Duloxetine and Depression: What Users Say

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2020

For Depression "Have been on Cymbalta for a week now for depression and chronic pain. Feel like an absolute zombie, have struggled to get my daily things done and have otherwise stared at the TV all weekend. Scared to stop because of all the horrid reviews but want to continue for the promising reviews. Why does treating depression have to be so hard? I feel worse than I did last week. Numb to the world. No motivation or desire to participate in life. I will persevere for another week and reassess. I am taking it in the morning, perhaps I need to take it at night? I think I will do that this week. No change to my pains."

• Nic...
• July 5, 2019

For Depression "I had been on eight different antidepressants for 12 years. I tried Cymbalta and had been on it for 14 years. I tried to get off of it and it took eight months, but I completely went off. Withdrawals were horrific. All of my depression and anxiety came back, but worse than ever. I’m so glad to be back on it. Cymbalta is a lifesaver."

• ano...
• July 2, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I have been on Cymbalta 60mg for chronic abdominal pain for 3 years. It has been a life saver for me and dropped my narcotic use (hydrocodone) down to a 30-day prescription lasting me a year. I did notice earlier this year more pain, and with that, more of the narcotic need and depression. My doctor raised me up to 90mg (one 60mg and a 30mg), and I haven't had the need for the hydrocodone for 3 months. I'm very satisfied."

• Orp...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 23, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "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 overthinking 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."

• vcn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 25, 2014

For Fibromyalgia "This medication has worked wonders for me. However, I also have additional medications that work along with this in order to provide me relief. But when I have run out of this medication, I am certainly aware, it is great for my nerve pain and my depression that accompanies my fibromyalgia."

• Fae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I was put on Cymbalta to combat the mood and pain problems associated with fibromyalgia. It dilated my eyes, which led to light sensitivity and headaches. I also grew steadily more and more exhausted and confused and foggy. I was depressed. The doctors insisted that the side effects would abate after about six weeks, but they were so debilitating I had to seek out disability accommodations at school and drop one of my classes. After about a month, I woke up one morning feeling very strange, and a few hours later had a seizure and sprained my jaw and have had jaw pain ever since. At the emergency room, they told me that the Cymbalta was the likely culprit. Essentially, this drug made my life unbearable."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2009

For Depression "I am on 120mg of Cymbalta to treat my chronic depression, PTSD, and anxiety (severe child abuse survivor and adult sexual assault survivor) and chronic pain (spinal disorder required fusing all but one vertebra in my neck and the vertebra in my lower back; plus severe arthritis in my knees, hips, and both AC joints). I have been on 24-hour narcotics, Ativan, and many antidepressants. Of course, narcotics work, but they caused me to have heart problems. Ativan is great, but doctors are reluctant to prescribe long-term. I thought the panic attacks, insomnia, hot flashes, obsessive worry and dread, gloom, weepiness, and loss of interest in everything would be forever. Cymbalta helped me get my life back."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 19, 2017

For Depression "I was put on Cymbalta 60mg when I was in the psych ward for a suicide attempt. This medication significantly helped my depression and my thoughts of suicide went away. Cymbalta has been life changing for me. I thought I didn't need it anymore so I took myself off of it a month ago. The withdrawals are terrible! Worse than withdrawing from benzos, I was shaky for a straight week. After being off of it for a couple weeks my depression and anxiety came back full force, I realized how much it had been helping me and asked my doctor to put me back on it. I'm now on 30mg and feel less anxious and less sad."

• Lpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2020

For Depression "I started taking Cymbalta 30 mg 9 weeks ago under my primary doctor's recommendation. I had severe anxiety and insomnia and very serious depression. I slept all day and had no motivation and couldn't shake it off no matter what I did. I have tried Prozac 50 mg for depression and expressed that I didn't like that it made me eat all the time (which led to a 50 lb weight gain) and no libido. So she recommended this. I feel very numb (but not high) as if I have no more conscience. I also have a slow reaction time to everything. People will speak to me, and I don't realize until they repeat my name over 3 times. I also cannot sleep still even with all types of OTC sleep medications. I take Cymbalta in the morning, so it has no effect on my sleep. I am going to keep taking this medication as suggested but will make a follow-up appointment. Should there be any secret to make this drug less numbing, I will add another review."

