Duloxetine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Use...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2021

For Depression "The withdrawals were so hard on me. The brain zaps were the most painful thing. I did not know a human can experience electric, painful zaps in their brains. It was the worst headache I could imagine. I was never so severely dependent (physically addicted) on anything like duloxetine. Benzodiazepine withdrawals were child's play in comparison to these withdrawals. Not to mention it worsened my depression. It made me completely numb like a zombie. You could crash a car in front of me, and I would not even flinch. I had terrible anger issues when trying to quit this. Screaming and destroying things. I had to taper off by opening the capsules and counting the beads. There are about 170 beads in each one. It took me more than one year to taper off slowly. The worst single substance I have ever tried. I would not give it to my worst enemy."

• Cho...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 2, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I have chronic nerve pain and RSD as a result of a failed multi-level cervical fusion. I was on narcotics for 2-3 years. I had an implanted pulse generator placed in my low back with the leads running up my spine to the area in my neck affected by the surgery. This enabled me to get off the narcotics, but I still have trouble with the Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). About 5 years ago, my doctor put me on Cymbalta. I now take 60 mg each morning. There has been a marked difference in my pain level as a result. I have learned to regulate my activity as well to help keep the pain down. I still have moderate bouts of depression. So far, nothing has a lasting effect on that."

• Sha...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2017

For Depression "I've been taking Cymbalta for depression for two and a half years. My doctor titrated me up to 120 mg. I was at 120 mg for over two and a half years, and almost constantly I was severely depressed, severe anxiety, some paranoia, no energy, overreaction, self-harm, extreme anger, just to name a few. That's not to say I do have some of those problems normally, but not as severe or as constant. So Cymbalta was overlooked as a cause of my worsening issues. Two weeks ago, I was admitted to an inpatient hospital to basically save my life. While I was in there, I was abruptly taken off, then titrated up to 60 mg. I'm a totally different person now. I did a complete 180°. I can't believe what a difference it makes being on the right dose."

• chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2019

For Depression "Just by taking 30 mg, I had an acute sensation of depersonalization, extreme heart stabbing pain, anxiety, extreme depression, and overall extreme mental agony, and a wish to just cease existing to not have to feel these horrible effects. I cannot tolerate another day of agony taking this drug. Whatever horrible depression I was suffering from before is nothing compared to how I feel now. It may just be me who tolerates SSRI/SNRI type of drugs horribly, but anyway, I cannot recommend this to anyone based on my experience and also knowing that these types of drugs pretty much always induce sexual dysfunction."

• Ang...
• May 2, 2016

For Depression "I'm going to jump right into the fact that this medication is just not helpful, it takes away my personality and has brought a lot of suicidal thoughts to mind. I am on a 60 mg capsule, and the way it makes me feel is very empty. I don't feel like I have control of my thoughts and happiness."

• Lot...
• October 17, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "Helped the fibro pain completely. But my sleep is totally messed up, and I am tired all the time. Also, I feel emotionally flat. No motivation at all. For now, I'll keep on it, as having total body pain 24/7 was hell on earth."

• Lot...
• October 17, 2016

For Fibromyalgia "Helped the fibro pain completely. But my sleep is totally messed up, and I am tired all the time. Also, I feel emotionally flat. No motivation at all. For now, I'll keep on it, as having total body pain 24/7 was hell on earth."

• Pan...
• May 3, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on Cymbalta for a few years now (on various doses) alongside clonazepam (0.5 mg twice/day), and I have to say it's been the worst experience of my life. I was put on it after Effexor XR basically stopped working after 4 yrs. At first, Cymbalta seemed to 'take the edge off.' I didn't notice many of the initial side effects because of my severe withdrawal from Effexor. But after about 9 months at 30 mg, Cymbalta just stopped working and actually started to make me experience anxiety and panic attacks that were insanely intense. I have moved up to 60 mg and back down to 30, upped my clonazepam, and it's just gotten worse and worse. Weight gain (50 lbs), severe panic attacks, GAD, severe depression, OCD, stomachache, IBS, headache, ..."

• Isi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 31, 2022

For Chronic Pain "This medicine is okay for pain, the problem is you have to take it every day, and your body gets addicted to it. When you want to stop taking this medication, you will become very depressed. I became suicidal, I could not leave my house. I knew if I got in my car, I would have driven headfirst into a truck. I had to fight every urge I had to destroy my house. I wanted to break everything. These kinds of meds should NOT be prescribed for pain!!!!"

