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Duloxetine for Depression User Reviews

Brand names: Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka

Duloxetine has an average rating of 6.3 out of 10 from a total of 710 reviews for the treatment of Depression. 51% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 30% reported a negative experience.

Duloxetine rating summary

6.3 average rating out of 10

710 ratings from 754 user reviews.

Compare all 182 medications used in the treatment of Depression.

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Reviews for Duloxetine

  • Sin...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 16, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Don't be afraid to try this medication. I have been taking it for about four months now for depression and anxiety, and it seemed to turn a light on in my brain. There were some mild side effects at first, but they passed off—the only thing I notice now are some weird dreams. I have taken SSRIs off and on for over twenty years. This was the first time I had taken an SNRI, and I feel better—I'm calmer, I think more clearly, and things that bothered me a lot seem much more manageable now. If your provider prescribes this medication, at least give it a try."

10 / 10
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771 Report
  • Fun...
  • February 8, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I just want to share my positive experience with Cymbalta, since there are so many negative reviews out here. Before this drug, I was on Celexa, then Lexapro... for depression, anxiety disorder, and panic attacks. The SSRIs left me feeling flat inside, and there were days I couldn't even get out of bed. Cymbalta has changed my life. I have no depression at the moment and have much more energy. I'm more social and have started working out again. In the first few weeks, I had minor side effects - fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and nausea. They went away after a few weeks. Glad I stuck it out."

8 / 10
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646 Report
  • jod...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • October 24, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been on Cymbalta for years at a dose of 120mg daily. This medication has helped my depression heaps. It has also helped manage my chronic pain and anxiety. Before starting on Cymbalta, I was hospitalized several times with depression. I have been on Cymbalta for about 8 years and have had zero hospital admissions since. I do still get times I have bad depression and anxiety, but Cymbalta has made it more manageable. I do get a few side effects such as sweating, but I would prefer that over feeling suicidal."

9 / 10
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Frequently asked questions

  • kit...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 22, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I turned to this drug at my very lowest. Suicidal thoughts and constant lethargy became daily reminders of how depressed I really was. I realized I’d either find a solution or my life would be at risk. The solution was Cymbalta. After 6ish weeks, I began to enjoy activities again and felt very motivated to carry out tasks. My social anxiety now is nearly nonexistent. I’m not happy every day, but the darkness that used to envelop me has subsided and I can say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel (before the drug I couldn’t imagine my life a year in advance because I didn’t know if I’d make it there). My sex drive did suffer a little, but not very much. I will continue to take this drug as long as it continues to help me. Overall, although the withdrawal symptoms may be terrible in the future, Cymbalta truly saved my life and has been worth every penny. Give it time to work and don’t let the negative reviews scare you away if you really need the help."

9 / 10
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  • Joy...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 18, 2019

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I am at the end of week one on 30mg Cymbalta, and it is like a brand new me. Although today, I have hit a little bit of a low, I am so much better. Cymbalta literally has saved my life and my marriage. PRAISE GOD! I am looking forward to each day and know with time all will level out. No more extreme lows with suicidal thoughts, sleeping all day long, just wanting life to end. I wish I would have let my pride go a long time ago and told my doctor I needed help. Wednesday is my birthday, and I am looking forward to spending it with my husband. Yay! 44 and hopeful for the future."

10 / 10
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460 Report

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  • jul...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 5, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I took a 30mg Cymbalta capsule at 9 am. At 9:30 am, it was like someone threw a brick at my head. Then I started to get brain zaps. I thought it would wear off, but I started to get cramps, became very thirsty, vomited, became uncoordinated, and then called an ambulance. My sodium level dropped to 118, and I got hyponatremia. They took me straight to the emergency department and gave me a brain scan and a salty drink. I stayed in the emergency ward for 4 days, and they said never to have Cymbalta again or I could have a stroke or worse. I am a 58-year-old healthy female. I would be very cautious taking this drug and definitely have someone with you who can take you to the hospital if things go wrong as they did with me. I was lucky I still was thinking straight enough to call an ambulance. That saved my life."

1 / 10
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319 Report
  • JBa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 23, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Wonderful/best antidepressant on the market considering I’ve tried...Paxil, Prozac, Celexa horrible!! None worked and serious adverse starting effects! I’m on Cymbalta for depression and hydroxyzine for anxiety...Do not ever let a doctor put you on Klonopin. WARNING ⚠️ I’ve learned from that the hard way...so what I have now is so much better. I wake up enjoying life and I feel there is hope beyond the dark."

10 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Anonymous
  • August 12, 2008

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "The Cymbalta took about three weeks to kick in. The side effects started out really strong: dizziness, sweating, no appetite, sleepiness, dry mouth. Now I've been on it for one month and all of my side effects are gone. I don't have any sexual side effects. As far as treating my depression, it's amazing. It's like the light has been turned on again and I can see the good in life. Advice: if you're prescribed this medication, give it a good try - the side effects do diminish. From what I see here, it seems like this works for a lot of people."

