User Reviews for Duloxetine to treat Major Depressive Disorder

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I’ve had Major Depressive Disorder for years, and Cymbalta genuinely gave me my life back. I had tried so many medications, therapy’s. I had been hospitalized 4 times, and nothing worked. Until I started Cymbalta. I remember being afraid of how happy I was. I didn’t know I could enjoy life like I was. I have experienced no side affects, and I thank god for this drug everyday."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "People please stop saying "don't recommend" Just like birth control, everyone reacts differently to meds. Just because it didn't work for you, doesn't mean it won't work for someone else. And maybe it will work for someone, it could totally change their life, and because of your review they may never want to try it. My sister tried Cymbalta and it didn't work for her, yet she told me to give it a try and it changed my life."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I’ve been taking the generic Cymbalta for just over four years now to help manage my Major Depressive Disorder* My current maintenance dose is three 30mg capsules taken by mouth once daily, which totals to a 90mg dose/day. Overall, I’d say my experience with Cymbalta has been a positive one. I don’t particularly suffer from any of the listed side effects. Compared to other anti depressant-type medications, in my opinion, I would say Cymbalta in particular “kicked in,” the fastest, to where I started feeling better than the previous anti depressants I’ve been prescribed in the past. Cymbalta isn’t the common SSRI we’re all familiar with, this medication is an SNRI, which means it not only works to boost your Serotonin, but also Norepinephrine (also known as Noradrenalin and/or Noradrenaline). I personally find for my body/my brain, I do better with SNRIs than with SSRIs, but that’s just me personally."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Do not go on Cymbalta. If you ever have to or want to stop taking it, the withdrawal is nightmarish and severe. It's so bad it has its own term, "Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome." I tapered down very slowly and on the first week I was totally off of it, I almost lost my mind. My anxiety was through the roof. My thought processes had no logic. I would cry uncontrollably at minor sad and happy things like commercials, news reports, movies, etc. everywhere...in my car, at work, in a store, etc. I had to go back on a low dose of it and then start taking a low dose of Prozac, tapering slowly off of that to make the Cymbalta withdrawal somewhat tolerable. The makers of the drug have never let the public (or doctors) know about how severe withdrawal is. There's no black box warning. Many psychiatrists don't even know about this. Google "Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome" and "Prozac Bridge." It's all there, and personal attestations like mine. no matter what your doctor is prescribing this for say no."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Didn't help much with depression, but I did notice it helped with pain. Sad, but not in crippling pain all the time. Beware though, withdrawal is terrible. Unfortunately, I've been on a lot of anti-depressants and withdrawal was one of the worst."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was introduced to Cymbalta after many failed attempts of other meds for my extreme anxiety and depression. Before I had problems sleeping, I had muscle pain from my anxiety and I would be permanently tense. After Cymbalta I FEEL NORMAL! I can go out in public and talk to strangers, I feel so free! A weird thing I’ve notice is that in the past I felt my brain was having 10 thoughts at once now I only have 1 thought at a time in my head and I can focus! I’m now on 90mg and plan to go down once my situation changes but it saved my life and I’m so happy after 18 years of staying in a bed and hiding from the world I am a person in society confidently!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I am 63 years old and have had depression since childhood. I was told I was nuts and to just get on with life. In my early 30s, I began experiencing extreme pain in my ankles, knees, and hips from arthritis, rheumatoid, and osteoarthritis. I was still told there was nothing wrong with me. 7 years ago yes I was diagnosed with chronic depression and fibromyalgia and put onto Cambalta. After 50 years I was free of pain and loved life. Four months ago I was told to wean myself off them which I did. The pain slowly kicked back into the stage of hardly walking and my depression turned into suicidal thoughts. Two days ago I ended up at the hospital and was put back on Cymbalta and 4 nights of sleeping meds. At my age I don't care if there's long-term damage from taking this drug at least I feel sane and all that dreadful pain has gone. I think this drug works best when you have both underlying conditions, not one."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I don't even know how to start.. In basic terms, Cymbalta is something I never could have imagined possible. I was also extremely suicidal, self loathing, always denied anything happy or would get pissed off at just the idea of it, anxiety through the roof constantly and stressed out and over thinking about every little thing, super isolative to the point where I can quite literally stay in my room for weeks and weeks as well as skip personal hygiene for similar durations. I actually got my first job while I started Cymbalta, which says a lot coming from me and where I've been in life. This medicine is truly a divine experience for me. To go from the depths of the void into everything I seemingly had no awareness of or could see before taking it... It's mind boggling to me even still"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have