Duloxetine and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• cym...
• June 8, 2016

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "So I gave it an OK review score because it did make me feel less depressed. However, as a whole, I think Cymbalta is bad for you and can lead to terrible health consequences. The side effects I experienced while taking the drug (30 mg for 6 months) were horrible, and I gained a ton of weight, which didn't help the initial cause of me wanting to take the drug - depression (when you don't feel confident, you're less happy, what can I say). A few pounds to become a happier person is OK, but it really made me gain weight and also made me tired, nauseous, sweaty, and experience muscle spasms. Along with this, withdrawing was horrible. I wish big pharma would be less money-hungry and focus on creating effective medications with reduced side effects."

• jim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 29, 2018

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Three to four years ago, my terrific wife thought my behavior was changing (mostly impatient) while I was taking Effexor, so my doctor had me try Cymbalta, and my mood improved according to my wife. I also have mild to moderate depression, and this drug also took care of that, as well as my anxiety (occasional panic attacks-really scary). Now none! Now the not-so-good news. I believe the drug is attributable to increased ED, lower libido, tiredness, and occasional brain 'zaps' (1-2 times/month on average, usually at night when I first try to go to sleep, they last a few seconds but are frightening nevertheless). Overall, I recommend it, but realizing some of these situations could occur."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2018

Duloxetine for Back Pain "I took my first pill at 9:30 a.m. It’s 1:48 a.m. now, and I can’t sleep. I am very anxious and fatigued. I’ve noticed that I yawned several times today and felt super uneasy. Never taking the drug again. I’m trying to flush my body with water to get rid of it. Terrible side effects."

• Ogr...
• January 9, 2021

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Horrific, didn’t fix my post-vasectomy pain, and while on it, didn’t care about anything, like making sure the kids were fed or care about stopping for red lights or getting to work on time. But the doctor liked me being on it because I was tired all the time and slept a lot, was more docile, and didn’t complain about the pain. Just try it and watch your life go down the toilet. Would be good if I was in a nursing home at the end of my life, but I still have a life to live (only 50 years old)."

• Pea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2022

Duloxetine for Depression "Started on a low dose and saw some small improvement at first. The results didn’t last, and we upped the dose from 20 mg to 30 mg. Resulted in frequent diarrhea. I tried changing my diet and using probiotics, but after 5 months I couldn’t take it anymore. I messed myself more than once! I even went to the Dr. to make sure I didn’t have a bacteria or anything. I also got really tired and unmotivated. Once I stopped, I saw improvement in the diarrhea and energy in 2 weeks. A little over a month later, my gut is not completely healed but around 90%."

• 67s...
• February 20, 2012

Duloxetine for Depression "I have been taking Cymbalta for depression and have been on it for almost a month. I have noticed a change in my mood. I am starting to feel better about everything. I don't feel like I'm walking around in a fog anymore. I felt really tired for the first couple of days and mostly slept, but now I'm feeling much better. I haven't felt any other side effects. I have taken other medications for depression, Paxil, Celexa, and Effexor. Paxil and Effexor didn't work for me at all, and the Celexa worked for about a year and then didn't work at all. I hope that Cymbalta will keep working for me because I don't want to change medicines again. Cymbalta is working for me already, and I hope things will become even better the longer I'm taking it."

• Anonymous
• February 10, 2011

Duloxetine for Depression "I started taking Cymbalta 6 months ago. I know that they say this medicine can take about 3 weeks to kick in, however, I felt relief within hours of taking it. Maybe it's some medical miracle or my body finally got what it needed. I am a well-educated woman who had a rough childhood. I tried different antidepressants over the years and never felt anything like this. I stopped having suicidal thoughts. The side effects were: loss of appetite and so tired that I had to lay down in the afternoon. The only other medication I take is birth control. I discovered the following: If I take my birth control at night before bed and the 30 mg Cymbalta in the morning, then I'm not tired. The side effects went away by the 12th week, so hang in there!"

• Ksk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2023

For Pain "I have been suffering from neuropathic facial and orofacial pain for about 3 years. I also have anxiety at high levels. I started taking duloxetine 60 mg daily, and after a few weeks, I had improvement in my pain and anxiety. I have experienced side effects of being fatigued and tired all the time, finding it hard to fall asleep, a loss of appetite, and initial loss of weight, bigger pupils, and restlessness, but they have faded away over time. I would definitely recommend it with constant monitoring by your practitioner for severe side effects."