10 / 10
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784 Report
  • Hap...
  • February 3, 2017

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I will make it real simple. IT CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE BETTER. I am outgoing, I love talking to people again! I have always been an introvert. Not any longer. I've tried every med for depression with really no success. I enjoy laughing again, and my coworkers are now involving me with them. I always felt like a loner. All those sad emotions are gone. It has been a miracle drug for me. I never thought I could feel so good."

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  • DrS...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 9, 2018

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Let's be honest here, everybody is different. Some people do not need a helping hand medically-wise in life, and others (like myself) do. I came off citalopram after years of being on it. I felt it had simply stopped working, and with added paranoia that it was actually doing me more harm, I decided to switch to something else. Duloxetine was recommended by a friend. All I can say is life is sweeter now. Always underweight and trying to put some weight on, this drug helped a lot. If weight gain would be an issue, I probably would not recommend. But if, like me, you feel happier with an extra 20 lbs on your frame, then this is the medication. To anyone reading this, hang in there and please don't ever feel alone. There is a world of people suffering the same as you, and the vast majority of us care a lot about you and will always try to help because we too know your pain."

10 / 10
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339 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 15, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta is the best thing that I have ever tried and for more than just depression. I also suffered from debilitating anxiety. Both have all but disappeared. Before I started taking it about 4 months ago, I literally hoped I would just fade away. I wanted to die so badly, it's all I thought about. I have lost 45 pounds along with my compulsive overeating disorder and have gained more peace and happiness than I ever knew could exist for me. It saved my life (and helped me be a much better mother, wife, daughter - everything). I will deal with the super sweatiness and a few extra yawns during my day in order to have a life. Viva la Cymbalta!"

10 / 10
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603 Report
  • Chr...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 18, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I’ve been taking Cymbalta at a dose of 40 mg for 1 week now. I feel lightheaded. Not really depressed or having anxiety, but I can’t sleep and I have no appetite. I’m already underweight. Feeling stoned all day. My stomach also churns all night. I think there must be something more tolerable for me. I can’t function. Any suggestions?"

4 / 10
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213 Report
  • Bro...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 10, 2018

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta has literally changed my life. My brain was always in this constant fog, I could never think straight about anything, and intrusive thoughts about suicide would pop into my mind constantly. I didn’t care about anything and struggled to find my motivation. Now I’m thriving in work, taking pride in my appearance, and being a much nicer person. I’m brighter, happier, and just a much better person to be around. My colleagues and family have all noticed the change. Before I started taking it, I'd read so many bad things about it, I almost didn’t try it. I’m so glad I did. I feel like the person I always dreamed I could be. I can think clearly, and I’m not riddled with anxiety anymore."

10 / 10
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261 Report
  • Cla...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 4, 2014

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta literally saved my life. After going through 6 psychiatrists and countless other antidepressant attempts, this is the one that finally worked. I promise that if you hold on and keep fighting, something will work for you and you can heal. Depression is never permanent."

10 / 10
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364 Report
  • Muc...
  • April 30, 2014

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I had mild anxiety and intermittent depression. I always pushed through and never thought of medicines. My girlfriend suggested I speak to a psych and I started Cymbalta. In 10 days, I had no more intrusive thoughts talking me down, making me stressed, guilty. After 9 weeks, I'm a new man. Small things don't worry me. I am patient and calm driving. I don't wake up for the toilet then stay awake worrying. My relationship is closer. I'm nicer to be with. Con? My libido decreased, and climax is harder to achieve (but more intense). The medicine felt strange (out-of-body) at first, but I got used to that. I drink more water. I yawn in the afternoons. I grind my jaw a bit. I get breathless. I have mild headaches some days. But my life is much better with this medicine."

9 / 10
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354 Report
  • Eri...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 12, 2019

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I am 35 and have had depression and anxiety for many years. Over the years, I have tried different SSRIs-Zoloft, Prozac, Lexapro. They did nothing for me. I felt like I was taking a placebo. After a bad breakup about a year ago, I experienced severe depression, and my anxiety was through the roof. I went to see a doctor and told him SSRIs don't work for me! He said just give Cymbalta a shot. If it doesn’t work in a month or two, we will try something different. I thought, what do I have to lose? Within a couple of weeks, I could tell a difference in my mood. I was shocked because, like I said, these drugs have never worked for me. Within a month, I felt totally back to my normal self. No more depression, and my anxiety has been drastically reduced! This drug has been awesome for me."

9 / 10
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189 Report
  • Joh...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 6, 2014

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Tried most antidepressants, and I was ready to give up. I was tired of trying antidepressants, getting sick while I waited for the positives, only to find out it didn't really help. I've tried Prozac, Paxil (good but stopped working for me), Zoloft (allergic to it), Effexor, Citalopram (worst of all). I don't know what made me ask my doctor for Cymbalta, but I did. It started working the second day I took it! I have been slowly recovering from depression and getting my life back. I hope the same for the people who read this. Never give up hope!"