dealt with major depressive disorder, GAD, PTSD and a whole lot of sensory issues, with no medication giving me relief. Normally, too much noise or any loud noises could send me off the rails, everything always felt dull and grey and I would spend days or weeks obsessing over things that gave me anxiety. I lost job after job and finally I decided to try again and get rid of this once and for all, and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I tried Cymbalta. Cymbalta is the ONLY medication EVER to help with my noise sensitivity. I feel like I am not so agitated all the time anymore and I feel like I am finally able to focus. I have had a few side effects, like diarrhea, a little bit of brain fog here and there and felt jittery after drinking coffee with it, but they were all fixable or liveable side effects. I haven't felt this normal in years...I finally feel like I have a chance at a meaningful life and not like I'm just existing and struggling through it all."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I personally loved this medication. Although it didn’t really help with my back pain, it helped with my anxiety as well as depression. It took almost a numbing effect, so I wasn’t feeling the emotions as strongly as I used to. But I’ve heard it works differently for some other people. I recommend trying it out, thanks for reading."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "This medication has literally saved my life. I was in a bad place 6 month ago and starting feeling better within 4 days of taking cymbalta. It has made my depression disappear and has made my anxiety much easier to deal with. I even yell at my kids less and am much less reactive. I will never stop taking cymbalta!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "After thirty years of taking Effexor which did not help my MDD, it was recently revealed to me in a Gene test from GenoMind in my Psychiatrist/Neurologists office that my body cannot take Effexor not several others, and that Cymbalta would be effective. I tried two others the test suggested, but stopped due to terrible side effects. Cymbalta 60mg along with critically depleted in MDD patients Methylfolate 15mg, and Ace-L-Carnitine have given me my life back. Although I think it’s causing night sweats, it has taken the edge off of the stress from chronic pain, as well as, PTSD, and I’m more calm and at peace. I’m able to shower, eat, and leave the house again. It’s been a miracle for me. Not perfect, but definitely a life changer."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I'm one of the lucky ones with minimal side effects. I couldn't fall asleep for the first week but now I am sleeping very well and see a lot of vivid dreams. My appetite is decreased and I am losing weight which makes me happy because I tended to overeat and I needed to lose some weight. I am exercising every second day. I am taking the drug for major depressive disorder and severe anxiety. My anxiety was gone by approximately the third day of using it. My negative thinking decreased. Before taking Cymbalta I was constantly feeling fear, I was waking up at night, my thinking was severely impaired by negative thinking, I was constantly feeling like crying, I felt dumb in general and wanted to die. I'm back to life now."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have probably tried 15 or more meds for MDD & GAD. I also was diagnosed Bi Polar but another Dr didn't think so...anytime I felt like it should be better they would tell me I wouldn't ever be 100%, it was just supposed to help. I was ready to give up and went to a new place and they prescribed me Cymbalta. I am on buspar and iron. But I think the Cymbalta is the best thing I have ever tried. I felt a little difference after 1 dose of 30mg. I'm an now a month in and I feel the best I ever have and I literally was ready to give up. I was so miserable feeling that way. So after 10 years of struggling. I'm so happy. I feel like a different person. All my drs tried me on SSRIs and never a SSNRIs...I have faith in meds now."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have had depression as far back as I can remember, diagnosed with GA and major depression along with PTSD due to two life changing events I went though. I've tried zoloft (did nothing ) Effexor XR ( Made me sleep 24/7) Celexa ( caused SEVERE anxiety attacks) and just started Cymbolta, on day 7 and I can't believe how much better I already feel at 30mg 1x day. I also just had 2 major back surgeries and am learning to walk again at age 35, yet despite my trials, I feel happier, positive, lowered anxiety etc. First day I did have severe throwing up spells, but that's gone, low appetite still but a good thing for me, INCREASED sex drive & sleep like a baby. I take it at 8 everyday. Good luck, everyone's different!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Duloxetine is awful!! It does not work however I was kept on it at only 30mg daily. It has caused me severe dizziness and balance problems. It has caused me blood pressure drops where I have had 2 falls causing leg breaks involving 6 surgeries. I have tried to discontinue it many, many times without success. During my tries to discontinue I have experienced Bell’s Palsy twice, leg tissue inflammation, brain zaps. Also while taking it I have had over 60lb weight gain, mouth canker sores, hair loss, etc., etc.. IT SHOULD BE BANNED!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I've been on Cymbalta for about a year now and just recently increased dosage from 60mg to 90mg because of depressive episodes during quarantine. I've not had problems with the drug until now. I recently have started having trouble staying asleep, although falling asleep hasn't been an issue. I've also wet the bed which is extremely unusual as I haven't done that since I was a child. Overall, it has helped relieve suicidal thoughts and anxiety attacks, but the higher dosage side effects are really making me consider going back down to 60mg."