Duloxetine and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• January 16, 2011

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I took the first 30 mg dose of Cymbalta and had bad side effects almost immediately. I felt dizzy and felt like I was passing out. I only took the one dose but have had insomnia for the past 48 hours. Lying awake, feeling agitated and anxious."

• ili...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2025

For Depression "The doctor prescribed me duloxetine in response to my complaints: depressed mood, lack of motivation, unresolved difficult life situation, a lot of studying, inability to concentrate on a task, spasmic pains in the stomach, and lack of sleep. I was prescribed a single morning dose with a very slow and gradual increase in dose from 15 mg to 60 mg over 4 weeks. The first few days were a little uncomfortable, feeling anxious and palpitations, but these symptoms quickly subsided. After the first week, I felt a surge of energy, joy, and even a state of euphoria. After a month, I was able to concentrate and study successfully. My zest for life returned, and all my anxiety and cramps disappeared. After 2 months, I was able to sleep well, and I returned to active training. Duloxetine suited me 100%. It is strange to read negative reviews about it, perhaps people exceed the dosage or start the course too abruptly (I remind you that I increased the dosage by only 15 mg each week)."

• GBa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2020

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I understand we all react differently to medications. Effexor was working well, but due to severe scoliosis, my psych switched me to Cymbalta. It had the opposite effect in every way. I became angry, irritable, suicidal, anxious, had insomnia, sleep paralysis, nightmares, and my pain worsened. After 6 weeks, I switched back to Effexor on my own until I got in to see my psych to do the same. These side effects are hit or miss, and I always recommend giving all new meds at least 3 weeks, so take this review with discernment, but if you encounter these effects, they will likely stay. Effexor may be harder on the liver, but the difference is night and day, and adding Rexulti finally broke through a decade-long wall."

• DoN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 19, 2016

Duloxetine for Depression "The worst decision I have ever made was agreeing to go on this drug. I had no idea about SSRIs and the effects they can have on you and your life. For the first year, I would have recommended it to anyone dealing with depression and anxiety like myself, but that was at a time when I mistook the numbness for satisfaction. Just over 2 years down the line and I am falling apart. This drug has ruined my life. First, I realized the fog I was in. Then came the vertigo and confusion. My memory has deteriorated. Zero sex drive since day one. My depression has worsened, and I no longer recognize who I am anymore. My personality has changed drastically, and my anxiety is worse than it's ever been. I am now weaning off it, but the damage has been done."

• Anonymous
• February 8, 2010

Duloxetine for Depression "I started taking Cymbalta a year ago. Side effects: nausea and pain in the stomach. This was with 30 mg. The doctor recommended 60 mg. It really worked, but after about 4 months, I just could not afford it, so my doctor prescribed Celexa. I used that for several months. I noticed that my usual mild lower back pain returned. (I suffered no withdrawal symptoms.) I got back on Cymbalta 2 months ago. I felt no real side effects, and I even went up to 60 mg. It controls my 'emotional roller coaster' very well. No insomnia, but for a few nights, I did not sleep as deeply as usual. Sometimes I still have a little anxiety. But I don't feel like a raving lunatic as I did before I started this medication. Slight weight gain."

• SSN...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 28, 2021

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Cymbalta is one truly awful drug, which has caused side effects of muscle and nerve damage to my legs. I reported this twice to the FDA, who couldn't care less. It took me 18 months of horrible withdrawals, including brain zaps, rashes, teeth grinding so bad I cracked a root of a molar and had to get it pulled, blisters, anxiety, and three suicide attempts. The list is a lot longer. I wouldn’t give this drug to my worst enemy. It took almost two years after discontinuing Cymbalta to finally feel normal again."

• Leo...
• January 20, 2017

Duloxetine for Depression "Caused me severe anxiety/agitation. Its action increases norepinephrine levels as well as serotonin...and it's that effect on norepinephrine that has me climbing the walls! Not good for my depression or anxiety!"

