Cymbalta for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

• Conster
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2019

"I've been on Cymbalta since 2009. On July 29, I went down to 60 mg; on Aug 6, down to 30 mg & off completely Aug 19. The withdrawal symptoms began within 2 days. Hyper-sensitivity, both physically (to sound, taste, touch) & psychologically. I got shaky hands, chills, fevers, itchy skin &, two weeks on, prickles, like nettles or poison ivy all over my body. I felt like I had restless leg syndrome through my whole body. Nausea was persistent. I also found I was unable to manage any social interactions. I have still not gone back to work. The depression came back hard. Aug 6, 9th, Aug 19, & Aug 29 were all awful days. I didn't think I was going to make it. The hopelessness & despair were the worst I have EVER experienced. July 29-Sept 12. That's how long the withdrawal took for me."

• Shelly
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2019

"I was on Cymbalta for three years for lower back pain and depression / anxiety. I have to say it helped a lot. I didn't have any major side effects but increased sweating. I felt it was time to go off of it and slowly weaned myself. This is key. NEVER go off suddenly. The withdrawal wasn't as bad as a feared. I was off of it for about 7 months and my pain worsened and the depression and anxiety came back. I tried some alternative methods but they didn't work very well. I'm now back on Cymbalta and I feel so much better. I'm thankful for it."

• DocHo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2024

"I have tried every antidepressant on the market over the years. This is the only one that has ever lifted me out of those dark places without so many side effects that were in many ways worse than the depression itself. Or, at least their side effects outweighed the benefits. Cymbalta has one really tough side effect for me. And, that is unexplained weight gain. I eat less, but still gain weight on Cymbalta. The weight gain was so bad that I stopped taking it, and the weight immediately started dropping again. Unfortunately, I lost my job and because of the despair and stress, I started back up on Cymbalta yesterday. I woke this morning and felt refreshed, even though I didn't get all that much sleep. Then, I remembered... Oh yeah! That was how I felt while taking Cymbalta. It really does work for my body and brain chemistry. I really didn't want to take it originally, because of all the negative reviews on social media, about trying to come off of it is SO hard, etc."

• JMsr
• November 5, 2013

"I was on cymbalta 60mg for 18 months. I've been on many different antidepressants throughout the years. My issue is not when you take it but when you go off. Please do not take this medicine. I've gone through hell the last 12 days getting this drug out of my system. Google cymbalta withdrawal or cymbalta discontinuation syndrome to learn more."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

"I was terrified by all the comments to even try this drug, but I'm so glad I did. I've had none of the side effects (except maybe the constipation) that sound so horrible, and feel so much better. Way less of the negative thinking and ruminating negative self-talk, almost non-existent. I can have a negative thought but it won't be intrusive and all-consuming like it was before. And I've been on the medicine for less than 2 weeks! I've been tapering off of Wellbutrin since it didn't do anything for my depression, and the only drawback I can describe is that I'm still tired and have a hard time getting out of bed, which I was hoping the Cymbalta would fix (but I think it's a withdrawal symptom of coming off the Wellbutrin). Only time will tell! But so far the experience has been overwhelmingly good."

• CDano
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 16, 2020

"I had been on this drug for over two years. My doctor never warned me of how my life would change on this drug. I developed extreme insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and I felt like a zombie with no emotions. I have been weaning off this pill for almost a week now and I have had extreme nausea and extreme mood swings. If I were you I’d stay far clear from this pill. It has destroyed me for the amount of time I was on it to the time I am weaning it off."

• OLou
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 3, 2014

"I took this for depression and chronic back pain. This was an extreme appetite suppressant for me. It worked somewhat for depression, but nothing fabulous. It mostly made me very, very sleepy and physically exhausted."

• Smile...
• October 23, 2019

"Cymbalta is good for depression and did help my relative for 10 years 60 mg every day but my relative wanted to be free from using anti depressants and so stopped it slowly reducing the dose which later worked and they felt relieved but got the worst depression and even attempted suicide. l am here to warn every one not to try to stop taking cymbalta if it is working for you just stick to it - the withdraw was a horror and after withdrawing it gave them 2 months of peace and third month a very bad depression that they have never experienced came back that they attempted suicide . They then had to put my relative to bed rest for 7 months every medication failed to work so they were switched back on cymbalta but it was also not helping even after increasing the dose so finally at the dose of 90mg it didn't help until Aripiprazole was added that's when it helped with depression but caused bad anxiety which we stopped with 0.5g lorazepam morning and evening"

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2008

"Been taking 30mg since September 12th. Just had to go up to 60mg on October 28th. I love this medication. I have been on antidepressants for over 10 years, and this is the absolute best. I no longer occupy my time by thinking about how much life sucks but by figuring out the things I want to do that I haven't."

