Duloxetine and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• eve...
• April 26, 2011

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Cymbalta has changed my life. I suffer from anxiety and trichotillomania, which is an obsessive hair pulling disorder that stems from the anxiety. I've tried many different medications, such as Prozac and Zoloft, etc. I had bad luck with those. The first two weeks on Cymbalta were rough. I was very, very dizzy, felt sick, and did not want to eat. I was very tired and would sweat. I started to take the medication at night because the dizziness was too much. After a week, they upped the dosage, and it got a little better. By three weeks, I felt relieved, and by week five, I felt amazing. I feel like a normal person, my mind is clear, I'm not anxious, and I stopped pulling my hair. The side effects went away except for being slightly tired."

• Sky...
• October 20, 2019

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Was given 30 mg/day for GAD with chronic nerve pain and insomnia. It caused nausea immediately. The doctor said that should pass in 7-10 days. Around day 9, the nausea passed. At this exact same time, the initial benefits I was starting to experience (lessened pain and improved sleep) returned to original baseline, and an itchy red facial rash developed on my cheeks. On day 18, the doctor said to stop the medication and that 'tapering was not necessary' (or an option). The 3rd day off the drug, I was incapacitated by severe dizziness and headache. This lasted 3 days. I have heard that the research on the efficacy of duloxetine/how it really shouldn't still be on the market, as Effexor XR and many other SNRIs/SSRIs have been repeatedly proven better than duloxetine. Side note - my doctor said that in 13 years of prescribing duloxetine, she's only had 2 cases of withdrawal that were problematic vs. 25% of all her patients on Effexor XR having protracted withdrawal problems."

• Mis...
• February 2, 2016

Duloxetine for Depression "Cymbalta has turned my life upside down. I was on the awful excuse for a medication for a year and a half, taking 100 mg every day. Over the past four months, I have been weaned off of it by my doctor, and 10 days ago was my last dose. I will never, ever take that nasty drug again. The withdrawals are excruciating. I am absolutely miserable. Even after ten days, I am still experiencing the following: nausea, dizziness, fevers, chills, emotional roller coasters, random crying, brain zaps, irritability, loss of appetite, loss of interest in doing daily activities, anger, vomiting, isolation, aches and pains in my bones, and high levels of anxiety. I feel as if these feelings are never going to end."

• Dan...
• March 15, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "Have taken this medicine for over 3 years. I was previously on Pristiq. To start with, at 60 mg, this medication worked for me pretty well for a year or so. Once I became pregnant, they reduced my dose (just to be safe) bad idea. I had a massive panic attack and feel very hopeless. They upped my dose to 60 mg again, which didn't seem to help, so after having my boy, they increased it to 120 mg, which worked for about 3 weeks, then it was as if I was taking nothing. Figure my body has just become immune. Also, bad withdrawal symptoms when you miss a dose. Very dizzy, nauseous, sleepy, not a nice experience, unfortunately. But please remember this is just my experience with this medication, not yours, it could be completely different."

• ora...
• January 10, 2010

Duloxetine for Bipolar Disorder "This medicine has been a lifesaver for me. Minimal side effects (the sexual issues, occasional dizziness on standing), and it completely changed how I saw myself. I used to look in the mirror and see some kind of inhuman troll thing, now I see myself. Helps with fibromyalgia pain as well. The only problem is if I ever have to go off it, it won't be pretty. I ran out for about 11 days, had an awful in-the-head shocky feeling for about 7 of these days before I started up again. Not fun..."

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2012

Duloxetine for Pain "I've had lower back pain for over a year, and several doctors later, I was put on Cymbalta. I could not handle the side effects. I was having horrible dreams, sweats, felt nauseated, shakes, and felt really out of it with dizziness and confusion. This was a 30 mg dose, I'm not on any other medicines."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2012

Duloxetine for Depression "I have been on Cymbalta for 10 weeks now. I started at 30, then went to 60. I was feeling wonderful, less negative, less worried, it was great. However, the last 10 days or so, I have started clenching my teeth, severe nausea, horrible dreams, weight gain, and dizziness. I don't want to go back to the way I was feeling before, however, I can't continue feeling this way either!"

• Bip...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "I started Cymbalta for major depression and suicidal ideation (no plan). It worked. Took as much as 90 mg at my high point. I'm now tapering down to 30 mg. Going from 3 pills a day to 1 pill a week is hard but manageable. But the side effects for this drug are real. Dizziness, blurry vision, constipation to runs. I would say for me, I could work through them because I wanted to live. The tapering has started aura migraines, which are close to unbearable, but I get through it. I say close because I almost felt like going to the ER once. I've slept 2 days straight trying to overcome an aura migraine. No light, sound, food, or blankets. If you were in my place over a year ago, taking Cymbalta would have been a no-brainer."