• Nan...
• May 11, 2021

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "I was put on Cymbalta about 2 years ago for severe depression. I also suffer from chronic pain, osteoarthritis, severe hypertension, anxiety, and insomnia. The only thing my 60 mg has done for me is stop me from crying at the drop of a dime. My doctor has now diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), my depression has become debilitating. No energy, no drive, no strength to leave my bedroom. I was on Vyvanse for almost 2 years. I really needed a stimulant to animate me, I had energy and had function. I changed doctors, and she took me off of it, and I've been like this ever since. She put me on 30 more mg in the afternoon and also prescribed Wellbutrin XL 150 mg. Cymbalta has not touched my chronic pain or anxiety. We shall see what happens in a month."

• lik...
• November 11, 2015

Duloxetine for Back Pain "Though I read so many negative opinions about it, I decided to try taking Cymbalta. After two months, I decided to stop taking it. First of all, my relationships got bad, I was careless and numb. I also had a very strange feeling from time to time, like I was dreaming. Sometimes I was anxious and couldn't sleep, and had very vivid and bad dreams and panic attacks. It had an immediate effect on my libido, which got so low it almost disappeared. The main problem with the drug was that I felt good, even-tempered most of the time. This state always took my mind off the very bad side effects of the medicine, and I was so relieved from the pain, I set aside all the negative effects of it. It's day 1 without it, and I feel dizzy and so tired, I...zzz."

• Anonymous
• July 17, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "I took Cymbalta for about 6 months for clinical depression. Although it helped the depression a lot, I couldn't stand the side effects. I lost about 20 lbs (I'm already underweight), I started having almost constant migraines, and all I wanted to do was sleep. It was hard to get through work because I was so tired. Then on my days off, I would only wake up to make dinner for my husband, then I'd be back in bed."

• SIE...
• August 18, 2010

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I have fibromyalgia and started taking Cymbalta about 5 months ago. At first, it was great. All my pain and depression disappeared. However, in about 4 months, I began to have severe wrist, elbow, and shoulder pain. My depression began to return, and I became exhausted. Another side effect that was intolerable was sensitivity to heat. I could not be outside for more than 20 minutes. I became violent. Today, my doctor started me on withdrawal with 30 mg (from 60 mg) for 2 weeks and then 30 mg every other day for 2 weeks. I can't wait to feel normal again."

• Gir...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2022

For Depression "Before giving duloxetine a try, I was taking an SSRI. It seemed to work then for a few months, just stopped working. The doctor suggested I try an SNRI. At first, I felt mixed feelings and wasn’t sure about it. I felt very energized straight away, which increased anxiety for the first week, energized in the morning, fatigue, and yawning a lot at night with mixed emotions. By the second week, it got better, but my mood probably didn’t level out until week 3. By week 4, I noticed my self-talk was a lot more positive, and I was engaging in activities that I usually wouldn’t and feeling excited to pursue without the worry I used to feel. I felt motivated and was taking an interest in the mundane tasks of everyday life. I started to meditate and wanted to look after myself. It has made me a lot more energized and happy in general. Everyone responds differently to this medication, like everything."

• rit...
• April 6, 2010

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "Works wonderfully to control pain at a higher dose, but caused exhaustion during the day (took at night) - tried lowering the dose - after 3 days, could feel pain in shoulders and thighs beginning to creep back, so had to increase the dose again and then had to take an upper dose (prescribed) during the day to keep me going or I couldn't work - I'm a psychotherapist. The worst part is I'm terribly dizzy - legs have given out several times - sometimes limbs are useless - only upon getting up in the morning or after sitting or getting out of the car - never when sitting or once up walking around. So I love Cymbalta for pain - hate it for side effects."

• Mar...
• January 16, 2016

Duloxetine for Depression "After battling dysthymia alternating with moderate anxiety for years and trying all sorts of natural means to treat it, I slipped into major depression. I was prescribed a low dose of Cymbalta-20 mg. After taking just two pills over three days, it has been one awful drug trip. I'm hoping for the heavy, dizzy feeling of pressure on my brain to end. The lethargy, nausea, and chills have also been bad. I have two children, one of whom stayed home sick while I was on this, and I could barely care for her. It killed my appetite, which I didn't think would be a bad thing, but when you only feel like eating a banana and an orange all day, it becomes a problem. I'm looking forward to 'just' feeling depressed again."

• Kei...
• May 27, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "After the first 3 days of taking it, it worked for a week. I went from a very nasty, snappy man to calm and communicative. That lasted for about 2 weeks. Now my partner says I'm back to being nasty and rude. Careless and snappy. I'm tired all the time. It's not helping! I started at 30 mg, they put me up to 60 mg, now I'm back to 30 mg."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2018

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "Cymbalta was prescribed to me for neuropathy pain - it didn't work! Instead, I was cursed with the following side effects: gained 28 pounds in 2 months, lethargy, gynecomastia (breasts for men), sky-high cholesterol, and a severely damaged metabolism, impotence, and near sterility. I can ravage the male body. Avoid this drug at all costs - IT IS NOT A CURE-ALL."