• KEB
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 4, 2014

"I got on Cymbalta for depression/anxiety that I had been dealing with for almost 10 years. Cymbalta helped me get myself back and feel great again. Recently, I weaned from the 60 to the 30. I noticed I was feeling very tired (despite 9 hours of sleep) and unfocused at work with low energy. Once I changed to the 30 I noticed a HUGE difference. After 5 years on Cymbalta I am weaning off the medication. Going from the 60 to 30mg was a nice transition and I am confident about weaning off it completely. Everyone has a different experience with the medicine and how it will affect them getting of it. I am glad I took this medication. It saved my life."

• Candi...
• March 6, 2013

"I LOVE Cymbalta. I'm taking it for anxiety, depression, and fibromyalgia pain. It is the best medication I have taken for depression. I have tried numerous other depression and anxiety medications, and nothing makes me feel as good as Cymbalta. Do not miss a dose; though, the withdrawal symptoms are terrible!"

• karysue
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2019

"I took this drug for 4 years for depression. It was not very effective and I tried to slowly go off of it even slower than my doctors recommended schedule. I took four months. A week after stopping I felt like I descended into the darkest place, I became cold and clammy, I screamed and felt so hopeless. Then I suffered daily panic attacks, my husband had to be at my side 24/7 for 7 weeks - SO FAR. I do not know how long this will last. No one can say. The Cymbalta withdrawal center says it lasts for 2 months. My recommendation is NEVER GO ON CYMBALTA. My physician friend told me "to get off of Cymbalta is as painful as getting off of heroin." NO JOKE."

• Mary
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2019

"So I was on Lexapro for 5 years it stopped working. Doc suggested Cymbalta. I was scared to try with all the bad reviews. But I started on 30 mg for 2 weeks. Then up to 60 mg after 2 weeks. Side effects were dry mouth, nausea, dizzy. But side effects have gotten better and this is working. No more crying spells, moodiness. Also it has helped my back and neck pain."

• Smack
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2020

"Horrible medication. I had been on it for about a month when I tragically lost my best friend. I couldn’t mourn, I had no emotion. It wasn’t like I didn’t care, it was like I couldn’t care. If making you numb to life and everything around you is the goal of Cymbalta, they knocked it out of the ballpark"

• My...
• March 24, 2014

"After 2 weeks (60mg/day) I am pleased with this. I had constant dysthymia, black periods lasting a few days, breaking into tears for no reason, not coping, couldn't see a way out, hopelessness. I couldn't tell my partner everything: she needs me to be strong. She knew anyway. The medicine leveled it all out. Only 2 weeks but the depression is gone. I even felt briefly euphoric today. I am easier to be around. Calmer. Negatives: a strange dissociative feeling, sort of out-of-body, as if hearing myself talk slowly, dizziness, an itchy rash on my hand, dry mouth, general tiredness, lethargy in bed in the mornings, no erectile problems, but problem reaching orgasm. If these moderate in time, then my 7/10 score will increase."

• mrdad
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 23, 2019

"Was put on this 5 years ago. It works good but there is one thing they won't tell you. The withdrawal symptoms are horrendous. I will probably never be able to stop taking this. If I miss only one day I get vertigo and brain zaps. Read up on it and it turns out they lied to the FDA about how many people had withdrawal symptoms. It's 70 percent! Some people experience withdrawal symptoms that last a year! So what does the FDA do? A little fine and a class action lawsuit that already expired by the time I realized how bad the withdrawal symptoms are. Eli-Lilly should have been sued out of existence but of course big pharma has the FDA in their pocket. Really read up on the documentation the FDA report and what it says about how they fudged things. It's unbelievable. I wish I never was put on this."