• Juj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 19, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I’ve been on this med for 4 years (I’ve been on every dose, but I’m now on 60 mg) and have tried a number of other medicines, including Lexapro, Paxil, Wellbutrin, amitriptyline, and Abilify, just to name a few. I was diagnosed with MDD, GAD, and Panic Disorder in 2011 (when I was 18). I’ve been on a lot of drugs, and this one has been the best one for me so far. I mean, of course, I’m not cured or anything, but it makes life much easier, and it doesn’t make me as pessimistic and gloomy about life. I still have bad days, and I’m still struggling with apathy and things like cleaning and showering, but I do it, and my life isn’t as bad as it could be, so I really can’t complain. *Disclaimer: I’ve been in outpatient treatment twice and go to therapy once a month, so that plays a role as well, I think."

• Tin...
• August 18, 2017

For Depression "I was put on this for a while. It made me very depressed, anxious, and withdrawn. It was only when my friends told me how bad I was that I realized I was having a real 'breakdown' on it. I went to see my doctor, who changed me to Sertraline, which suits me a lot better. I was depressed before I took Duloxetine, but I went into a very dark place that I had trouble getting out of. We are all different, and different medication suits different people."

• Tin...
• August 18, 2017

For Depression "I was put on this for a while. It made me very depressed, anxious, and withdrawn. It was only when my friends told me how bad I was that I realized I was having a real 'breakdown' on it. I went to see my doctor, who changed me to Sertraline, which suits me a lot better. I was depressed before I took Duloxetine, but I went into a very dark place that I had trouble getting out of. We are all different, and different medication suits different people."

• Ano...
• February 10, 2013

For Anxiety "I've been on Cymbalta for about 8 months now. I never had major side effects to begin with, but the last 3 months I've been experiencing nightmares or crazy dreams. I'm tired a lot, I sweat at night, I feel as if I'm in one mood and the only major emotion I get is anger. It's hard to laugh at things that I used to, and I can't cry anymore. Sometimes I just want to feel frustrated when I know I should, and sad, but I feel stuck and emotionless. I don't think Cymbalta has helped me. I think the only progress I've made with my anxiety, OCD, and depression has been on my own."

• Hei...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 13, 2016

For Depression "Initially went on 10 mg Escitalopram for 6 months, but besides improving my mood, it worsened my memory, made me apathetic/demotivated, and gave me brain fog all day. I then went on Duloxetine, and the dosage was increased from 30 mg to 120 mg over the course of 7 months. Duloxetine increased my motivation, mental energy, and attention without any brain fog or memory issues like from Escitalopram. But the downside is that Duloxetine started making me robotic, socially withdrawn, and hindered my creative thoughts. At 120 mg, it started to negatively affect my memory, so the sweet spot for me was 60 - 90 mg. Wasn't perfect, but it worked better than Escitalopram for me."

• Reg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2016

For Depression "Worked for me at a time I had slipped into suicidal ideations. I have a rheumatological disorder that has no cure, and the treatment is dangerous (steroids most of the time); I have severe anxiety; do not know from one day to the following how I will feel or if I will accomplish small tasks, forget about holding a job. This helped anxiety, suicidal thoughts, the horrible feelings of major depression, fear, and pain. It is important to read about the medications you should not take with this. Start slowly and have patience. Appears that more medications tried, the easier this is to get acclimated to."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "Have had pain for 20 years, process of being electrocuted 3 times. I had developed arthritis all over the body, suffered from irritable bowel syndrome and orofacial granulomatosis, and developed fibromyalgia pain with fatigue, depression, and constant head pain. This was all unbearable, but after trying Cymbalta, pain was minimized by 30 to 40 percent. I take 30 mg a day."

• ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I am on Lyrica 150 mg a day, but it started to lose its effectiveness after about 5 months. I can't afford to see the doctor or get more Lyrica. I tried Cymbalta for my PMDD and hoped that it might help my pain too. My pain was almost completely gone after about 2 days of use! However, I started getting sores on my tongue, emotional numbness, and had zero libido. I stopped using it after about 7 days, and the pain came back worse than ever (I believe I had been overdoing it those few days). I seriously considered putting up with the side effects just to get some pain relief, but I'm trying bupropion XL first."

