Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• mus...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 22, 2015

Duloxetine "Was on 60 mg for 4 years, had some relief from panic attacks with depression. Had some rough times job-related, medical issues not related to the above, and the doctor increased to 120 mg. Normal dosage is no more than 60 mg according to the insert in the med bottle and the Internet. After 3 years on this dose, it quit working. The withdrawal was the worst thing ever. During taking Cymbalta, I developed diabetes. Withdrawal took 8 months, and the pdoc gave me lamotrigine, an anti-seizure med for withdrawal. As I tapered off, my diabetes went away! The pdoc denied Cymbalta caused it. I googled it and found proof, all SSRIs can cause hyperglycemia! I've tried everything from Prozac to Lexapro. Same crap. Now on trazodone and back to having normal feelings."

• Mac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 9, 2016

Duloxetine "Do not give to people under 18. The black box warning is true. I was put on this when I was 16 (I'm 19 now), and it made me want to kill myself to the point of hospitalization. Even though that side effect may be rare, it does happen. Do not think it won't happen to you or your child because it's so rare. I'm blessed to still be alive today. It makes you messed up beyond words. Should never be given to young kids. It ruined my teenage years. It ruined it!!! I am dead serious too!!!"

• Ton...
• August 28, 2021

Duloxetine "On Cymbalta 60 mg for 5 years. At 11 months, I was hospitalized with myocarditis. I continued taking it as doctors said that there was no connection. Although I had my doubts. Still have. It made me into another man, I was fearless, full of energy, it cured my depression and GAD - it is a real motivation drug. But not forever. Liver enzymes and cholesterol high. I decided to stop taking it because I got scared of these side effects. My doctor helped me. I had the worst time of my life for about 2 1/2 months. The withdrawals are unbearable. Brain zaps, vomiting, headaches, insomnia, fatigue, and tinnitus. I was prescribed clonazepam to control side effects. I'm off for about 7 months, and I feel like I was living in a dream for 5 years on this drug. I don't know if it's good or bad. Was this the real me, or did just the drug change my brain function? For sure it helped me, but not without a price. I am frustrated. Either you are mentally healthy or physically? Be careful if you are on Cymbalta and drinking alcohol. It makes you more resistant."

• Gra...
• December 29, 2020

Duloxetine "Works great for my chronic muscle pain, and knocks out my sciatica pain... which I love, but it doesn't really seem to work so much as well for my depression... although it seems to keep my anxiety under control, just doesn't seem to lift my mood at all, feel more so ‘numb', I guess is the feeling."

• rat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2023

Duloxetine "30mg / 3-4 months. I was on Lexapro before I started Cymbalta. I switched to Cymbalta because I was experiencing anger and emotional blunting. Starting Cymbalta, I was able to finally 'feel' my emotions. I could sad cry, happy cry, and I was able to be more empathetic and patient. But here's why I got off Cymbalta. I still had those moments of suicidal thoughts, the ones where your psychiatrist will cock a brow. They weren't horrible or consistent and these thoughts were short-lived. I also am in therapy. My sex drive was nearly non-existent. I used to use Maca Root supplements when on Lexapro, and that would work to get me going. Even on Maca, it was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to have the drive. I even felt disgusted with the thought of sex. Cymbalta withdrawal was the ABSOLUTE worst. I never felt so weak, clammy, nauseous, and sick. However, the withdrawal symptoms only lasted about 2-3 days. I did not experience any hypomania coming off Cymbalta like I did with Lexapro. Also, dry mouth was so bad."

• Luk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2021

"I've only been on a 20 mg dose of this medication for two weeks, and the effects have already been life-changing. I'm able to make calls and send emails for work without feeling like I'll explode from stress, I can feel happy without any melancholy. I'm sleeping better than I have in 20 years, and I can watch aspirin commercials without crying when the headache goes away. So far, the only negative side effect I've experienced was some profuse sweating and flushing after about 1 week, but those have already faded to the point that they're no longer noticeable."

• Dog...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 9, 2021

Duloxetine "I was on Cymbalta for over a year at 60 mg. I asked my doctor to adjust my dosage due to depression getting worse, I had a reaction to it. Then, the doctor wanted me to taper off of it in a 4-day period. The dosage caused another reaction. I am now on day 4 of withdrawal. I have to be on a medication to help me withdraw, as well as the new antidepressant the doctor put me on. I feel so very, very awful. I strongly recommend you do not take this medicine. It does more harm than good."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 5, 2022

"I'm a 48 yr old woman, and finally, finally, finally got a correct diagnosis and prescription. I had tried so many other SSRIs, but now I've been on Duloxetine 60mg for 6 months. I have never felt this great in my life. Ever! My excessive crying has subsided, my intrusive thoughts are not as persistent, my nightmares have just morphed into weird dreams, my anger and rage, which was so intense, has turned into an irritant or a feeling of inconvenience. I'm more calm, level, and rational. My anxiety and nervousness have almost disappeared. I have been sleeping so well at night! Duloxetine has worked for me and my issues (anxiety, depression, frequent urination, diarrhea, anger, rage, complex PTSD, fatigue, intrusive thoughts), and for the first time in my life, I finally feel good. The first few weeks were uncomfortable regarding the side effects. The nausea was awful, I had constipation and diarrhea and sweats, but they've almost all subsided now. Allow an adjustment period for your body to acclimate."