9 / 10
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296 Report
  • Las...
  • February 28, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was on this medication over ten years ago. It took a month for the fog to lift once I had started it. But then I started to be paranoid reading about the Cymbalta withdrawals on the internet. So I panicked and went off it. I always start at the lowest dose possible and stay on it for a month before increasing to the next to avoid being sick. And it’s the same thing when you want to get off these meds to avoid withdrawals. You go off as slow as possible. And I want to mention that these meds are metabolized by different enzymes in our body that we all have different levels of because of our DNA. So one person might need a lower dose of Cymbalta than another because they metabolize it faster than others. The goal isn’t to get to the highest dose but the dose that works with your metabolism. Ten years later and I have Fibromyalgia too now, so my new doctor decided to put me on Cymbalta. I started at 20mg today and will stay with that dose for at least a month before I see if I need to go up. Remember, Go Slow!"

9 / 10
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157 Report
  • Dar...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 5, 2018

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta has radically changed my life. Prior to taking this medication, I wanted to end my life due to severe depression and anxiety. After a couple of weeks on this drug, my mind began to shift. I am now calmer, more balanced, and happier than I'd been in years. I feel so much more level-headed. It allows me to associate more meaning with people, things, and activities in life. My relationships with coworkers, customers, and people around me have been strengthened. I used to never talk to or invest my time in other people around me and now I actually enjoy socializing. It even helps me in other strange ways like making me more organized, keeping my apartment clean, getting rid of junk I don't need or use, etc. I thank the universe for leading me to this drug."

9 / 10
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191 Report
  • Ang...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 7, 2013

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "My depression/anxiety the past several months has been disabling. Mornings were filled with crippling anxiety/depression and I'd stay in bed to escape being with the emotional pain. I felt overwhelmed all the time and just couldn't get motivated to do anything. Since Cymbalta, I have pep in my step! I have tons of motivation to spend HOURS cleaning a house with years of accumulated hoarding, and to clean my apartment which I couldn't touch in 6 months. I can get things done without the overwhelmed feeling—bills, job, etc. I'm no longer deeply blue and crying. This is an answer to my prayers! My psych said that my desire to get better, counseling, and making changes is what is needed as part of treatment to succeed. Praise God!"

10 / 10
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280 Report
  • lak...
  • February 6, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been taking Cymbalta for 3 months now to combat depression and anxiety. I am taking 30mg per day. When I first started taking it, I was very sleepy. I had to take naps during the day, which wasn't too good. I finally had a breakthrough with it and now no longer need the naps. I had good side effects for a few weeks like no hunger pangs. Those went away. I haven't gained any weight either like I did on Zoloft and Serazone. I feel great and during my PMS now, it is so nice to actually be nice to others again. It is a wonderful medicine. Keep taking it and you will feel better. The sleepiness will go away, and the sun will start shining again. I laugh again like I used to, and I have NO SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS yeah."

9 / 10
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351 Report
  • ann...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 16, 2014

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I'm suffering from Depression, Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD, and PTSD. With the exception of feeling a little sick after taking it, Cymbalta has helped me after only a few days. I've tried Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Pristiq, Prozac, Celexa, Seroquel, Trazodone, Amitriptyline, and a few more I can't remember the names of. I think everyone responds differently to medications, and all you can do is keep trying and not give up. My mental illness has had a negative impact on my life and ruined many personal relationships too. I have never had any medication work this fast or so well before."

9 / 10
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256 Report
  • Goo...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 28, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been on 60mg Duloxetine daily for 1 month, 30mg daily before that to wean off Effexor. The Duloxetine was so ineffective & the withdrawal from the Effexor was so bad that I had to take both for about 6 weeks. Now with no Effexor, I am back to feeling no effects from Duloxetine. I'm painfully depressed and have sudden bouts of extreme anger & irritability. I cry all the time, have no appetite, and hate going out in public. I've been on every antidepressant on the market. With Duloxetine, I might as well be eating Tic Tacs."

1 / 10
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  • LJa...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 18, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "The depression & anxiety was unbelievable before I took meds. The doc put me on the lowest dose of Prozac which did not work and actually made it worse. So then I was put on Cymbalta, here it is less than two weeks and I can feel little by little every day my symptoms lessen. Now my depression & anxiety hasn’t disappeared so to speak but it’s easier to cope and maintain. I've had zero luck with SSRIs in the past, my body adjusts better with SNRIs... there is a blood test you can request to see what works well with your chemistry so they don’t use you as a test puppet... Cymbalta is amazing and I would definitely recommend it!"

10 / 10
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  • GHa...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 5, 2020

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Wonderful medication. If you're ready to get off, then taper slowly and then get off the medication. After I got off, I smoked medical marijuana, and it helped with the zaps and feeling sick - the withdrawals only last a bit. Hang in there."

10 / 10
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137 Report
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.