Cymbalta and Weight Gain?

Ive been on cymbalta 30mg for 6 months. It's been a lifesaver for me, in regards to just being a better person to myself, my children, husband, work, etc. Ive been using it for pain management. I tried getting off of it a few months ago and couldnt do it. Brain zaps, nausea, insomnia, the works! After the 6th day i had to go back on it. This is with just 30mg. Pain Management Dr didnt even know these side effects existed, until he googled them! I just wanted to know how long it lasted. Anyone thinking about taking this..beware of the side effects. With that said, actually being on Cymbalta, Ive never been better. I think so clearly now. I so dread the day I decide to officially be off of it.

I have been on Cymbalta for a few months and have gained 10-15 pounds. I have not changed my eating habits. So, I am going to stop taking the Cymbalta and see if my weight goes down to normal. So frustrating, I have been doing well on the medication.

I know this answer is too late to help the person who asked the original question but I took a Celexa and gained 30 pounds.

I also tested positive for MTHFR gene, and had a bad reaction to Wellbutrin. Not sure if Deplin does enough for me to be able to get off antidepressants though. I'm also curious about other antidepressant options since the Cymbalta makes me so exhausted, but I'm scared to switch since it's the only one I've taken so far that hasn't made the depression worse.

I know this is a very old post, however if anyone is starting out looking for information on Cymbalta, please read on! I have been trying unsuccessfully for twelve months to reduce my Cymbalta dose. I have just gone back up to 120mg having gotten down to 90mg for three months, the withdrawal was getting worse instead of better. Please do your research before starting this drug, had I done my homework I would not be in this position now :(

I have no problem fluctuating from 90mg, to 60mg, to 30mg. I slowly tapered off the Cymbalta over one week once to stop taking it, and only had withdrawal symptoms for one week. My depression came back though, so I had to get back on the Cymbalta.

Hiya, im well aware this is a thread about cymbalta weight gain... my point was if you do keep upping the dosage it is extremely difficult to taper off of it, i know because i too have put on weight but cannot get off of this drug :( but hey thank you for being so welcoming??? To someone who had finally plucked up enough courage to make a comment :(

I'm sorry if I came across cold. I struggle socially and it's hard to show emotion through text. I just wanted to add my experience with Cymbalta so far. I see so many scary posts about withdrawal from this medication, and believe me I don't doubt it's true, but I want people to know that it's also possible for someone to have an easy withdrawal. You just never know how these medications are going to affect you. I'm sorry you're struggling right now :(

When you try lowering the Cymbalta, are you also being prescribed another antidepressant to take as well? I've heard taking an SSRI or Xanax during Cymbalta withdrawals can make it more bearable.

Yuck! I'm sorry, Dorothy! I don't know what happened there, but entire sentences disappeared, and autocorrect likely butchered other parts.

What I was saying about SNRI's is that Cymbalta is in that class. Wellbutrin, on the other hand, works on dopamine and norepinephrine. I don't even know what that would be called. Selective norepinephrine dopaminergic reuptake inhibitor: SNDRI? Ha! I have NO idea.

And I said take it in AM and then take before bed. Noooo! DON'T take it before bed unless your doctor wants you to, because of its stimulant properties.

Durrrr. :-p

Hi Meggiegirl- my question is does wellbutrin help pain also?? The Cymbalta is helping my pain, depression & anxiety. Put on 25 lbs immediately when I started a yr ago but have managed to keep it there despite the terrible sweet cravings!!! Ty for the SSNI explanation. ..it was driving me cracra*

Thank you for your great information MeggieGirl
All the best with you as well

What were you being treated for? I have recently been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia & Cymbalta is what my doctor prescribed for me.

Hi there! The Cymbalta unfortunately didn't do it for me. Wellbutrin was a godsend, and they added Savella for pain, which was like a complete M I R A C L E drug; and ironically for you, it's actually MADE to treat fibromyalgia!

Bvittore, did you ever give Savella a try? I guess I started taking it for granted, and my doctor and I decided to wean off of it. I got to where I was at about half the dose, and my body pain came RAGING back. We immediately pushed me back up, and I'm never taking that sucker for granted again!

