Duloxetine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• dan...
• February 18, 2014

For Depression "I started taking Cymbalta and I noticed a difference immediately! I felt more relaxed and happy in general. I take Lamictal for bipolar disorder and after finding that medicine alone not being enough, my doctor prescribed Cymbalta. I've been in a pleasant mood with my family, friends, and at work. Not stressing out about leaving the house or having a busy schedule and getting anxiety about it. It has also helped with my lower back pain I have been dealing with for the last 3 years. It's only been 2 weeks and the only thing I can say is, I seem to yawn a lot and have less of an appetite. If it messes with my sex drive and lowers it... I'm off it."

• Jon...
• May 19, 2020

For Major Depressive Disorder "I suffered from crippling anxiety and depression for 8 years, in and out of hospitals, ECT, nothing seemed to work. I just felt absolutely hopeless. Even the sound of birds hurt my ears. I was so deep in the darkness and tried everything. Every med. You name it. Then Cymbalta came along. It took a long time to kick in. 12 weeks, but when it finally did, it killed the anxiety. It came with crippling fatigue, though, for the first few weeks, but it was amazing to sleep without panic attacks for the first time in years. I just countered it with a ton of coffee. I have been taking it for 9 years now, and it is really messing with my stomach and intestines. It didn't for the first 5-6 years, but now it's bad, so time to get off it. First week weaning, and it's a real tough go, dizzy as heck, brain zaps, really weak and tired, can't focus, grumpy for no reason, but it will pass if I push through. Even with the hard withdrawal, this med gave me another chance at life when I needed it."

• pjs...
• August 6, 2014

For Osteoarthritis "I was prescribed Cymbalta for arthritic pain in my knees. I took 30 mg/day for 3 days and was fatigued to the point of not wanting to do anything but lie down. In addition (to which I found out was a rare side effect) I was yawning all day and evening. After reading about the difficulties that some people had getting off this medicine, I stopped it after the 3 days. Unless I can be somewhat assured that the side effects are temporary, I would rather live with the pain than take this medicine."

• lif...
• November 30, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "I experienced chronic pain for 4 years. I had difficulty sleeping, would go to work, come home, and go to bed. Every time I physically exerted myself-taking a shower, preparing a meal, doing household chores-I would need to go lay down. My family would visit me in my bedroom, it was depressing. Cymbalta has changed my life. I can tolerate the cold, even the grocery store used to bother me. I am much more active and find myself only going to bed when it is time for sleep. I also sleep much better. My family has noticed a huge change in me, as far as being a part of life again. This is not without cost: I have the strangest dreams, +30 lbs, tired, and terribly constipated."

• Mis...
• April 7, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "I started taking Cymbalta 60 mg daily in 2010 after taking natural therapies that just didn’t work. I had severe depression and anxiety. First started on 30 mg the first month, then increased to 60 mg. Side effects were yawning, tight jaw. But I found the Cymbalta had helped me immensely, with my dark thoughts, sadness, and hopelessness had disappeared. I did try going off it a few years ago very gradually, as I thought I was well again, but every day was such an effort, serotonin was so low. Depression returned, and I just thought this is crazy, go back on it. I have so many friends that are so anti-prescribed drugs. So I just don’t enter into discussions as it only upsets me because I need this medication. I find I’m happy, healthy in mind. My libido is quite low, but I’m active in sport and the community, which helps me."

• dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2013

For Chronic Pain "I started taking Cymbalta approximately 4 weeks ago. It's a miracle as far as I'm concerned. I have low back pain, fibromyalgia, and increasing anxiety disorder. Within 4 days, I felt immediate relief from pain all over. I haven't felt this good in years. I am also on Lyrica and am going to see if I can lower my dose or even discontinue it and see if I'm still pain-free. My anxiety is starting to lessen now as well. I don't have many side effects, mostly more tired, so I will take it at night. Definitely try it. It's worth it!"

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have experienced anxiety and mild depression for several years. I finally decided to get help. Cymbalta has really helped. I noticed a change in the first couple of days. My anxiety has all but disappeared. I experienced dry mouth and interrupted sleep the first several days. I have experienced tiredness, but that has lessened over this month, and I hope it will go away altogether."

• Ash...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 4, 2013

For Depression "I suffer from mild depression and back pain associated with scoliosis. I hoped Cymbalta could help. It did not help me. Initially (first few days), it was positive mentally, despite side effects: headache, nausea, then bad anxiety. As I took it more, I just started to feel not like myself, lethargic and weak. I almost felt too calm and didn't care. I can see how this might be helpful to those that are severely depressed. I am not. I'm sharing my experience because if you only suffer from minor blues, I would not recommend a strong antidepressant. I told my doctor it was minor, yet he prescribed me 60 mg immediately. I gave it a month and felt worse each day."

• Cha...
• May 17, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "Had been in a great deal of pain for over 3 years, was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 2 months ago. My doctor put me on Cymbalta 30 mg once a day 2 weeks ago. It took 5 days to kick in. Wow, I am very pleased, I feel 90% pain-free. I feel tired, but I would rather be tired than in pain. It's nice to sleep pain-free."

