Duloxetine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 5)

• MN...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 5, 2021

For Fibromyalgia "To those people experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and epigastric pain, try the yelate version of duloxetine/Cymbalta. Duloxetine and Cymbalta caused severe gastric irritation for me, no matter how much food I took with it, I could not withstand this side effect. With yelate, I do not experience gastric irritation and nausea. Fibromyalgia is very difficult to deal with and manage, as it is a syndrome, so I deal with pain, insomnia, depression, brain fog, all the works. What I noted was that it would make me lose focus and be teary and irritable most of the time. It was not effective at all. I have been on the 60 mg dose, 30 mg is useless for me. So, since 3 days ago, as I had lost hope, I decided to increase the dose to 120 mg and am feeling much, much, much better, so I will carry on and see."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2023

For Chronic Pain "Cymgen. Never in my life again. I experience extreme/severe post-stroke central brain pain (also called neuropathic brain pain) after a circle of Willis hemorrhagic stroke some years ago. No medication helped at all. The doctor gave me this med. I do not know why, because I am inherently a positive person. Within a week I was in a heap of severe depression, with no energy, weak muscles, and no balance, thinking of how to get out of this world as fast as possible. Terrible! I dropped it. Now on Targinact 20/10 PR (10/5 no effect) twice a day plus 6 still pains spaced over the day. Pain has not disappeared, but it is more under control, and I am a new person. I have written two math articles for an online journal during the last 3 weeks (undergraduate level, but still). The previous one, before this medication regime, took me a year to complete. I have also started studying tensors further, despite my 74 years. The doctor says it is possible but highly unlikely. I do not care. I know what works for me and what does not."

• win...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 3, 2013

For Fibromyalgia "I've been taking Cymbalta for 3 years to treat my fibromyalgia. I've noticed very little impact on my pain with 60 mg a day, but emotionally I am well balanced with no big highs or lows. If I miss a dose for more than 2 days, I get very sad and irritable. I try not to do that. It's very expensive, and I don't like that part. I wasn't expecting the benefit of feeling better emotionally, but that's what Cymbalta does for me."

• MrD...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2018

For Depression "I've been taking duloxetine 60 mg for over 3 months, and it made me feel terrible. It slightly lifted my depression a bit, but I just felt emotionally numb and just felt weird in myself, like everything was like a dream. Always tired and intrusive, crazy anxiety-driven thoughts. Tapering off them over the next few days and starting back on sertraline, which I was on a few years ago with no problems."

• Anx...
• July 2, 2021

For Anxiety "The day after I took Cymbalta, I didn’t feel my usual anxiety. I did eventually habituate to it and have to move up in dosage. I was on Cymbalta for years, but eventually, it ended up giving me depression. It grew worse the longer I was on it (approx. 10 years). Aside from depression, I didn’t experience any other side effects except when I forgot to take it. I tapered off it and experienced nausea, dizziness, mania (euphoria and irritability) when coming off it. It took a while to get out of my system completely. I personally did not find it difficult to come off of, just uncomfortable. I am no longer on Cymbalta. My depression is gone, but I now have anxiety again, so I can safely say that Cymbalta can help with anxiety. Everyone’s genetics are different, so I’m sure it will work better for some than others."

• Blu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 7, 2020

For Bipolar Disorder "I'm also on Duloxetine, Wellbutrin, and Lamictal. I feel flat. I miss being manic. When manic, I tend to lose a bunch of weight, drink excessively, buy a lot of stuff, and be sexually promiscuous. Lemme tell ya, that last one was a fun 9 months. I've been in a depressed/flat state just about 2 years now. I changed my lamotrigine dose (I'm such a horrible, non-compliant patient) a couple of months ago and eased myself down from three pills to one pill per day. (I think it's 30 mgs maybe). I haven't noticed any difference yet though."

• DSG...
• November 11, 2009

For Depression "Side effects were severely increased depression, sadness, and other horrible exacerbation of PTSD (and I am in my 50s). The only drug I ever took with worse side effects than this was prednisone, but that was effective."

• DSG...
• November 11, 2009

For Depression "Side effects were severely increased depression, sadness, and other horrible exacerbation of PTSD (and I am in my 50s). The only drug I ever took with worse side effects than this was prednisone, but that was effective."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 11, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have a range of different mental illnesses, including depression, derealization, and GAD. I never thought I’d be without anxiety, but duloxetine completely removed my anxiety after a terrible time on both sertraline and escitalopram. It has helped elevate some of the depression, but not all of it. Still experiencing suicidal thoughts from the derealization and depression, but no more anxiety at least!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 20, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "I took this med for years and it definitely dulled my pain, not entirely but noticeably. My prescription was not renewed because of human error. The withdrawals were awful and my pain returned with a vengeance. I became irritable and depressed. Today my doctor renewed my prescription and I am waiting for some relief!"

• Blu...
• September 21, 2016

For Chronic Pain "Been on Cymbalta 60 mg for 8 years. I have chronic headaches. I was told I have fibro years ago, depression. Doctor tried to get me off 4-5 years ago. Couldn't! Doctor says now let's do it. Titrated from 60 mg alternated with 30 mg every other day. After 2 weeks went to 30 mg after 10 days, 30 every other day. After a week of that I caught a virus and couldn't eat, so I just cold turkeyed it. I had the bad zings! Sick, depressed, migraines, and achy, grouchy. 3 weeks off, better but irritable, achy. Doctor will let me try Savella. I look after a toddler, so grouchy, not good for my nature. I'd go back on but...also used generic Duloxetine?"

• Jod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2017

For Depression "For some reason, my spouse and I were both given this last month when the prescription was renewed. I have been on this medication for 10 years plus. Within two weeks, I felt headaches, severe irritability, and depression. It was horrible. I even took 120 mg one day, and it worsened. Thank heaven this month was back to normal. Within 3 days, I am feeling better. By the way, my spouse feels the same way."

• Yol...
• January 21, 2017

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Been on it for 4 days. I feel like a zombie. Nauseous. Depressed. No appetite. Sleeping all day. It's doing the opposite of what I need. I have no emotions or reactions when people talk to me."

• aun...
• August 14, 2011

Duloxetine for Osteoarthritis "Cymbalta made me very depressed and very nauseated, but my doctor wanted me to give it a month to see if my symptoms got better. Symptoms didn't improve."

• pau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2012

Duloxetine for Depression "Have been on 30 mg for one week and 60 mg for 2 weeks, still no improvement in my depression, have lots of side effects like a very spaced-out feeling at times, no motivation, low libido."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 30, 2012

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I've had a very good experience with Cymbalta, aside from being so expensive. Helps with pain and related insomnia and depression."

• cry...
• April 23, 2013

Duloxetine for Anxiety "On it for a month, became extremely depressed and had suicidal thoughts."

• Car...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 6, 2018

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I started taking Cymbalta for chronic pain. It helps along with my pain meds. Plus, it also helps with depression (a bonus). I hurt worse before I started taking 60 mg."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2020

Duloxetine for Depression "Cymbalta is the worst medication ever. Your nausea will get worse, you start to feel completely weak, and most of all, it makes you go into a deeper depression. Do not by all means take this drug."

• Rav...
• September 22, 2010

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I found that the pain relief was short-lived, and I gained 20 lbs within a month, which made me more depressed."

• tdh...
• August 26, 2010

Duloxetine for Depression "I was on this medicine for 3 months for depression, and it didn't do anything for me. In fact, I think it made me feel worse. I had the shakes, anxiety at times, and of course, depression and aches."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2020

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Day 1 shaky, muscle spasm, depressed."