Should you take cymbalta in the am or pm?

I gained weight on Welburtin I am getting ready to start cymbalta for depression and anxiety and panic attacks I had takin it about two months ago and I had no appetite and lost like 4 pounds over night.. mine is delayed release I took it at 8pm and I woke up at 4am with nausea and sweating I started to think something was wrong so my heart started to pound I had a panic attack but I went to the hospital and turns out only a panic attack by the time I left the hospital I was super calm I felt better the meds worked but I was scared to take a second dose bc of what happened with the first. But I am trying to talk myself into taking it again but I don't want to start gaining weight

Hi kjm,

So sorry that you went through that experience with the panic attack. We never know when those suckers will strike, but when they do, they sure do inflict a lot of damage. I know it's discouraging that you would have panic attacks from taking a medication meant to treat panic attacks among two other symptoms. If you have taken it before and had a good experience with no weight gain, chances are, you will have a similar experience again. All you can do is try. And, like I (think I?) mentioned earlier, the weight I did gain fell off as soon as I stopped taking it, so it's possible you may have a similar experience should you experience weight gain. If push comes to shove, talk with your Doctor about your anxieties about taking the medication. You don't have to take something you don't want to take, and there are always alternatives that your Doctor can discuss with you. I wish you the best of luck, and bubble-bath relaxation. :) Meg

I gained 20 pounds in six weeks when I started taking Cymbalta I too have been trying to wean myself off of the medication because I don't like it and it is extremely difficult I've been on Zoloft before I actually took it for 10 years and it was not near as hard to win off as Cymbalta has been I've only been on Cymbalta for eight months I've been trying for two months to wean myself off of it and I'm still feeling sick and dizzy and having the brains zaps. It's terrible. I'm extremely irritable and tired I would never recommend anyone to take this drug

I too have been taking 120mg and have gained weight, tried real hard to lose some. I did at one point, but I was sick so does that count. It's a very difficult drug to live with. I'm afraid to ask for a different drug because of the side effects to ween off of cymbalta.

That is wonderful, my doctor put me on these as they help weight loss
Please keep us updated
Thank you so much
Dorothy

Hi! I've been on Cymbalta almost 1 yr & I immediately gained 25 lbs @ the very beginning... appetite is gone except for craving sweets @ night! Discussed w my Dr & he says exercise is the only way to lose it. I have FM, Osteoarthritis, hypertension, depression, anxiety & hyperlipidemia... it has helped my fm pain & the depression. ..now I'm trying to balance the benefits vs side effects! !

i am on 60mg now i have gained alot of weight i went from 200 to 275 and yes after 6pm i want the sweets i really have to watch what i eat but you can do it i am very active cleaning doing whatever my body will allow me .I do not take it for antidepresent but for cronic pain ,I want to get off it just afraid of side effects i have been out it for over a year ?

Hi there. Thanks for comment. I gain weight eating late at nite, partially due to working late. Vegs and some fruits only as I recently had a gastro bleeding ulcer, digestive issue. Unexpected. Which totally changes things.for me anyway. Mostly no fruit allowed, little meals and not after six. Before this I binged on chocolate big time. I created my own weight mess. Can't have chocolate either. But loved to eat late pm. No more.i sleep better on empty stomach. Plus I'm not plump like I was in the beginning years ago. I learned hard way. Do not want to get fat. Meds make u crave sweets and food. Everyone is different how meds effect body. Thank god chocolate gives me heartburn now.not worth it.

Hi tiff.
I'm sorry for your bad health(and for not being able to eat chocolate.) It sounds like you have a good plan. Congratulations!
Anna

Pickles, so cute. Don't be sorry. I'm better and I watch what I eat. Don't stay home, work, see friends and family. Have pets. No panic attacks for 15 years.i. Really feel for everyone struggling with either tapering off or starting a new one.it isn't easy.not to mention weight issues. Which upsets people even more. Weight watchers is the best out there.in the beginning years back not knowing what I know now,I gave in to the hunger meds gave me. Food or choc. Never again.i hope you are doing well also, alli/orlistat works well. I've tried it. Anyway good luck.