• Sha...
• June 28, 2017

For Depression "Had panic attacks and major depression. This medication changed my life for the better. Been on this medication for almost a year. Takes about 3 months to feel the full effect. If the dose is too strong, you may feel worse. It's trial and error."

• cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

For Back Pain "Do not take this drug Cymbalta! I am a 64-year-old female, otherwise healthy. I have L5 radiculopathy. After 6 days (6 pills 20 mg), I felt terrible. Sweating, dizzy, extremely fatigued, depressed, queasy. I would rather experience the discomfort in my left leg, foot, and low back than feel the way I feel right now or the potential side effects of waiting for this to 'kick in' and trying to come off of it. I'm doing a liver detox for a week and can't wait to get this out of my system."

• mir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 18, 2023

For Chronic Pain "I suffered a cheerleading accident that resulted in a fractured neck and a bad concussion, causing terrible migraines, motion sickness, and loss of feeling in my hands and feet, making it difficult to sleep. Seeking medical attention, I was referred to a neurologist who prescribed 30 mg of Cymbalta. Initially, the medication was a godsend, helping me sleep through the night, eliminating my migraines, and restoring feeling to my limbs. However, after three months, my doctor decided to increase my dose to 60 mg and then to 90 mg. Missing or taking the medication just 30 minutes late would render me unable to function. My weight fluctuated randomly, and I experienced passing out, teeth sensitivity and yellowing, brain zaps, and depression. Over a year, I tried to taper off the medication, but with no success. Withdrawal symptoms were intense, including intrusive thoughts, changes in appetite, vivid dreams, and severe mood swings. Prior to taking this medication, I urge you to research the '33-page document of Cymbalta symptoms.'"

• Kei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2012

For Chronic Pain "I have had chronic pain/numbness/tingling sensations in the left side of my face for over 15 years. It was slight when it first started, but turned really bad around 2005. I have been on a Vicodin, Tramadol, Fioricet 'cocktail' for 8 years. I tried Neurontin for 5 months but it made me sluggish, lazy, and depressed. Neurontin didn't solve anything. Last week a neurologist strongly suggested I try Cymbalta, and ease off all other prescription/non-prescription pain killers. Within 24 hours I noticed a significant easing of pain sensations in the area of concern, and I have reduced my painkiller intake by 50%, and will cut it down to zero in another week to ten days. This happened in only five days of one 30mg pill a day. A miracle for me."

• Pol...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "This drug, over time, took away all emotional feelings. I could witness an accident and instead of being concerned, I wasn't even phased. I found myself being cold and blunt with people. I was also suffering from crazy head and body sweats. Random, but always severe. My blood pressure went through the roof. I lost ALL sexual desire to be with my wife or any woman. I'm blessed my wife stuck by me. Fatigue was also severe. I could sleep 12 hours and wake up feeling like I worked a 12-hour midnight shift. After two years and age 43, I am starting to come off of it. My dose of 60 mg has been reduced to 30 mg and the sweating is gone, BP stabilized, and energy returning. The main reason I suffered through the drug so long was because it did help my osteoarthritis. Right now, I sooner suffer with pain and tend to my wife's physical needs like I once loved doing."

• Anonymous
• February 2, 2012

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I took Cymbalta 60mg for 4 months. It helped tremendously with general anxiety so I believed it to be a miracle, however, after about 4 weeks, I noticed depression setting in. It had gotten so bad that I felt compelled to leave a review on here. My heart was cold, didn't care about co-workers, friends, and family or myself. The depression hit so quickly. I was angry at the world for my own issues, everyone walking around all happy and everything, I wanted that so badly. I was mean and angry. I'd yell at people for things and accused them of being rude to me or not considerate enough for my standards. I got off Cymbalta and gained my life back. It did help my generalized anxiety disorder though."