• Ann...
• May 15, 2017

Duloxetine for Major Depressive Disorder "Although OK when I first started to take this 30mg capsule, then increased to 60 mg daily... After some years, I am showing more signs of tiredness, confusion, anxiety, hot flushes, and forgetfulness, and general mental decline, and still get depressed, among symptoms... Am truly concerned about this, as is my husband and children (as I am not yet 65 years old)... And have always been in good health. I do not smoke, do drugs, and very seldom drink alcohol..."

• Rho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2021

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I personally did not hesitate to start mine. I started off on Cymbalta 20 mg in July 2021. I have been on mine for about a month. I cannot believe what it has done for me. It has helped my panic attacks and my anxiety at least 50% so far, it has also helped my neuropathy at least 75%. It also has helped my arthritis pain from RA at least 50% in my hands. I am just amazed. I do take mine in the morning, and I do tend to get tired. It is now August, and my doctor has upped me to 30 mg, I will start tomorrow. I even have more energy and even went on a diet, and I’m very proud of myself. Don’t be scared because if you have any side effects, you can always stop. I am very pleased, and I won’t say that I wasn’t scared. LOL"

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2010

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Did not work for me. Was having some side effects from Zoloft, so I went to my MD to change things around a bit. Zoloft was the only thing I had ever been on, but the tiredness and no libido were getting in the way of my children and marriage. My doctor put me on Cymbalta, and at first, I thought that I was really going to like it. I felt more energetic and definitely more patient with my husband and children. BUT then I started getting anxious off and on, which gradually got worse until I couldn't stand it anymore. Now I'm trying a different SNRI, Pristiq. Time will tell, but Cymbalta was definitely not for me."

• Jlm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2019

For Chronic Pain "I have been on duloxetine for 5 weeks, and I hate it. I have been waking up every day in a puddle of sweat, clenching my jaw when I don’t usually do that, nauseous, upset stomach, headaches, and EXTREMELY tired all day, every day. I have no energy to do anything. If I could give this medicine a 0, I would have."

• Luc...
• October 15, 2015

Duloxetine for Depression "I was on Cymbalta for years but became incredibly exhausted. Doc said the accumulation of using the drug so long can lead to tiredness and also weight gain. Promptly changed drugs to Wellbutrin, Epitec, and Aspen Trazodone. Felt amazing and lost almost 15 kg. Wellbutrin started causing tremors, so now replaced Wellbutrin with Brintellix and gaining weight, sadly, as a great drug."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2021

For Anxiety "After reading negative reviews on this drug and previously trying sertraline (with scary effects), I was terrified to start taking duloxetine. However, I was also terrified by the effect that anxiety had had on my life for the 6 months previous. I can honestly say that this drug saved my life. It had a transformative effect on me, even after the first week of taking it, and things only improved from there. As with all medicines, there are some negatives; I am certainly more tired now that I take duloxetine, but the tiredness is extremely manageable, especially when coupled with light exercise and dietary improvements - both also help anxiety too ;). So I would urge anyone struggling with anxiety who has been recommended/prescribed this drug to please give it a go - it could well transform your life and allow you to live to the full again. Best wishes on your anxiety journey. It will get better."

• Anonymous
• October 31, 2011

Duloxetine for Depression "For anyone taking this or planning on taking this, DO NOT DISCONTINUE WITHOUT WEANING OFF! That said, besides brain zap, yawning, and anorgasmia over the first 3 months of treatment (18 months and counting), Cymbalta has been a great treatment for my anxiety/depression issues. I have only experienced these side effects when changing doses or missing a dose (30 mg a day, last 15 months, 60 mg a day for first 3). At one point, I wanted to come off it. GP guided me through a 12-week taper-off course, but my 2-5 drinks a month were causing the problems I had associated with the medicine. I no longer drink, and it's all so cruisy. I take mine 1-2 hours before 'bedtime.' Works for me because I tend to sleep deeper and wake with lots of energy."

• Pha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2022

For Depression "I've been on them a week. I'm so tired I feel terrible, I can't function even simple tasks. I feel drunk without the pleasant effects. I'm literally staring at the walls all day, sleeping off and on, and my brain doesn't work. I'm literally an emotionless zombie. This is hell on earth, worst drug I've ever taken in my life. Surprising people write positively about this stuff, 'cause for me this feels like a chemical castration of the brain. I'm a 100k a year sales rep, on this drug, I don't think I could scoop ice cream. This is a scary medicine."