I have been taking 120 gr of cymbalta for about 4 years, it does not cause weight gain with me but after 6.00 pm I also crave something sweet !!

Hello. See your right it did nott with me either. Gave me my life back, very sorry I listened to new Dr suggesting cymbalta. I was symptom free. But too many side effects. Back on effexorxr now. The switch isn't easy due to cymbalta withdrawal. Wow. I stopped my chocolate and eating late. Boy you really can crave candy bars.but on effexor I went back to school, worked and went out etc. Felt normal.and happy.no symptoms. Not changing or trying anything new out there. Not studied long term enough. Good luck to you.

I only wish there weren't such a stigma with mental health. Very difficult to keep to yourself, not like you can openly discuss it and not be afraid how people will react. Even though we are smart, educated,hold good jobs,have talents and alot to offer. Unless you personally experience these issues yourself, most people don't understand, what its like or how you feel. So when I make a change, or go through bumpy time, I avoid people if I can, while getting through it. As to not get upset around anyone,when I'm sensitive at this time.

Thank you for all your wonderful feedback
So true unless people have gone through what you are feeling it's very hard for them to understand what Anxiety is like
Thanks Dorothy

I have been on cymbalta for about 6 months and I recently noticed all the weight gain. I noticed that I started craving a lot of sweets and I would eat them late at night and in the middle of the morning. I went from wearing a size 5 to a 9. I work out at least three days a week and I walk all day on my job. I have changed my eating habbits up and I see a slight difference in my weight. Instead of all the fruit I do eat fruit and veggies and drink plenty of water with lemon. I'll update my weight lost in a week since I have increased my workout time. I hope this help you.

I meant instead of eating all the candy I replaced it with fruits and veggies

I have been taking Cymbalta for almost a year for chronic pain. While it has relieved my neck pain, it has not done anything for my lower back. As for weight gain, yes, yes, yes, it has caused me to gain 20 pounds in the last 6 months! Despite the fact that I am active, eat low fat salads twice a day, and exercise! After having my doctor check my thyroid, he found nothing wrong, I have decided to ween myself off of the Cymbalta. I would rather take a pain med than have all this extra weight that makes me miserable and makes my lower back hurt worse!

I'm so glad I found this post! I thought I was crazy the way I was craving sweets and anything with sugar while I was on cymbalta. I gained over 20 pounds! I went off it last year and lost the all the weight but it was hard to stay 'stable' I would have huge mood swings from feeling super happy to crying at anything and my back and leg started hurting more. I was on 60mg for severe back pain (nerve pain) and it helped but I found it also controlled my moods. Now I've gained the weight I lost back so I stopped taking it again and within a week I stopped craving all sugar and candy and started loosing weight again. I am glad to hear that other people have experienced the same sweets cravings!! Especially when the makers of it say that it doesn't cause weight gain. Has anyone else taken antidepressants for nerve pain? And are their others without this major side effect? I don't want to go back to eating candy/sugar all day again.

I am 68 years old, have been on Duloxetine for bladder Incontinence for 7 months. 80mg to start, dropped down to 40mg, the past month 20 mg. sugar cravings after 6 o'clock pm, but never have these cravings the rest of the time. Gaining weight! do not eat much in the daytime and even my evening meal is just a moderate size, eat lots of meat and vegetables, plus only one slice of bread a day. Cannot lose this weight however much I try. Am now weaning myself off them, my doctor has agreed for me to do it gradually.

I just noticed this thread within the main post. I was also told the drug was weight-neutral, but I was binging on sweets like at 10 o'clock at night and there was no explanation why I was so ravenous. I didn't realize it was the med, I just thought it was me and my stupid overeating eating disorder! I would definitely change things up if I were still on it - I would have like strawberries & whipped cream avail instead of chocolate bars. I'm on a different med now, and the weight fell off. The late night eating still continued, but that's because of lifestyle issues (school after work, etc.), but the sweets part is no longer there. I just think understanding what was happening, and also being prepared might have been the key.