• Lun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2021

Duloxetine for Depression "While I was only on Cymbalta for a short time, it didn't help with my depression or anxiety - if anything, it made it worse. I had two major things occur. The first one was I slept almost constantly. I would sleep for 6 hours, wake up for 1 hour, go back to sleep for another 6 hours, and repeat the cycle almost daily. The second, and more concerning, was I had a major increase in suicidal thoughts. However, for me, the worst part about Cymbalta is trying to come off it. This goes for many medications, but Cymbalta has severe withdrawal symptoms. I had dizziness, nausea (and vomiting), irritability, headache, sweating, shaking, diarrhea, and tingling of the skin, the whole nine yards. So please just be aware if you are ever planning to come off of this medication for any reason, the recovery period will be hell."

• Cym...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I don't usually write a review, but I found something that is working and hope I can help someone who's in my same shoes. I'm highly sensitive to anything and everything. I have generalized anxiety disorder, OCD intrusive thoughts, and some depression. I started this medication a week ago. I had some side effects like dizziness, a little nausea, lightheadedness, hot flashes, and insomnia for a couple of days, then they went away, and I'm doing good. I have been on nine different meds (Zoloft, Luvox, Lexapro, Prozac, Ativan, Gabapentin, Hydroxyzine, Buspirone, and Celexa)-all bad experiences-and made me feel weird, sick, or have bad thoughts, and others, and didn't work. I even tried natural supplements-nothing. I was in a bad place, then my doctor said to try duloxetine 20 mg. I was so scared of starting a new med again, so I waited a couple of days until I started, and even when I started, I was anxious because I was like, this one's not gonna work either, I was very defeated. I'm actually glad I gave it a chance to work, it saved my life."

• Anonymous
• June 9, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "I have had both depression and pain for the past 20 years. After having some rather intensive back surgery 18 months ago, I decided to switch to Cymbalta instead of the Prozac that I'd been taking for many years to see if it would aid in the pain. My initial result was hot sweats, but no other help. I missed a day while I was on 60 mg and had vertigo and an electric twinging in my brain that actually made my vision jerk. It went away about an hour after I took my Cymbalta. This has since recurred every time I try to wean. I cannot get down past 30 mg."

• 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."

• Ken...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 20, 2022

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Guess it worked somewhat. Like all these drugs, difficult to evaluate vs the ridiculous 1-10 pain level thing. Have C2-T2 laminectomy and fusion with typical rods and screws. Obvious chronic pain issues. Would never take this med again due to difficulty stopping. Even weaning off had dizziness and brain zaps for months. Definitely debilitating. Really, this shouldn't be on the market. Easier coming off opioids. NOT WORTH IT was my experience."

• Sug...
• March 9, 2017

Duloxetine for Depression "I took it for 5 days, 30 mg, and have never felt so sick. The first day, I was crippled with diarrhea and a headache, which continued to the following day. I then got a tightness in my throat and couldn't stop yawning. I stopped eating due to the nausea. The headache didn't go away, and by day 3, it was joined by an earache and sweating. Yesterday was the worst. All of a sudden, my vision became blurry, and I couldn't talk properly. It was terrifying. Like my brain stopped working. I couldn't drive and was so dizzy I kept falling over. I stopped immediately and now have to wait 3 days for it to leave my system. I still feel horrendous, and I still can't see properly."

• awp...
• January 1, 2012

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1993 and tried lots of medicines. Lyrica was awesome, but became less effective after about 7 years and still had some level of pain and fatigue. Cymbalta has been fabulous. It took about 3 1/2 weeks for me to get over the side effects (restlessness, nausea, headache, jerkiness-especially at night with the morning dosage), but now-I feel the best I have ever felt. My pain and fatigue are gone, and as an additional bonus, chronic low back and arthritis pain are gone too. I had no idea how much pain I had been in until Cymbalta took it away. Beware of withdrawal though. Head spins, jerkiness, 'brain shock' when you move your eyes quickly, etc., very bad. Don't miss a dose or let the prescription run out by accident! Worth it to be pain-free!"

• Sus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2017

Duloxetine for Anxiety "By the third dose, I had experienced chest tightness, dry mouth, dilated pupils, dizziness, and a loss of emotions. The most interference in my life was the dizziness. I did not want to drive the 25 miles to work and back due to feeling dizzy. The side effect that bothered me the most was the lack of feeling emotions. I felt very detached from any emotion and was unable to cry, laugh, or feel love. I discontinued the drug after the third dose. This was not the way I wanted to feel while dealing with moderate anxiety. I'll look for herbal remedies and remain in therapist-guided talk therapy. I don't want to be a dizzy emotional zombie. I am also scared to death, from what I've read, to discontinue this drug due to horrendous bad side effects."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2011

Duloxetine for Peripheral Neuropathy "My neurologist recommended this for my peripheral neuropathy. I took it (60 mg) only once because it made me nauseated, dizzy, shaky, and sleepy. I could not keep my eyes open. I realize that this might get better if I keep taking it, but I have to work, and there is no way I can do that with these side effects. It did work, however. Just this one dose made the pain much more bearable for two days."

