Duloxetine and Sweating: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Pet...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 8, 2019

Duloxetine for Depression "I took Cymbalta for 7 years, maximum dosage. At the beginning, it makes you 'move', motivation to do something, but as time goes on, the side effects drove me to a physical and psychological collapse. Excessive sweating, insomnia, and fatigue were the main side effects that gradually disintegrated my health globally."

• aus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2017

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I have had three back surgeries, the latest was back fusion. I now suffer from nerve pain, especially in my right thigh and knee. At times, I can hardly walk due to the pain and weakness in my leg. X-rays and MRI show the fusion is in the correct position, but the specialists have said I may always have this nerve pain. They prescribed Cymbalta, and oh, what a calamity! I only took this medication for three days, and that was three too many. I was not warned about possible side effects, these are numerous: massive increase in pain, massive increase in weakness in the leg (had to use a walker), chest pain, headaches, nausea, stomach pain, mood swings like anger, suicidal thoughts, nightmares, hot and cold flushes, sweating for no reason. The list goes on."

• Doe...
• September 1, 2019

Duloxetine for Anxiety "A heart specialist changed me from Effexor to Cymbalta. I stayed on a 37.5 mg dose of Effexor and started 60 mg Cymbalta. This med is not for me. After 3 weeks, I felt like I was falling apart. Severe anxiety like never before. I thought I was having a heart attack! So much tightness and pain. Called 911. Lots of tests later, it wasn't a heart attack at all. That was after 2 weeks on it. I was so deeply sad, severe nausea and vomiting, nightmares, sweats, biting down on my dentures constantly, itching all over. Dizziness, bad vision. My muscles ached. I've had serotonin syndrome before, and this terrified me. I could not eat. I'm diabetic, so I have to eat, but food made me sick. Headaches, dark thoughts. Could not take it anymore and switched back to Effexor 4 days ago, off the Cymbalta. Today I feel great! I had a spell of nausea and an overall feeling of so awful, lasted 20 minutes or so. I also had pain in my right side and abdomen, which is still tender but better. So glad to be feeling better."

• may...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 18, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "I was given Cymbalta to help with my pain and depression, it helped both, and I felt like a new person until I developed terrible sweats, so bad they consumed my living a normal life. I was referred to an endocrinologist to determine what was causing the sweats. I was tested for everything imaginable, with no clue as to what was causing my problem. This went on for about a year. I was at my wit's end. I was on the internet looking at my medications and saw that Cymbalta could cause sweats. Right then, I decided to stop taking Cymbalta on my own, not consulting my doctor. To my amazement, within two weeks or less, my sweats stopped. I am writing this because I am hoping I can help someone else who has these terrible side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 7, 2017

For Hot Flashes "I feel so hot with the Cymbalta. Different than hot flashes, where I would feel flush and sweat. This makes me feel as if the room temperature is 150 degrees, no sweating. And I feel hot to the touch. I've been using ice packs to help alleviate, but that's not always practical."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2008

Duloxetine for Depression "I have been on antidepressants for 6 years now after a car accident. This is the third time my medication has been changed because they stopped working. I take Wellbutrin in the morning and Cymbalta at night. The only side effect I have had is increased sweating. I sleep much better at night, used to just about fall asleep on my way to work - now I am much more awake, much calmer, and loving it. Hopefully this will keep working because I get to the point where I can't stand myself."

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2008

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I've been taking Cymbalta for anxiety and dysthymia for 3 months. It is the best medication I have tried in 10 years of treatment. No weight gain, not as lethargic, and my attitude has been much better towards life in general. Right now I am on 60mg a day. I'm not sure if I can go up from here but even if I don't, the way I feel now is better than anything else I have tried including Prozac, Lexapro, Wellbutrin, and several others. I do have some dry mouth and sweating but it is tolerable."