I hv just been on Cymbalta for about 4 months now and I hv noticed that I crave food at night more. Especially sweets. But it has always been hard for me to go to sleep with my stomach growling. I suffer with anxiety and I hvnt really been feeling any better. So I really don't knw if staying hungry is even worth it for me.

I am so thankful to come across this thread!!!
Gained 20 lbs in just a couple months. Many months later nothing can get it off. I also suffer the late night cravings.
My dreams are outrageous!
Going to try to start to cut in half.
I hope this works!! I've already suffered the effects of not having taken for a week while out and this isn't going to be easy.

I was just prescribed 20mg and am terrified to gain weight. I like the idea it can give you energy if that's true.

I bagan taking cymbalta 8 months ago. I used to be a very obese woman and got the weight off 10 years ago and kept it off. 6 months ago i bumped from 30 mgs. to 60 mgs. Today I want this drug gone! it is great for my peripheral neuropathy but has put 31 pounds on me. The only thing that appeals to me is whole grain bread with blackberry jam. I have a serious sweet tooth. I never go over 1000 calories in a day and most days I dont even eat that. The only thing I can think to do is stop taking the cymbalta. My mom had to stop taking it because of the same reasons. So now I not only suffer from chronic pain but depression from this undeserved weight gain !! I have been trying to avoid taking narcotics for the pain , but i dont know whats worse. being miserably overweight or in pain. I have went from a size 7 back up to a 12! If any one has any advice I sure would appreciate it.

Which drug did u find better the duloxetine or the lamotrigine ?? Which caused most weight gain and did u hav an issues with the contraception pill and lamotrigine, as ive heard bad things ? I suffer from servere long term major depression and anxiety. I would really appreciate ur experience on these. Also if u can tell the dose ur had. Thanks

So strange to know. I started n put on 10 lbs in 5 weeks. N same thing... I cannot stop craving sweets, I'm up all day n mania constantly so all night I'm laying in my living room UP, eating anything that's around. I'm gonna talk to my dr. TY for the advice

Hi, I have been taking sumbalta for 10 years and am trying to get off it. The side effects aren't as bad as some people. I am taking Wellbutrin and I am wondering if that helping me. I want off because it has made me gain a lot of weight. All the drs. I go to have told me eat healthy and exercise. I feel they have been lying to me for years as I have read so many stories to the contrary and gained about 70 pounds.
Good luck to all

and exersize

I take Cipralex and have never gained any weight. My friend takes Cymalta and is feeling a lot more relaxed. ,and happier.

been on it close t 2 weeks now and have lost 4 pounds, not that I needed to, but glad I am not gaining

Thank you so much for your comments very much appreciated

I started taking Cymbalta 3 weeks ago. I was 152 pounds then... Now I am up to 164 pounds. It DOES cause weight gain. I am calling my doctor tomorrow and going back on Prozac.

Qban biker, I myself struggle daily with depression. I also stay in house days at a time. Its horrible.

Ballard1964 interesting to see what your doctor says
Did you put on any weight with Prozac and did you like it for anxiety please

QbanBiker, how did you get help to not lose your home? I'm in the same situation, always worked hard for everything I've had, battled depressionanxiety for years but was able to work & function relatively normally until last year after losing my husband. I'm fighting the disability thing, waiting on that & am in danger of losing my home. I started on Prozac 4 years ago after losing my dad, have tried almost everything else & they either don't help or I couldn't stand the side effects. My Dr mentioned Cymbalta today because I have chronic pain as well, but didn't start me on it. I'm still taking 20mg Prozac bid, 150mg Wellbutrin bid, & 1mg Xanax tid. Luckily I haven't had any bad side effects with any of these & they do help some but not quite as much as Dr would like. I only leave the house when I absolutely have to & have basically isolated myself from everyone. It's a tough fight & sometimes difficult to find the right meds or combo but don't give up!

Hey the bank doesn't want your home they want your money just refinance so you don't lose your home my friend.