• Nbk...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 30, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "I took Cymbalta for depression, anxiety, and for severe fibromyalgia symptoms. The extreme mood swings, depression, constant thoughts of suicide, symptoms that mimicked my already existing fibromyalgia symptoms, and unfortunately made them worse. Sleepless nights-even days at a time, drowsiness, complete change in my personality. When I started, a physician observed a decrease with intention to quit Cymbalta altogether. I tried killing myself multiple times, shakes, tremors, skin crawling, brain and body 'zaps', nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mood swings, hospitalization. Don't, just don't take it. There are other drugs and CBT therapies that are tried and true, whose long-term side effects are well understood and documented. Almost ruined me."

• bir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2018

For Back Pain "This medication is a nightmare for me. It did help a tiny bit with the pain, but it had side effects. I became more depressed while I was taking it, plus it made my already moderate to severe tinnitus extremely bad - it sounded like a million crickets were chirping along with several lawnmowers in my head at all times after the first few days on this med. I am now being titrated down, and I will never take it again. It also totally wiped out my short-term memory. I'll deal with the pain in other ways, this just isn't worth it! I'm glad it works for some people, though."

• Sad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 6, 2021

For Depression "This drug has ruined me. I wasn’t told the effects it would have on my body when prescribed to me 8 months ago. I have tapered off over a 2-month period, and through this time, I can’t sleep, eat, work, I throw up constantly, my under-eyes are black, I've become more depressed going through this, and I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be okay."

• Sun...
• April 29, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I felt less pain, but the side effects were NOT worth it. I ended up becoming very depressed and apathetic and slept for 12+ hours a day, missed work, didn't clean or eat. I was taken off after I crashed my car."

• Sun...
• April 29, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "I felt less pain, but the side effects were NOT worth it. I ended up becoming very depressed and apathetic and slept for 12+ hours a day, missed work, didn't clean or eat. I was taken off after I crashed my car."

• Lon...
• February 8, 2014

For Depression "I am a healthcare provider who specializes in Emergency Medicine. I had my 1st surgery 2 1/2 years ago, lower colon. 2nd surgery for entrapped pudendal nerve, and am still healing. Was started on Cymbalta and Lyrica. Stopped Lyrica. Had severe mood swings, couldn't concentrate, severe depression with daily suicidal thoughts. 20 lb weight gain. I have not treated patients for over a year because of my symptoms. After stopping cold turkey against doctor's advice, I have a clear head, memory has improved, and best of all, suicidal thoughts are gone. I now feel safe enough to return to work and help save lives without fear of making a mistake or wrong decision that could harm others. The nerve pain is still there, but better than side effects."

• Sie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2014

For Osteoarthritis "This was great for pain relief for the two months I was taking it. The problems I had far outweighed any benefits. I was suffering from blackouts where I would do things and not remember doing them. The depression, nausea, and headaches were unbearable too. I have been off it for 2 months now and am just starting to feel better. I'll live with the on-average 8 pain."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2008

For Depression "To begin with, I experienced nausea, excessive yawning, extreme fatigue - I'd fall asleep in the afternoon, sweating, and bad dreams at night, and really bad anxiety. These side effects lasted for a few weeks, but then I started to feel great. After 5 months, I decided to stop taking it - big mistake. I felt dizzy, sick, pounding heart, headaches, and the depression came back almost instantly. I started taking it again 2 weeks ago. Side effects aren't as severe this time, but they haven't kicked in either."

• Gin...
• February 3, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "I was diagnosed with depression when I was 18 (now 31). I began taking Prozac, which was effective at first, but then it plateaued. My doctor prescribed me 60 mg of Cymbalta back then, and that dose has been effective ever since. For a short time, my doctor lowered it to 30 mg, and I became severely depressed. Once it was raised back to 60 mg, I was a whole new person again. I highly recommend this miracle drug!"

• Pur...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I've had GAD pretty much all my life, but developed increasing depression and withdrawal from social activities. Finally, I bit the bullet and told my doctor. He started me on duloxetine, 30 mg, with the warnings about weight gain and sexual dysfunction and commented we could increase to 60 mg in three or four weeks if needed. Never needed the increase - 30 mg is perfect. I have gained 4 or 5 pounds. I did notice the sexual dysfunction (loss of interest and difficulty 'finishing' at first), so I would hold my meds a day or two before bath and treat night, which worked fine. Pretty much back to normal in that regard. The best thing is I can get more than one or two errands completed now. I call my pills 'do lots of things' now!"