Duloxetine and Nausea: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 19, 2017

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I'm pretty sure that I don't suit this medication. The first three weeks were absolute torture with blurred vision, headaches, nausea, and no energy. After that time, the medicine did seem to help my anxiety and depression. However, after three months, the side effects came back worse than the first three weeks. I went to my doctor and asked to switch medications immediately. Coming off of the Cymbalta was the worst experience of my life. At one point, I had uncontrollable shaking and muscle movements. I couldn't even concentrate enough to go to the kitchen and make a sandwich. I know this drug works for many people, but for myself, it was like taking poison."

• ItW...
• October 14, 2016

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have GAD and mild depression. I initially had side effects such as insomnia, no appetite, and nausea, but they went away after a few days. This has helped my anxiety tremendously! It is not without side effects, though. If I forget to take it, I will get nausea, headaches, and dizziness. I did gain weight and some diarrhea, but it has had no bad sexual side effects. I have been taking this for a year now. I am finding that the depression is now increasing, so maybe time for a dosage change. Just keep in mind everyone is different, and sometimes the benefits outweigh the effects."

• big...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 7, 2013

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I started taking depression medicine when I was 11 years old. I am now 24 and I have been on probably 10 different antidepressants over the years. Nothing has had such a positive effect on me as Cymbalta has. I am truly happy for the first time in a long time. I've been taking Cymbalta for about 8 months now, and I feel great. I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is one reason why my doctor thought Cymbalta would be best. Cymbalta has also helped some with my aches and pains. I have very little side effects with this medicine. I get nauseous once in a while and am tired a lot, but it's nothing compared to being without Cymbalta. This is by far the best medicine for depression and fibromyalgia."

• Anonymous
• March 12, 2008

Duloxetine 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."

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

Duloxetine 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."

• ham...
• November 3, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "Been on it for three days. I am starting to feel good again. First day was sick to my stomach and had a very nervous feeling, but the second day was better. It makes you sweat really easy, but worth it. So far, I feel like getting back to my old self, happy again, making small steps, but it really is working with little side effects after two days. Very hopeful!!!"

• Anonymous
• February 1, 2010

Duloxetine for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "I have peripheral neuropathy and very bad pain in my back. Cymbalta made a huge improvement in my pain level. The doctor started me gradually to lessen the nausea. I have worked up to 30 mg twice a day for a total of 60 mg. I have been taking it for 3 months and still find the pain level and my frame of mind much improved. I do have slight nausea occasionally and dry mouth. The excessive sweating has gone away."

• Lyn...
• November 13, 2020

Duloxetine for Back Pain "Doc prescribed Cymbalta for nerve pain resembling shingles. Entire right torso, front and back, feels like I had been dragged on asphalt behind a truck! I also have severe diabetic neuropathy in my feet and hands. 1st day on Cymbalta, I was a little nauseous with a noticeable headache. Had trouble sleeping. I didn't hear the alarm, so I overslept. 2nd day (today), still can't sleep. Even with Ambien. No change in pain levels yet. Going to try taking it before bed tonight. Hoping it will work for me. Would like to get off gabapentin. Taking 2400 mg per day, which can't be good for me! Thanks for listening."

• its...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 1, 2019

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Cymbalta seemed to help at first, until the side effects became unbearable and it stopped working. It made me sleep over 12 hours a day, gain a bunch of weight, and made me have no libido whatsoever. Not to mention, it's extremely hard to come off of. I stopped it last week, and I'm still experiencing withdrawals -- brain zaps, nausea, headache. I would not recommend Cymbalta for fibro. It might help your pain, but it'll make your fatigue worse."

• Nor...
• December 22, 2014

Duloxetine for Depression "I've suffered from anxiety and depression for years... my attitude was bad, my outlook on life was bleak, I stressed about everything, and I worried constantly. I've tried several different meds like Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Citalopram, but those made me feel weird and paranoid, and then my anxiety increased. I almost gave up on trying to cure this mess of depression and anxiety I have, but after I started on Cymbalta 3 days ago, I immediately felt great! I feel so much more alive! The first day I took it, I ran to the toilet and vomited, but right afterward, I started to feel amazing! Now I'm on day 3 and haven't experienced any nausea or vomiting at all. I had sex with my boyfriend yesterday, and I climaxed as usual. Cymbalta is GREAT!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2013

Duloxetine for Depression "I don't feel like this made too much of a difference and was prescribed to replace Zoloft, which I believe was better but made me gain a lot of weight. Getting off of Cymbalta was very hard, although I followed my doctor's instructions and decreased very gradually. By the end, I had to start taking motion sickness pills due to the dizziness and nausea I experienced from the withdrawals. I also experienced headaches and felt like my eyes would cross every time I took a step. Getting onto it was super easy. I went from 60 mg to 120 mg pretty quickly, and I lowered it from 120 to 90 to 60 to 30 over the course of about 2 months and still dealt with these withdrawal effects."

• CGW...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2016

Duloxetine for Depression "So far, so good. I haven't been on it very long, but I definitely feel like my overall quality of life has improved. Mild headache and nausea the first week or two, which went away. I still get sad when sad things happen, but it no longer feels overwhelming. The 'doom and gloom' is definitely gone. I take 2 a day in the morning."

• MtR...
• July 16, 2015

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "First placed on medication for severe arthritis of one hip. Helped with pain at the lower dose, however, eventually, I needed an increased dose. The increased dose increased my nausea, weird dreams, itchy skin, and twitching. My blood pressure also increased. I began to stumble and fall while walking slowly. My nerves seemed to cause me to tremble internally. Currently, I am tired all the time, however, I cannot stay asleep at night. Last year, I tried to get off the medication, however, I had severe withdrawal. I had trouble standing up, I was so dizzy, and my stomach was upset. I will soon be getting a hip replacement since the side effects decrease your quality of life. I am withdrawing from this medication prior to surgery."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2020

Duloxetine for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Horrible. Made my stomach upset, groggy, nausea, anxiety worse. After one day!!! I can't handle it. I can't believe how hard it is to find decent pain relief. Inhumane to keep someone alive with nerve pain."