• Mar...
• October 13, 2017

Duloxetine for Depression "Took Cymbalta for depression for about 6 months, first 30 mg, which my doctor increased little by little until it got to 90 mg. She increased it because the medication seemed to work, but after a while, the symptoms were present again. I went on vacation, and when I returned, couldn't get the prescription on time, that was the beginning of the nightmare. Symptoms of withdrawal were going from vomiting, electric zaps, severe nausea, severe dizziness sensation that I am falling down, head pain, and so on for more than two months. I didn't stop taking the medication, it was only a gap in treatment that put me in that situation. Since that day, I asked my doctor to help me discontinue it, even following her directions, it is so bad that I don't recommend it ever."

• 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
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 7, 2018

Duloxetine for Depression "Coming off of Cymbalta was absolutely terrible! My doctor tapered me off the drug, and I followed his instructions. I became very sick the first day I was completely off. I was dizzy, throwing up, etc., etc. I could hardly get out of bed for around 7 days. About a month later, I started getting sick again. After months of wondering what was going on, I found out my gallbladder was only functioning at 9%. I have read several instances where people have had gallbladder issues after they stopped taking Cymbalta. That could just be a coincidence, but you never know. If you are currently battling withdrawal symptoms, hang in there. I am not going to lie, it is not fun at all, but it does get better."

• fri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2022

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Cymbalta was a nightmare. I told my new doctor that I had bad reactions to SSRIs and SNRIs and preferred to avoid them. He agreed and said he wouldn't prescribe any, but instead would prescribe Duloxetine. I previously studied to be a pharmacist, so I immediately knew he was lying. I tried it anyway, thinking I knew what the likely side effects would be and once I was at my follow-up, I could stop them and redirect focus on finding the source of the problem. Mistake. Summary: brain fog, insomnia, brain zaps typical when weaning off these types of meds, restless leg syndrome reactivated which had been dormant for years, dizziness, lethargy, and couldn't get out of bed --- I needed help to get from bed to toilet. No, thank you."

• Tex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2018

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I was prescribed this for depression and chronic pain. The first time I took it was at night as instructed by the physician. I was given 30 mg. I honestly thought I was going to die. I laid down after taking it, and within 30 minutes, I was feeling sick to my stomach. I went to get up to get to the restroom to vomit but felt as if I was going to pass out. I finally made it to the bathroom, thinking, 'What is wrong with me? I've never had any drug do this to me.' I checked my sugar level, it was 59, which is low, and I'm not a diabetic. I only did this for taking care of both parents, which were and knowing their symptoms. I had to drink juice and eat a peanut butter sandwich to bring my sugar level up. I vomited, had a high heart rate, almost passed out, felt so dizzy and weak due to it dropping my sugar count. I figured it had to be that medication, so I threw it away and have not taken it again. I have not felt like that since, so it didn't work for me, sadly."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "It is difficult to wean off this medication. I missed one dose, and the next day was planning on picking up my prescription, and I actually had to leave work early because I became so sick (after only one missed dose). Vertigo, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. I was on 90 mg, then went to 60 mg, then 30, 20, 15, and now 7.5 mg over the course of a month, and I am still sick. Vertigo is the worst. I am nauseous every day."

• sas...
• October 9, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "A miracle for me. Effexor for 6 yrs makes me feel like having heart failure. Always out of breath when walking a short distance. Every time I changed medicines, I'd get really sick. Thought I was doomed to Effexor. New doctor, now Cymbalta. After what I read, since I'm so sensitive to medicines, I totally expected to be sick to my stomach and dizzy. I'm still on 30 mg, 3 more days go to 60 mg. The change is great so far. No side effects, everyone is different. It takes so long to find the medicine that's right for you. I can't work, on disability."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "I was on Cymbalta for 9 months, and from an overall mood perspective, it was incredible. I did suffer 2 noticeable side effects. I had some insomnia, as well as difficulty with an orgasm (I am male). I then went to Wellbutrin, and that did nothing. A year later, I am back on Cymbalta, and the much better mood is worth it. The withdrawals of stopping were absolutely horrible (nausea, dizziness), but only lasted a couple of weeks as I lowered my dosage. I will deal with those when I stop the next time."