Ok i have Gad and depression and currently taking 60 mg a day for it,but it tends to wear off about 2-3 pm i take it daily @ 8 am is this normal? Should i tell my dr? What do you take for depression? Does it help?
Whats the max you can take for cymbalta?
Question posted by bamamichelle78 on 3 May 2013
Last updated on 4 February 2024
5 Answers
Nanabug62
29 Oct 2018
I have been taking 150mg of cymbalta for years. It's the only thing that works for me. I'm just wondering if it causing other issues I'm having.
cindy-59
30 Oct 2018
Hi Nanabug62. I’ve been taking Cymbalta for 10 years but I’m tapering off slowly now. I couldn’t handle all the horrible side effects from it anymore. I had almost every one on the list and some that are not even on it yet. I don’t believe we have any idea the damage these types of medications are doing to us yet. You would be shocked to hear all the problems that they are causing. I had problems from the top of my head to the tips of my toes (literally) from taking Cymbalta. I am down from 60 mg to 12 mg and almost every side effect is gone. You shouldn’t even be taking that high dosage. The limit is 120 mg and it is yet to be proven that above 60 mg is helpful. I’m sorry that you are going through this. If you have any questions I would be glad to help you if I can. Please take care. Cindy
Nanabug62
30 Oct 2018
No weight issues. The only thing is, it helps with my neck injury. I went off of it and I couldn't move my neck. I don't think it helps with my Maj depression anymore, but it keeps my neck functioning. I want to try trintelex but I can't with cymbalta. I want them to check my serotonin levels and see what they are. I also want to see what can be done with my neck and fibromyalgia. I don't know what to do. I take 24 pills a day plus otc meds and melatonin to sleep. Any advice?
Tephaney
5 Feb 2024
My short term memory has been bad for 20 years, but is getting worse all the time.. I take 90 mg of duloxetine every morning as prescribed by my doctor.. I will not increase my dosage and would like to get mine down to 60 mg ..
Also, I have a difficult time getting to sleep at night although I take benadryl and cyclobenzeprine before bed..
I don't like to leave my house for anything unless my husband is with me.. I am diabetic, take metformin twice a day..
One of my concerns is I am afraid to ever get off the duloxetine because it seems to help so much with the back pain and neuropathy in my feet.
Susieqlan
21 Oct 2014
I'm taking 120mg a day for depression and Fibromayalgia. It's only been a week since they upped the dose. It's too much! I'm afraid t keep on taking this large a dose.
lady2882
6 May 2013
Cymbalta has a half life of 12 hours so unless you have an extremely high metabolic rate it should not be wearing off in 6 or 7 hours.
I was on Cymbalta for chronic pain and it actually caused depression and anxiety for me. I took mine at 9am and after 4 weeks being on it by 3pm I would feel very down to the point that I was crying. That can be a side effect of SNRI's and SSRI's mostly in those 25 and under but I am 51 and it happened to me anyway. I actually know a number of people who had the same problem with it.
Something you should talk to your doctor about.
bamamichelle78
6 May 2013
Have you gained any weight or loss any from it?
lady2882
6 May 2013
I lost weight while on it as it irritated my IBS, but once off it I put that weight back on and then some as I found I was compulsively eating. That has leveled off now 40 days off but I will have to exercise lots to lost the extra pounds.
dcbb
17 Oct 2014
how many mg? and did you switch to something else? i also have chronic pain (lower back), taking 60mg. Find depression,anxiety worse.Pain is off/on,
any advice?
lady2882
17 Oct 2014
The max I took was 60mg and had problems when I stopped taking it. I recommend dropping down to 30mg to start and taking a low dose of another SSRI antidepressant for a bit. I took a low dose of Zoloft and that helped with the depression and anxiety. Cymbalta was never helpful for my chronic pain but that felt much worse than during the discontinuation period (that is called rebound pain and is common).
Your doctor may not be aware of all the problems associated with Cymbalta so don't be surprised if he/she isn't very helpful. If you have a good relationship with you doctor that will help.
Take care of you and best of luck.
dcbb
17 Oct 2014
Can I ask what you took to manage your pain,also what type of pain?
I have severe arthritis in my lower back, also anxiety/panic/stress seems
to aggravate the flare-ups. Any info from anyone,greatly appreciated!!!
lady2882
18 Oct 2014
I have chronic back pain from arthritis and osteopenia with 2 compressed vertebrae and bad arthritis in my right knee. Until I started my bipolar meds I was taking Ibuprofen 200mg 4 or 5 times a day. Way over the recommended dose I know but I didn't care. I found that once I was on better meds that my pain was more manageable so now use some holistic remedies (turmeric is a good one) and 200 mg ibuprofen at bedtime to help me sleep. When the pain is a bit much I have another 200 mg during the daytime.
Hard to believe that I can get by on so little after taking so much for so many years but pain is a sign of depression.
dcbb
20 Oct 2014
Really not sure how to navigate around this site,just added a friend,who seems to have similar problems,chronic back pain,Cymbalta,serious side effects.This friend was born in 1961,would so like to ask this friend some private questions.
Added this person to my friends list,anxious to hear from this friend!!! We are same age, have had similar life tragedies. Possible Mixed Episode Bipolar,could be a result of being on 60mg Cymbalta for last 2 months.
PLEASE respond!!!
dcbb
20 Oct 2014
p.s. Am 55yr old female,also menopausal
maryalexopoulos
5 May 2013
120 mg a day
LaurieShay
3 May 2013
The maximum recommended dosage for Cymbalta is 120mg/day. I have taken it with good results. Once you have been on it for awhile it should stay at a pretty steady level in your blood so not sure why the let down. I would discuss with doctor definitely. I now take Pristiq and Wellbutrin with excellent results, but we are all different.
Nelly2010
22 May 2013
Just wondering why u stopped taking cymbalta? I just started taking it and I am reading everything I can about it!
LaurieShay
23 May 2013
I stopped the Cymbalta because it stopped working well enough for me. I was sleeping way too much. So we tried Pristiq.
Nelly2010
23 May 2013
How long did you take it for before it stopped working?? I find a lot of these drugs just eventually, stop working :(
LaurieShay
23 May 2013
yea, me too. The Cymbalta was about 5 yrs I guess.
Related topics
cymbalta, depression, anxiety, back pain, generalized anxiety disorder, chronic pain
Further information
- Cymbalta uses and safety info
- Cymbalta prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cymbalta (detailed)
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