• Lau...
• July 5, 2011

For Depression "Cymbalta has given me my life back. I finally feel like me again. The loving, caring, free-spirited person I had forgotten about. I can finally function, which is so important to me. I am getting a 4.0 in college. I feel like a walking miracle! I can't believe where I am today; that a pill could literally save my life. I was so close to suicide, so violent, and so depressed. I wanted to die. I'm FINALLY HAPPY! It's sad that Cymbalta has low reviews from people withdrawing from it. I'm sure it's difficult. But does that take away from how much it helps!? I might be on it the rest of my life, who knows?"

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

For Chronic Pain "If I could give this drug a minus 100, I would. Probably one of the worst drugs I have ever taken. I was prescribed it for the small fiber neuropathy in my legs. After a few days of taking it, I went into one of the worst depressions of my life. I don't suffer, and have never suffered, from depression, but after taking this drug, I now know what it feels like to have major depressive disorder. OMG. My husband had to pull me out of bed. I was suicidal. I was totally apathetic and in a very deep rabbit hole. I never ever want to see this drug again. I am now on an opioid patch, and guess what people, it works on my pain with NO side effects. STOP withholding opioids from people with chronic pain. We don't get high on this stuff, we just take it to get some relief."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2019

For Depression "Had tried 4 different meds before Cymbalta in various doses for GAD/depression. Had quit them due to side effects, usually 'brain fog', increased anxiety or depressive symptoms, etc. Psych doctor put me on Cymbalta 30 mg, morning/30 mg night. At first, I had some improvement with just mild brain fog. Kept on it for a total of 4 months, hoping this could be the one. However, slowly turned into a zombie. Tired, unable to think clearly, trouble processing. Dr. switched me to Vibryyd 20 mg and tapered me with 30 mg of Cymbalta at night for 7 days. She said the new med should help counter withdrawal effects. Well, during the first 7 days, I had mild vertigo, insomnia, heart palpitations, etc., and was dealing with it. The next 7 days without any Cymbalta have been the worst. Vertigo, confusion, agitation, severe vertigo, mood swings, sweats, loss of appetite, tinnitus, headaches, forgetfulness, etc. I pray I am not one of those people who have withdrawal for months."

• R68...
• April 3, 2011

For Anxiety "Started off with a 30 mg dosage. Symptoms started out blurred vision, fogged feeling, mental confusion, mild anxiety, mild depression. Also clenched my jaw and was diagnosed with TMJ. After one week, bumped up to 60 mg. Side effects in the first week or two... tired and drowsy, which went away completely. Stick with it, and you'll see it works wonders. You will be left with clarity and peace of mind."

• Ken...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2018

For Back Pain "Wonderful until you come off it. 8 years on Cymbalta for chronic pain and now 2 years of brain zaps, fog, fatigue, anger, depression, etc. It is worse than crack. I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy."

• Bir...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 12, 2021

For Depression "The first time taking it, like others, I woke up the next morning, my pupils enlarged and my head a mess. I ended up going home from school and seeing the wood grain on my walls move and cry about it. I had started on 60 mg, I tried to sit it out for 2 days, but as soon as I could, I called my doctor. She set me back to 30 mg, and I've been on it ever since. I'm on 60 again now, I stopped having suicidal thoughts for months, and my almost daily panic attacks have majorly decreased. I went from staying home in fear of another panic attack to feeling almost normal. I still struggle with both depression and anxiety very much, but this does take the edge off."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2021

For Chronic Pain "Started taking this for pain, over a four-month period, with gradual increases up to 120 mg. It gave me severe, severe depression and made me feel like I wasn’t myself at all. I also had brain fog and almost 10 lbs weight gain even though it got rid of my appetite. A lot of water retention, especially around my lower abdomen. It also gave me poor sleep and terrifying nightmares. Weaning off now with a schedule from my doctor. I would not only not recommend this drug, but if it must be tried, talk to your doctor weekly about your moods and feelings in case you start to feel depressed, or worse."

• LE0...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2012

For Pain "This medicine is amazing! I have suffered from a bulging disc and facet joint issues for a year, with little lasting relief from injections. I was prescribed Cymbalta a little over a month ago, and by the 3rd or 4th day on it, I was almost literally pain-free. I was afraid to say it out loud for fear that I would jinx myself because it was almost too good to be true. Now, after being on it for 5 weeks, I can work out and get back into my exercise regimen with little to no pain. This has truly been a lifesaver! I did have tiredness and low motivation during the first two weeks, but my body seems very acclimated to it now. I do sweat a lot at night, but I can live with it. Love this medication."