• Ben...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 15, 2021

Duloxetine "I take Cymbalta for my depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed with MD in 1999, and over the years, I have tried several medications. Lexapro was working great, and I was on that for a few years until I found out I had fibro, and the specialist recommended a change from Lexapro to Cymbalta. I was hesitant because the Lexapro worked GREAT! I was well balanced and able to self-regulate my emotions, but I was also taking Lyrica for the pain, and I liked the idea of Cymbalta helping with nerve pain. I was hopeful that I could stop the Lyrica. My PCP started me at 30 mg a day. I knew it took 4-6 weeks to kick in, and I was a wreck. At the 2-month mark, I called my PCP in a mad panic, asking him to bump it up because I was ready to let my inner screams out. He told me to start taking 60 mg. I've been on that dosage for 9 months, and I have cut my Lyrica down to just one in the morning from 3 times a day. It isn't as good as Lexapro for me, but it helps with my nerve pain."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 14, 2019

Duloxetine "Cymbalta does its job for depression, but with possibly some of the worst side effects I have had from a medication. If I start taking this or up my dosage at any time, I am vomiting and sweating with terrible stomach pains. Withdrawals do exist with this med, and they make you shake a lot. It keeps you from doing anything harmful but leaves you in quite a daze and sometimes unable to feel emotions."

• Rac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2023

"I was prescribed duloxetine around 3 years ago after being on numerous alternatives (citalopram/amitriptyline/nortriptyline, etc.). I suffer from chronic nerve pain, which can get so bad that I'm tempted to hit my knee with a sledgehammer."

• Lar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2023

Duloxetine "Cymbalta is a solid drug that I found tolerable. It took away about half of my anxiety and depression. This is more than I can say about most other SSRIs that I have tried. I just tried Nardil and had severe side effects from it, so now I am going back to Cymbalta after my washout period. The only side effects of Cymbalta are some headaches and slight insomnia."

• Aqu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2021

"I take Cymbalta for anxiety, mood swings, ADHD, autism, and depression. Ever since the first time I took it, my world wasn’t dark and dull! I felt light and like a new person! No depression, anxiety, and it helps with my ADHD! Since the first dose, which was last week, it has worked ever since! I’m at the lowest strength of 20 mg. I’ve been so focused that teachers noticed! Before I started this drug, I had to go to an alternative school for being dangerously impulsive. I love it! It’s the antidepressant that’s done the most for me! It’s my third antidepressant med. First was Prozac and then Remeron. I had to try Cymbalta. I would recommend it!"

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2018

"I wanted so badly to like this one. Within just a few days of starting on it, I started feeling productive and more on top of things. I am also autistic and have poor executive functioning, and this medicine seemed to help a lot with that. BUT within a few days of taking it, my emotions took over, and my sense of control was lost. I felt dark and violent. I hated everyone and everything. My anxiety and stimming increased. I had terrible dreams and night sweats. It only got worse and brought out the worst in me. And the withdrawals were even worse! On to something else. I have heard positive anecdotes about this medication, but please take the warnings pertaining to side effects and withdrawals seriously."

• Met...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2021

Duloxetine "I was on the prescription brand name pills Cymbalta 60 mg 1x daily for 2 weeks. I was supposed to increase the dosage to 120 mg daily per my physician at the 2-week mark. I experienced almost every side effect there is and some other terrible symptoms. I stopped cold turkey since I was having cold turkey symptoms also. My doctor and I believe I had a bad reaction to it. It took me about two weeks to recover to my previous baseline issues; I was pretty thankful. It made me terrified to try any other antidepressant going forward; it was a pretty bad experience."

• Why...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2020

"On duloxetine, I went from thinking about suicide multiple times per week to not at all in 2 months. I have no other side effects, and I go about my life externally exactly the same but internally without the underlying existential dread."

• Mau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2022

"I am on generic duloxetine, but it's the same thing. I am also on this to manage anxiety on top of depression. My dose is 60 mg once a day (I take mine at night). I have to admit that starting the medication was a bit of a rough ride. The 'worse before it gets better' phenomenon was kind of nasty, and I did get suicidal thoughts, but I didn't have the urge to do it, so I stood with it, and I'm really, really glad I did. It was because of this drug that I was able to stop being agoraphobic and finally leave my home after months. I have also regained my confidence to talk to people again, especially over the phone, and I genuinely feel like I got my life back because of Cymbalta. All the staying-at-home quarantines really got to me, especially since I was already suffering from mental illnesses, and it made me retract and become someone else I didn't recognize. Cymbalta got me to a place mentally where I could feel normal again, and I'm grateful for it."

