effects - lightheaded for a few days and sweating for a few weeks. The pain improved somewhat with a higher dose. I still have some pain sometimes but not enough to disrupt my life, so I am happy with duloxetine. The side effects that I actually liked were lower appetite, and my anxiety just disappeared (although it was mild to start with)."

• Ray...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2021

Duloxetine "This drug should be taken off the market. I have suffered from extreme dehydration. I had to go to the ER. Extreme diarrhea for five hours at a time. My skin felt electric. Blood in diarrhea. I’m weaning off after four weeks, and it’s a living nightmare. I feel like the weaning is going to be impossible. Migraines. Shaking and shivering. My doctor never mentioned this to me. The pharmacist never mentioned this. I have quit my job because I cannot work. Everything is aching. I’ve been in bed for two days. Do NOT take this medicine. Read about the lifelong side effects."