• Lexilla
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2012

"This is wonderful. I suffered from generalized anxiety for two and a half years. Eventually, I slipped into severe depression, probably resulting from the chronic anxiety I was dealing with for so long. I have been on Cymbalta 60mg for a little over a month, and I feel better than I ever have before. Before Cymbalta, I was on Paxil and Lexapro, which both did more harm than good. On Cymbalta, I finally feel normal and my sleep has improved so much. I was a chronic insomniac, and now I can usually sleep whenever I feel like it. I am so lucky that my psychiatrist decided to try me on this medicine. I would recommend trying this medicine to anyone suffering from anxiety & depression."

• Dan
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2016

"I suffer from major depression and many antidepressants have been of little help. My psychiatrist recently put me on Cymbalta and it changed my life. At first it made me feel very racy and jittery but after riding that out for a bit the side effects went away. Now, taking 60mg a day, I feel the best I've felt in about 20 years."

• JoeLa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 24, 2015

"I've been on Cymbalta for many years after my doctor had tried a number of antidepressant medications. It has worked wonderfully for me and kept me on an even keel since I began taking it. I am lucky that I had a good experience with this medication."

• cindycc
• July 17, 2013

"I have tried just about every antidepressant over a 20-year period. I have been taking Cymbalta for about 6 months, and it is my saving grace. All symptoms of depression are gone. I am happy, focused, and myself again."

• famil...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 28, 2015

"I have been on Cymbalta for 6 years. I am 51 and have a family history of depression and only recently have I accepted that I may have it very long term. For those in Australia I recommend the generic version called Coperin (I get it from Priceline) which reduces the 'brain fog' of Cymbalta. I have been very happy on Cymbalta (Coperin), it changed my life. I hate that I rely on a tablet to enjoy life, but it is a small price to pay. My GP occasionally suggests I try a new drug but I always refuse. I have much improved relationships with people and it is great to have lost the anxiety which has completely disappeared. I have been on 30mg for 4 years, but am increasing to 60mg for a few weeks as I seem to be going through a bout of anxiety."

• Nay
• April 10, 2018

"I was on lexapro for 2 years and it eventually made me numb to life in general. I wanted to be able to feel again without the depression and anxiety and OCD creeping back in. The doctor put me onto Cymbalta after I came off Lexapro (worst experience coming off lexapro, it was 3 weeks of withdrawal). The first night that I took it within 4 hours I felt a little sleepy so went to bed at 10pm and slept ok a little restless. At work the next day I was very vague in the head but I got through it. The following day it was like someone switched the lights on in my head and I could think so much clearer and got so much work done and felt like I was happy again. Now a week later I am feeling so good, calm yet full of energy and I have lost 3 kg as I have stopped over eating and have to tell myself it is time to eat. I do get a little restless in the night at times but I just tell myself to close my eyes again and relax and it works and I go back to sleep."

• Nandor
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2019

"Absolutely terrible. I was prescribed 20mg Cymbalta to replace Prozac, which didn’t help my depression at all. The first few weeks there were no changes, so we increased it to 30mg, then 60mg. I lost the ability to feel emotions at all. I was numb. I couldn’t make myself eat. I lost 5% of my weight. I had started self harming just to feel something and felt suicidal. For some reason, I told myself to go to the doc one last time. It’s recommended that Cymbalta should be tapered off slowly, but there’s almost no way to do that 60mg to 30mg as it a big jump and the capsules shouldn’t be opened. The doc said I should quit cold turkey since I was in such a dark place. The withdrawal was torture. I couldn’t leave the house for two weeks because of vertigo, “brain zaps”, headaches, and confusion. I’m on Wellbutrin now and it’s a hundred times better in my experience."

• patpoe
• October 2, 2007

"I have been on Cymbalta for about six months. In the last two to three months, I have noticed blurring of vision, agitation, excessive tiredness, change in behavior (also noticed by my husband), insomnia, nightmares, excessive sweating. I am on a blood pressure medication HCTZ, and it states in the side effects that you need to be monitored if on a high blood pressure medication, which I have not been. It does work great for my depression, but the side effects are outweighing the benefits."

• realsis
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2014

"I've tried about 15 to 20 different antidepressants in the last 21 years. Nothing has really helped, or it would help for awhile then stop working. Cymbalta is only the second medication that is not only a SSRI but works with the dopamine in your body, that I've tried. First was Pristiq and that affected me so badly I wouldn't shower for a week. I didn't want to do anything. Now with the Cymbalta I'm more energetic and less hungry and feel much better! So far it's working out wonderfully."