• Cyd...
• February 21, 2017

"I loved this medication. It really worked for me, however, I had to up my dose because I didn't feel motivated anymore, but that was more of my depression, not the medication. I stopped taking this medication because it is incredibly expensive. My insurance would only let me get a 3-month supply at a time, and they kept raising the price of my medication, so I ended up paying $174 for 3 months. Might not seem like a lot, but it is. Especially since I HAVE TO take this medication. I can't just not take it. It was too expensive, and there weren't any other generic kinds, so I switched to Zoloft. Way more affordable. Good medication, but you're gonna lose customers if you don't change the price."

• Ski...
• August 8, 2021

Duloxetine "I had been on Lexapro for 10 years with good results. Until last fall when the world was going down the drain. I became super, super depressed. Doc switched me to Cymbalta 60 mg per day. It worked and I felt so much better. However, these last 3 months or so, I've noticed my happiness has definitely gone downhill. And I've noticed I've become very short-tempered, agitated, and angry. I'm contacting my Doc today about switching me back to Lexapro...."

• tit...
• April 22, 2018

"The best I can say is that it was counterproductive. It was nowhere near as effective as other antidepressants I've had in the past; for the first time in my near 50 years on the planet, I hit my lowest point in my mind; anxiety was worse; zero energy (I'd sleep 15+ hours any day I did not force myself to get up, many I'd lie in bed for hours, not wanting to move). While that is all horrible, the two worst parts were: the withdrawal brain shocks were incredibly annoying. I am significantly better with depression and anxiety since being off this drug, despite occasional brain shock symptoms. Side note: believe it or not, MMJ has been far better at treating all of these issues and without side effects - plus is the only effective pain-relieving relief for injuries as a result of an accident a few years ago. I was never a cannabis user until a couple of years ago, and it will take an emergency where I am unconscious to be put back on any pharmaceutical concocted in a lab."

• boo...
• May 27, 2015

Duloxetine "Having nauseous feelings, dizziness, clouded, distorted head as if hung over, every day at noon time and lasting the rest of the day! Just started taking 30 mg at night along with Wellbutrin and trazodone that I have taken for a couple of years now. Not a good feeling. Going to call the doctor to see what I should do."

• tyh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2021

Duloxetine "Got prescribed Cymbalta for depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. It quickly started working to alleviate all of them, and I have not experienced a panic attack since. After being on the med for 3+ years, its effects on depression weren't adequate anymore. I begged my psychiatrist to increase the dose, and by the time they did, it was a bit late, and I had an increase in suicidal thoughts & behavior. Finally, after 4 years, I was weaned off to try something else. I was having a reaction to another medication, so I'm not sure how much of the discomfort was the reaction or if it was the withdrawal. Overall, a great med to try if you're anxious and depressed, especially since they tend to fuel each other."

• Lee...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 16, 2023

"I have TRMDD, GAD, ADHD, PTSD. It's a mouthful! Although 'normal' (schedule 1 to 6) antidepressants can't do anything for my depression, I take duloxetine to help manage my anxiety, etc. I never actually knew if it worked. I take so many different medications that it's difficult to tell which is doing what. In an attempt to reduce the meds I take, I slowly decreased my intake, med by med, (under medical supervision) to see what the effects would be and if I would be able to detox off some. When this one had its turn, oh my! The first two days at 0mg, friends commented on my personality coming back to life. I thought wow, good change. But then the brain zapping started!! Electric shocks lasting a few seconds, running through my body and brain, sometimes numbing a muscle, making me fall or drop something. Day 11 it was as strong as day 1. I had to start taking it again to stop the zapping. I couldn't do it. So I don't know if it works, but it's hell to leave!! #prisoner"

• Cro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2021

Duloxetine "Ok, so this (Cymbalta) one worked well, but I had a bad experience with it. This stuff really peps up your mood and works quickly and will make you feel happy and energetic. However, I forgot my meds when I flew from CO to TX for my sister's wedding and went into a horrible withdrawal. I could not think straight and had unnerving thoughts and felt the lowest I've ever felt in my life, a nasty experience. It worked well, but the withdrawal I had from forgetting my meds scared me from taking it again. However, it will help with depression, but has a few bad side effects."

• Nin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2023

Duloxetine "I first started taking psychiatric medication at 18 to help with depression/anxiety and bulimia. One drug after another, nothing seemed to help, and some even made things worse. I'm now 29. Been on 60 mg Cymbalta for approx. 3 years. I personally have not experienced anything groundbreaking, but I also have not had any negative side effects. It's hard to say if Cymbalta has done anything, as I've been on anti-depressants for so long. I will say this is probably the first med that hasn't given me weird side effects. I'm hoping to begin titration soon to see if I'm okay without it. I started taking a very low dose of Adderall (10 mg once a day) - prescribed to me as an off-label use for depression - kind of as a last resort after my laundry list of unsuccessful meds. I was very lucky to find a doctor who recommended this route, as the Adderall has alleviated my depression symptoms far more than any anti-depressant."