• abn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2015

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Was given 30 mg Cymbalta for pain in hip as well as depression due to chronic pain. It's been 2 months, after about 3 weeks of many side effects: diarrhea, nausea, headache. The pharmacy told me to stick with it, they will pass. They have, except I've gained about 5 lbs. The depression is better, the pain isn't any better, in fact, it seems to be getting worse. I don't think the Cymbalta is making the pain worse, I think my hip is just getting worse. But not happy about the weight gain since I was fighting my weight before I took it. And being heavier can't be good for a bad hip."

• Cia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2021

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I've been taking this for two weeks now, and I must admit that I wanted to stop after 2 or 3 days because of nausea, brain fog, and headaches, but I pushed through, and I'm so glad that I did. For the first time in such a long time, I can feel life returning to normal now. I can get out of bed in the mornings now and actually look forward to going to work. I'm two weeks in now and on a 30 mg dose, and I am so glad that I took this leap of faith. I understand that this won't work for everyone, but you must push past the initial 4 or 5 days to be able to make a solid decision. Life is good now."

• hel...
• August 16, 2011

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I have been on Cymbalta for 6 years. It was a lifesaver for me as I was unable to take the SSRIs due to retinal detachment, and the older type of medicines did little for me. During the first 2 weeks of Cymbalta, nausea was the most common side effect, but that only lasted for approx 3-4 weeks. This medicine gave me my life back after suffering for years from fear and anxiety. Thanks, Eli Lilly."

• Car...
• February 4, 2021

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I took Cymbalta for only 4 days and had to get off of it. Even with taking 1.5 mg of Xanax a day, I could not get over my extreme anxiety and jitteriness. I was constantly in my head and experiencing horrible physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, hot flashes, and nausea, and having to go to the bathroom frequently. Panic symptoms would crop up like every 2 hours, and I felt like the Xanax was barely doing anything for me to stop the anxiety. This was the worst medication I have been on by far!"

• hig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2023

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have dealt with generalized anxiety disorder since my early 20s and have tried many SSRIs. The results were typically lukewarm or ended with increased migraines. In the early 2000s, I was put on Effexor (SSNI), and it worked. This was pre-time release formula. Although I titrated off, as directed, I still suffered significant withdrawal. Fast forward to 2013, and my doctor suggests I try it again. This time it's the extended-release. It was 3 days of hell. Nauseous, confused, and couldn't eat or sleep. Ended up in urgent care with instructions to stop immediately. The current psychiatrist decided to push Cymbalta (duloxetine) for a few months. I argued because I had such a hard time with Effexor. But after a few months of arguing, I agreed to start at a low 20 mg dose. He wanted me to double the dosage every week for 3 weeks. Side effects were worse than Effexor. Visual disturbances, could not eat or sleep, my heart rate slowed to 40 bpm, and I couldn't regulate my temp. Immediately stopped taking it."

• Ash...
• January 26, 2018

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Started this medicine on 1/17/2018. It has worked wonders for me. I haven't known what pain-free was for 10+ years. The first day or two, I was a bit nauseous and had on-and-off headaches, but felt a decrease in pain immediately. After the 2nd day, nausea passed, and I've felt great, other than being tired all the time, but I'm used to that. I hope everyone else can feel relief with this medicine like I have."

• Dan...
• July 23, 2015

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I have fibromyalgia as well, and I stopped taking Cymbalta because my pains improved a great deal, but I had extreme nausea and exhaustion (especially in the AM). Now my pains have come back to kick my behind. Day 2 of Cymbalta. Seems as if it makes me light sensitive, which gives me a headache and dizziness. Like my eyes are heavy and my skin was clammy. I will continue. I'll get back to you in a few weeks."

• cou...
• July 1, 2013

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "This medicine delivers as promised as far as pain relief. I noticed a reduction in pain 3 days into taking it. The only pain it doesn't eliminate is my lower back pain. It even helps with my migraines! Negatives are the side effects when getting used to the med (nausea, fatigue) and the fact that your body gets used to it, so you have to keep upping the dosage. Recommend starting out on the lowest dosage possible."

• Anonymous
• August 29, 2011

Duloxetine for Anxiety "This medication did amazing things for me after being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I suffered panic attacks, inability to control my emotions, crying to bouts of anger, along with other symptoms. Within 2 weeks, there was a huge change. I am now laughing and joking again, I have no mood swings, no more crying, I have no anger issues now, just incredible. I did suffer side effects for the first 17 days and was very nauseous. The first few days are the worst, and then it eases off, some minor headaches, a small amount of fever, a little more sweating, some dizziness, but overall, it was worth it. Back to a happy-go-lucky girl."

• Dah...
• June 3, 2013

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Cymbalta for 3 days. I have had nausea and a drop in appetite. I experienced sleeplessness on my 3rd night and hot flashes. I have found that taking it in the morning is better for me. This is my second round of taking Cymbalta."

• Chr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For Anxiety "This stuff is a lifesaver! The first four days I was a bit nauseous, but it cleared up, and I've had no other side effects. My neuro prescribed this initially for some tingling and nerve sensitivity issues, but it has been doing wonders for my anxiety! I was having daily panic attacks and feelings of constant doom. Three weeks into a 20 mg dose, twice a day, I was no longer anxious, I kid you not! My tingling has diminished by a lot as well. I’m a firm believer in this medication and plan to stay on it. Definitely stay on it through the side effects, it should clear up as your body gets used to it!"