• Kri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 22, 2015

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I have been on Cymbalta for my fibromyalgia since Nov. 2014. I had loved this med, helped somewhat with my pain and also helped my moods. (I called it my happy pill... lol) I have been experiencing many months of restless sleep and extreme sweating! I never considered it was my wonder drug. But it is, it has to be... Cymbalta is the only drug I take and the only change for me in a year. Also, I have gained an excessive amount of weight! I cannot handle this extreme sweating, also very fatigued. I am starting today to wean off of it... my doc started me on Lyrica. I sure hope this helps! So tired of being tired and in pain..."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 6, 2023

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "The drug was difficult to start, side effects were awful, such as visual hallucinations (especially in dark environments), agitation, and involuntary spasms. Cymbalta 30 mg worked okay for generalized anxiety disorder and fibromyalgia, not a miracle worker. It suddenly stopped working around the third-year mark, and my side effects worsened too (constipation as 1-2 bowel movements per week, sexual dysfunction, excessive sweating, lethargy, etc.). The worst part is the discontinuation syndrome, it literally feels like dying. I was told by medical professionals that at a low dose (30 mg) it's safe to quit cold turkey, but apparently, there are patients like me who can't tolerate such a fast taper. People on the Internet with zero knowledge of medicine or pharmacology state that the only safe tapering method is by opening capsules and counting microbeads, lowering the dose by 5-10% every 2-3 weeks. In other words, it would take at least a year to safely taper 30 mg. Avoid this mess by never starting it."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2019

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I started Cymbalta to help with pain. I had horrible side effects. I was extremely nauseous, tired, sweaty, and more. I took this medicine for about a month, and the side effects never seemed to go away. So I stopped taking it, even though I know you’re supposed to slowly do so. I just felt sick taking it, and I still feel sick after stopping. I can’t stop throwing up. I honestly don’t even think it’s worth trying this medicine. I would stay away at all costs."

• tes...
• April 22, 2012

Duloxetine for Back Pain "I started taking Cymbalta as a last resort for radicular sciatica pain. I had surgery and tried many medicines. I've been on Cymbalta for 1.5 months (5 days - 20 mg, 5 days - 40 mg, 1.5 weeks - 60 mg, 2 days - 40 mg, 2 days - 30 mg). I experienced most of the side effects (nausea, lethargy, somnolence (sleeping 18-20 hours a day for 3 weeks), from that to insomnia to today's date, flatulence, constipation, tingling all over, throat pain, blurry vision, nightmares, night terrors waking in drenching sweats, profuse sweating, hair loss). This is the weirdest medicine I've taken. I took Fluoxetine for years with no unusual side effects or withdrawals. I am reducing because of the side effects of night terrors, sweats, etc. It does work for pain, but the cost is high."

• 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."

• 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."

• Sis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 18, 2017

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Several days after starting Cymbalta, I started having energy and no pain. I was so elated. Who cares if you sweat a river? Who cares if you can't go outside from May through September? After taking it for several years, I began to slowly turn from my dream to a nightmare. I sweated all year and was hot in the winter as well. Everyone was freezing, and I was hot and didn't want the heat running. I gained 40 pounds, but all the symptoms returned. I finally weaned down to 30 mg, then cold turkey. I have now been totally off Cymbalta for 25 days and have gained 10 more lbs. I can't even buy clothes big enough because my stomach looks 9 months pregnant. My thighs are as big as a professional football player."

• Hey...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2020

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Took my first Cymbalta yesterday. About 2 hours after taking it, I felt like I had no energy. About 2 hours after that, I was running to the bathroom. That night, I went to sleep fine, but woke up at 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I got out of bed at 5:30 am, grabbed a cup of coffee, and within 3 minutes, I was having heat flashes followed by freezing flashes, felt like I was going to get sick, and had zero energy. Went to the doctor at 8:45 am and was having a reaction to the drug and broke out in a cold sweat in the office. It is now 5 pm, and I still feel like I was run over by a train, no energy, stomach is still iffy, and my head has pins and needles."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2015

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I took this for both anxiety and pain. It did not work as well as Effexor for anxiety, but it helped keep away the bad anxiety attacks. I had to take Ativan several times a week, whereas on the Effexor, I took it once or twice a week. I changed to the Cymbalta hoping it would help with my chronic pain, and it did significantly. The only bad side effect I have had is higher body temperature and sweating. I am currently researching other medications just because of this side effect. If your anxiety is mild to moderate and you have chronic pain, I think this is a good option if you don't experience the sweating. My anxiety was a little too much for this drug to handle alone, and I can't handle the sweating and hot flashes."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2015

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I have been on Cymbalta for the last 2 weeks. The side effects have been difficult: stomach pain, the first few nights I couldn't sleep and thoughts raced through my mind. I was also having severe suicidal thoughts, and I was still waking up from the pain and tingling sensation in my arms and shoulders. This is week three, and I find that my mood has improved, but I'm sweating a lot. The fibro pain is present, and I'm tired a lot. I tried taking it at night but find my chest hurting the next day, so I switched to mornings on a full stomach, and that's improved the stomach pain. I have restless leg, and if I'm late on taking my next dose, I'm jittery. I don't really know if it's working for my pain, but my mood is much better, I'm not suicidal."