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta is worst medication i have ever been on. I took it for depression and anxiety, on the lowest dosage, and started getting terrible anxiety symptoms. Constantly sweaty but cold, shaking, a feeling of imminent doom, dizziness, headaches, and daily panic attacks for the first time in years. I couldn't grip the wheel well while driving. I started slowly decreasing my dose which was super hard because you have to do it extremely gradually but this medication was causing me so much pain and anxiety that I tapered too quickly. I had brain zaps (an electric shock going through my brain every time i moved my eyes), terrible pressure in my head, chest pains, nausea, dizziness, even more panic attacks. This medication is genuinely the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I got chronic daily headaches when I started it and they have not gone away, over a year later. Talk to your doctor about a different medication, unless you want to be on it for the rest of your life bc tapering is impossible."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I married a great man. I put this man through hell . I'm 34 was 32 had a hysterectomy and here came menopause. I was living hell. I felt every bad feeling you could possibly feel. For no reason. Finally this Feb 2017 I snapped. I don't remember much other than trying to kill myself. I almost lost my family. I reached out for help my Dr put me on 30mg then 60 now 120. The 1st day I felt brand new. My face was numb but that's it. Everything is brighter better warm and I have love in my ❤ Thank you for saving me!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta nearly ruined my grades in college. I was weak and faint all the time, going home and passing out, having memory problems, extreme anxiety, and confusion. Several people I know described the same side effects. I tried it out for months and in those months I was a zombie and having even more panic attacks. I hated it so much that I don’t recommend even giving it a try because it’s not worth how it made me feel."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "While Cymbalta took care of my major depressive disorder AND my chronic pain, I feel as though I've been chemically castrated from this medication. Not only can I not achieve an erection, but my desire to have sex has virtually disappeared. I decided to quit cold turkey, and man, it's tough. I've had crazy dreams, lots of dizziness, and nausea, but what's great is that my sex drive has exploded. I won't go back on it. Especially since neither my chronic pain, nor any symptoms of my major depressive disorder have returned. Stay off this stuff if you can. I won't go back on it. Not for anything."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "After I started taking this I was glued to this web site reading everybody's positive feedback to give me hope. I had been on it a couple years ago and it worked very well but stopped as life improved with little side effects. A couple years went by and life took a turn for the worse. Going from being very comfortable financially to almost homeless and loosing everything I had including my wife I went to get help. I can not explain in words how horrible I felt. I was in such a dark place this time I had my doubts it would work but it has. I am starting to feel better after a week and a half and hope it continues. I have tried many different anti-depressants mentioned here and none of them worked. Cymbalta saved my life!"

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I started taking cymbalta 60 mg daily in 2010 after taking natural therapies that just didn’t work. I had severe depression and anxiety. First started on 30mg first month, then increased to 60mg. Side effects were yawning, tight jaw. But I found the Cymbalta that had helped me immensely, with my dark thoughts, sadness, hopelessness had disappeared. I did try going off it a few years ago very gradually, as I thought I was well again, but everyday was such an effort, seratonin was so low. Depression returned and I just thought this is crazy, go back on it. I have so many friends that are so anti prescribed drugs. So I just don’t enter into discussions as it only upsets me because I need this medication. I find I’m happy, healthy in mind. My libido is quite low but I’m active in sport and the community which helps me."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE!! I was on Cymbalta for almost a year, it hardly helped with my depression and did NOT help with anxiety, and intrusive thoughts came back. I tried every dose, but it just made me worse. I was constantly crying, and panicking over things that I thought were going to happen. And let me tell you, it’s absolutely sickening how horrible the withdrawal is. Cymbalta isn’t for everyone, but it messed me up."

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta is great and for me I had 0 side effects. I removed a star because the withdrawal is what I can only imagine is akin to heroin withdrawal. I had read this before I started taking it, and assumed people had a low-pain tolerance but nope. Some biblical stuff Anyway, I take 20mg in my PTSD cocktail. I can finally get out of bed in the morning, and life feels less flat. It’s easier to get up and walk, if that makes any sense, whereas before it was a huge taxing effort. I would 100% recommend this drug but only if you are in really bad shape, and the normal alternatives haven’t worked. I wouldn’t wish that withdrawal on my worst enemy Prozac made me suicidal, Zoloft was amazing but made me fat, Lexapro made me feel like crawling out of my skin, Trintellix was great for memory but no effect on mood, Wellbutrin did little to nothing."