• Lib...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have panic disorder and agoraphobia, as well as spondylolisthesis. I took Lexapro for about 5 years and thought it was doing a good job...until I built up a tolerance to it and started having withdrawal symptoms halfway through the day every day. My doc switched me to Cymbalta, and it was a real eye-opener. I had no idea how poorly Lexapro was affecting me until Cymbalta changed things for me. I had been sluggish, unmotivated, tired, gained a lot of weight, and was still in pain all through my years with Lexapro, and since I was just so darn happy to not be suffering from random crippling panic attacks constantly, I figured that was 'good enough.' Not true. Now I know better. With Cymbalta, I have far more energy, my mood is boosted, my pain is reduced, I've lost weight, and I'm just generally more 'chipper' as well as being able to focus better at work and not suffering from panic attacks. Total life changer."

• Sou...
• April 1, 2014

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "My Cymbalta experience was brutal. After a few days, I felt weak and tired. So tired that I started missing work. One week in, I started to get these strange brain zaps that made me feel as if I was being electrocuted. Two weeks in, I would start to cry. Just out of the blue, I would cry for no reason. It was the first time I had shed a tear in 10 years, and it was awful. I stopped taking it and am now afraid to take anything for my panic other than Klonopin."

• KDB...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 28, 2012

For Depression "I was in a major depression. I had considerable lethargy, anxiety, weight loss, racing thoughts that I could not seem to turn off, and I felt suicidal. I couldn't make the smallest of decisions. I was terrified to drive, and I've been driving for over 30 years! I also had great difficulty performing even the simplest of tasks - some things I could not do at all! After about a month, I noticed tremendous relief. It was like a huge cloud had been lifted and that I had been pulled out of a 'huge hole'! I definitely feel Cymbalta saved MY life."

• Mik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 4, 2019

For Depression "This drug is poison. It will make you extremely tired, where you don't want to get out of bed. And good luck trying to get off it if you want to stop. There have been tons of lawsuits against the company Lilly about the withdrawal symptoms, how severe they are. There is even a group on Facebook with 20,000 members who talk about how dangerous this drug is. The withdrawals are longer than street drugs, it screws up your brain. You've been warned!"

• Rac...
• March 26, 2017

For Fibromyalgia "I was prescribed Cymbalta when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year. Cymbalta is by far the worst medicine I could ever imagine being on. It did nothing for my fibromyalgia pain. I stayed on it to see if it would work with time, nothing. I told my doctor I felt no better about my fibromyalgia pain and decided to wean off. This is the ugly part. My dose went from 60 mg to 30 mg for the next two weeks, and then I was told to take it every other day for 2 weeks, and so I did. Here I am, 3 days off of it completely, and I feel horrendous. Muscles are stiff, mouth is constantly dry, diarrhea is nonstop, vomiting, constant nausea, headache, body zaps, brain zaps, feeling exhausted but can't sleep. Cymbalta is hell. Please avoid at all costs."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 13, 2013

For Depression "I have suffered from depression most of my life. I am now 50 and was prescribed Cymbalta after experiencing a debilitating bout of severe depression about 15 months ago. I was unable to function. I had been taking it for about two and a half years previously and decided to wean off it, but after 3 months, I fell into the deep hole mentioned above. I take 60 mg at night and sleep well. I have to watch my weight, and I experience constipation. I find it hard to cry (better than the alternative, right?) and also feel somewhat lethargic, but overall it keeps me feeling 'normal.'"

• Lis...
• January 9, 2017

For Anxiety "I'm on Cymbalta 30 mg for my anxiety and depression, and I have been on it for a month. I have no side effects, but nausea and being tired, but that all went away in about 2 weeks. Great meds, works great for me."

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

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."

• Gae...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2015

For Depression "The initial side effects were horrible. I felt exhausted and nauseated all the time. After a month, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my mood. I had energy, I was less depressed and anxious. Prior to starting Cymbalta, I had tried two different antidepressants that did not seem to be effective. The decreased libido with Cymbalta is worth having my life back."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2019

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

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."

• Jre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 31, 2012

For Fibromyalgia "I have been taking Cymbalta for about a year now. At first, it was awful. I was started on 30 mg trial samples for a week and then ramped up to 60 mg a day after that. Getting on Cymbalta is very hard, and it really takes perseverance to get through the initial effects of it. I was previously on narcotic pain relievers and drugs like Lyrica, Neurontin, etc. After being on Cymbalta for a few months, I noticed I didn't really need the narcotic anymore (Oxycontin 10 mg x3 a day) - yes, really! I've found that it does make me sick and tired about 30 minutes after taking it, but it fades about a half hour after that. Taking it with food seems to help with the sick feeling. Take it before bed if you are starting Cymbalta. It does work!"

• Dai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2013

For Depression "I am a 58-year-old active woman with a full-time career. I began to obsess about my father's death. Everything I saw reminded me of him and was painful. I cried over mishaps at home or thinking about a beloved pet that had died. Work was my relief, but as soon as I got home, the sadness started. My MD started me on Lexapro, which wasn't good for me. I suffered through work for a day but was too spacey. My job requires strong concentration skills. Next was Prozac, which made me yawn like a lion. By week 3, I did not feel sad but felt sick and had yawns like a lion. I then started Cymbalta and felt this was the most gentle antidepressant so far, but then my eyes became swollen and dry. I couldn't wear contacts! I gave up on antidepressants and started exercising."

• Mys...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2014

For Back Pain "After having tried a few other combination depression, pain medicines, this one finally seemed to work, and I got far less tired, or other side effects I'd gotten from the others. So far, I feel this is the best one I've tried, it has also helped with my mood."

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

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."

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

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."