• nyh...
• August 1, 2012

Duloxetine for Hot Flashes "I started Cymbalta about 3 months ago for depression. At 30 mg, I was fine. We increased. They are worse than when I was going through menopause. My body is hot all the time. My feet are always hot and sweat. I don't want to stop the Cymbalta because it has had such a dramatic effect with the depression. I feel like me again mentally. I don't think these are listed as side effects."

• Anonymous
• October 2, 2019

For Anxiety "duloxetine (generic Cymbalta) for a year now. Don't let the negative comments influence you, because everybody is different. PLEASE REMEMBER no medication in this world can stop having bad days! It is just human nature, and it is hard to have good days with the stress in this world. Duloxetine has helped my anxiety/excessive panic attacks. I started with 30 mg and had side effects in the beginning: weight loss (was horrible because I was already suffering from anorexia), sweating, lower abdominal pain, etc. Powering through and working with a team of doctors, I went from 2 hours of sleep a night to a decent amount of sleep at night. My panic attacks decreased (which was great because I did not feel like people were going to kill me anymore). It helped control my depression, mood swings, and I have beaten anorexia, going from 138 lbs to 198 lbs. I increased from 30 mg to 60 mg with no side effects, and switched to 120 mg per day, and I have been feeling good."

• 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!"

• EXW...
• October 28, 2016

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I'm a 74-year-old woman who has had peripheral neuropathy for about 7 years. None of the meds prescribed gave me any relief until I was started on Cymbalta. It seemed miraculous, as within a week or so, I had almost no pain or burning in my legs and feet. I'm on 60 mg daily, along with oxycodone (7.5 mg twice daily). In the last couple of years, the Cymbalta is far less effective than it was initially, and I would have even more pain if it weren't for the oxycodone. I asked my doctor about increasing the Cymbalta to 90 mg, but he says you don't get much more relief beyond the 60 mg dose. It's very disappointing to have the effectiveness decrease. Side effects are weight gain and sensitivity to heat and sweating."

• 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."

• Gym...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 17, 2020

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I started this medication, Cymbalta, about 5 weeks ago after a suicide attempt. Seems to be working great thus far. Uplift in mood and slight 'zippy' feeling, almost like a very light dose of Adderall, which I used to be prescribed. Only 2 major side effects: trouble initiating sleep (but once I do get to sleep, I do so with less frequent interruptions than before, and it's easier to fall back asleep after a bathroom trip) and increased sweating (but I actually like leaving puddles at the gym, so this is a bonus for me). 8/10. Any higher of a rating and I would be tempted to abuse this drug."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 5, 2016

Duloxetine for Back Pain "After reading all the reviews and trying just about everything under the sun, I have found something that works for my lower back pain. I was in a car accident when I was 14 and broke my L4 and L5; since then, I have been dealing with back pain (I am now 40). Last year, my doctor discussed Cymbalta with me. After doing some research, I decided to give it a whirl. I was almost turned off the idea due to some of the negative experiences...glad I tried it. I am currently pain-free. I did experience some side effects, all of which disappeared before five months: excessive yawning, not being able to ejaculate during sex, feeling of tiredness, some anxiety, sweats, weight gain, vivid dreams, kept peeing a little after I thought I was done. Give it time if you try!"

• Sus...
• February 1, 2017

For Peripheral Neuropathy "I took duloxetine for 90 days. It helped reduce my pain enough that I could stop most opioids, but drug side effects were worse than the pain. I had dry mouth, then nausea, which went on every day until about a month after I stopped it. I woke up in a panic sometimes after horrible nightmares, which I hadn't had before. I began teeth grinding, chipped many teeth, and was advised to have a mouth guard made. My headaches worsened markedly. My blood pressure rose substantially. I itched, sweated, and passed gas horribly. I had difficulty passing urine. My doctor had no idea how to help me; all I would be told was to 'drink ginger tea.' Stopping it was hellish, with shaking, wide blood pressure swings, and painful brain zaps."