• ats...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2022

Duloxetine for Anxiety "9-3-22 I took my first dose of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) 30 mg. I took the dose @9:30 pm EST. About 2 hrs after I took it, I started feeling tired, so I laid down & went to sleep with no problem. A few hours later (@4 am), I woke up profusely sweating, trembling/shaking & feeling EXTREMELY NAUSEOUS (didn't throw up though). I literally just squirmed around trying to get comfy, waiting for it to pass. Eventually, I was able to fall back asleep. I woke up @10:30 am with a massive headache, foggy head, my heart was beating really fast, my anxiety was through the roof, I felt very anxious/agitated, my skin felt prickly (the best way I can describe it is that I felt like I couldn't stand to be in my own skin. If that makes any sense?). As the day went on (it's now 6:30 pm), most of the symptoms I woke up with have gradually faded. The anxiety and headache have not. Part of me never wants to take it again, but the depressed, anxiety-ridden part of me doesn't want to give up just yet... I'll continue to update."

• Joh...
• June 26, 2010

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I've been on Cymbalta for about 13 months, but after reading many of the posts, I'm thinking I should add this little self-evaluation. I was diagnosed with autism, dyslexia, and hyperactivity in the mid-1960s when research was still in its infancy. Anxiety was a continuous battle, and after failing the 4th grade, all I remember was being in a fog. Cymbalta has cut through the anxiety even though the autism and dyslexia are hardwired as part of my disorder. I was recently pushed to 60 mg with improvement from my 30 mg dose. As part of anxiety, you can feel the adrenaline flowing through you at the slightest distraction or obstacle, but Cymbalta has done miracles to cut the amount of adrenaline released. Coffee puts me to sleep."

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2020

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was scared to take this med after the reviews. An anxiety attack triggered me to finally try it. I took 1 tablet, 30 mg, yesterday afternoon with lunch and experienced nothing until night. I was having constant random visions all night. When I finally got up in the morning, I began shaking, my skin felt like it was burning, I was on fire hot, and my mouth was so incredibly dry. Then I got the chills. Shaking, burning skin, chills, dizziness went all day. I was wiped out tired and could not eat. I was in bed all of this beautiful day until 4:30 pm when I forced myself up. Honestly, I felt poisoned. I drank 2 gallons of water waiting to flush this out of my body. It was about 28 hours from the time I took it until I felt somewhat back to normal."

• Fra...
• July 25, 2016

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Add on to 30 mg mirtazapine. Cymbalta taken in the morning. 1st day: diarrhea, very stoned feeling all day, slightly more anxious. 2nd day: slightly more depressed and anxious, a little less stoned feeling, slight constipation, sexual dysfunction. 3rd day: extremely depressed...worst I've ever felt. Suicidal. 4th day: same extreme and worsening depression. Couldn't handle it, stopped taking it after the 4th day. Worsened depression to the extreme. Don't know if the side effects would've lessened, but couldn't take the extreme depression. Sexual dysfunction also added to depression."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 26, 2020

Duloxetine for Depression "Cymbalta was the first drug that my psychiatrist prescribed to me. I took it while I was at work. After an hour or two, I felt like I was having a panic attack. My palms were sweating, and my heart was racing. But that was not the main problem. I felt like I was going crazy. I came home and tried to lay in bed, but when I closed my eyes, I saw hallucinations. I needed two pills of bromazepam to calm myself down. Also, my anxiety started with this medication. Before, I had mild anxiety and mainly depression. After Cymbalta, I felt panicky all the time. Until I started Zoloft. Till now, I don’t know what happened, but my guess is that maybe it could’ve been serotonin syndrome. I don’t know. Or just not the right medication. But it was like one long, bad trip."

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

Duloxetine for Back Pain "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."

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

Duloxetine for Back Pain "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."

• Nic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2019

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "It did okay for my depression, reduced my headaches, improved my concentration and my sleep, and reduced my anxiety, but it did almost nothing for social anxiety. I switched from Cymbalta to Effexor, and I immediately found that Effexor was far superior in almost everything. I would recommend Cymbalta as your second choice SNRI if Effexor won’t work for you."

• Cje...
• July 13, 2017

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I just started on 30 mg today. I had to come off of Prozac 20 mg after five days because it made my anxiety worse, no appetite, and my stomach hurt, and I stayed in the bathroom. I used to be on Cymbalta, and it was great. I came off of it because I thought I could deal with my menopause, and nope, it got bad again with anxiety. I hope Cymbalta helps me."

• KEA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 9, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been on duloxetine 30 mg for 6 weeks now, I have felt good, relaxed, and coping at work. For the last week, though, the nerves in my stomach have started again, thinking negatively again, changes in my job unsettled me, I think. I increased to 60 mg at the beginning of this week, so hoping things will settle again. I'm doing a journal every day, I think my hormones play a part in the anxiety too, as I'm menopausal."

• ck1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2021

For Bipolar Disorder "Starting at duloxetine 20 mg, I felt nothing, so I moved on to 60 mg with no mood stabilizer at the time for Bipolar 2. Went into a horrific mixed episode, with bad anxiety, self-harm, and insomnia, before going to 40 mg. It was much better - I'd tried Prozac and Zoloft, and both were awful for me, but duloxetine was the first that not only improved my mood but never felt noticeably different aside from that. After a few months, it got less effective, but I switched to 60 mg again with lamotrigine, and it makes me feel as close to normal as I ever have. I have had mild auditory hallucinations at night, but only when I'm incredibly anxious. Always remember that people's brains work differently, so don't take my word as law."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 6, 2012

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I have been taking this medication for a little over 6 years and was started off on the 60 mg dosage. In the beginning, it worked great. I'm now on 90 mg, sometimes 160 mg, of Cymbalta, and I feel anxious all the time and also extreme fatigue."

• She...
• March 6, 2016

Duloxetine for Depression "I took 1 30 mg capsule of Cymbalta yesterday. That will be the only dose of this medicine I will take. I had to leave work yesterday because of how sick to my stomach it made me. I felt jittery and lightheaded all day. I didn't take it this morning. I haven't felt jittery, but I have been extremely lightheaded and have had a headache all day. All that from one dose. I have been on many anti-depressants over the years. The only other one that made my head feel like this was Prozac, and I didn't stay on it long. Having a job, I can't afford to be sick from side effects. I will be calling the Dr. tomorrow and telling her I want to try something else. Also, I have heard a lot of reviews about this drug, and most that I have read are not very good."

• Nan...
• May 11, 2021

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Cymbalta about 2 years ago for severe depression. I also suffer from chronic pain, osteoarthritis, severe hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia. The only thing my 60 mg has done for me is stop me from crying at the drop of a dime. My doctor has now diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), my depression has become debilitating. No energy, no drive, no strength to leave my bedroom. I was on Vyvanse for almost 2 years. I really needed a stimulant to animate me, I had energy and had function. I changed doctors, and she took me off of it, and I've been like this ever since. She put me on 30 more mg in the afternoon and also prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. Cymbalta has not touched my chronic pain or anxiety. We shall see what happens in a month."

• Che...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2023

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "This medication has been really wonderful for my pain, and I do feel better emotionally. However, I’ve gained a ridiculous amount of weight in the year I’ve started taking it. I’m also experiencing a bit of mental fog and anxiety. The weight gain is awful for my mental and emotional well-being, though. I’m not a vain person, I just don’t feel like myself. I’m completely bald from alopecia, so being “chunky” just adds salt to the wound."

• lik...
• November 11, 2015

Duloxetine for Back Pain "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."

• Esc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2017

Duloxetine for Anxiety "The rheumatologist put me on Cymbalta for fibromyalgia. I started on the medication, 20 mg, I think. I worked at a bank at the time, and one week into taking it, I was having anxiety attacks at work. I had anxiety before this, but not in social situations like this. I stayed on it for another week or so but took myself off. She also put me on amitriptyline for muscle relaxation at night. First, it knocked me the heck out, then within two weeks I would wake up with bad cramps in my legs and such tension/contraction in all my muscles that I couldn't sleep. I weaned myself off of that too. I told the doctor what happened, she said it wasn't the medicine causing the symptoms. Right... ten months later, still have anxiety, voice is shaky, not working."

• Mdo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2022

Duloxetine for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "My issues are severe anxiety, severe depression, and neuropathy. I had suicidal thoughts with Lexapro, so I decided to try Cymbalta. It gave me jaw pain and a weird taste and smell when starting it, but not bad effects. It helped my crying spells stop and seemed to slightly increase depression. I was on 30 mg. However, it made my panic disorder and anxiety skyrocket. It really helped neuropathy and phantom pains I’ve been having. But the heightened anxiety I couldn’t stand, so I had to go off of it. It gave me a weird hypersensitivity feeling."