Cymbalta and Withdrawal: What Users Say

• kit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2020

For Depression "I turned to this drug at my very lowest. Suicidal thoughts and constant lethargy became daily reminders of how depressed I really was. I realized I’d either find a solution or my life would be at risk. The solution was Cymbalta. After 6ish weeks, I began to enjoy activities again and felt very motivated to carry out tasks. My social anxiety now is nearly nonexistent. I’m not happy every day, but the darkness that used to envelop me has subsided and I can say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel (before the drug I couldn’t imagine my life a year in advance because I didn’t know if I’d make it there). My sex drive did suffer a little, but not very much. I will continue to take this drug as long as it continues to help me. Overall, although the withdrawal symptoms may be terrible in the future, Cymbalta truly saved my life and has been worth every penny. Give it time to work and don’t let the negative reviews scare you away if you really need the help."

• Las...
• February 28, 2020

For Depression "I was on this medication over ten years ago. It took a month for the fog to lift once I had started it. But then I started to be paranoid reading about the Cymbalta withdrawals on the internet. So I panicked and went off it. I always start at the lowest dose possible and stay on it for a month before increasing to the next to avoid being sick. And it’s the same thing when you want to get off these meds to avoid withdrawals. You go off as slow as possible. And I want to mention that these meds are metabolized by different enzymes in our body that we all have different levels of because of our DNA. So one person might need a lower dose of Cymbalta than another because they metabolize it faster than others. The goal isn’t to get to the highest dose but the dose that works with your metabolism. Ten years later and I have Fibromyalgia too now, so my new doctor decided to put me on Cymbalta. I started at 20mg today and will stay with that dose for at least a month before I see if I need to go up. Remember, Go Slow!"

• Goo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 28, 2020

For Depression "I have been on 60mg Duloxetine daily for 1 month, 30mg daily before that to wean off Effexor. The Duloxetine was so ineffective & the withdrawal from the Effexor was so bad that I had to take both for about 6 weeks. Now with no Effexor, I am back to feeling no effects from Duloxetine. I'm painfully depressed and have sudden bouts of extreme anger & irritability. I cry all the time, have no appetite, and hate going out in public. I've been on every antidepressant on the market. With Duloxetine, I might as well be eating Tic Tacs."

• Zoe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 17, 2019

For Fibromyalgia "Look up Cymbalta Syndrome. If prescribed, before you take it - research it - have your doctor research it. It will help for 2-3 years MAX. Getting off of it is a whole other story - the manufacturers KNEW this - and pushed it anyway. They could fix this issue but choose not to. This drug needs to be removed from the market! You don’t know long-term pain and crippling sickness until you try to get off this med. The manufacturer gave us no easy way to taper, no painless way to wean off. I am on my 2nd YEAR of weaning and I will be honest - withdrawals can last months to YEARS. I have 30 mg still to go till I am Cymbalta free... and tons of horrific side effects to still face. Do your research - don’t take this pill, it is beyond hell. And big pharma knew it... yet sell it anyway as well as pay doctors to prescribe it and downplay the true horrors of it."

• Chl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2020

For Anxiety "NOTHING matters about this drug except the fact that withdrawal is horrific if you ever need to come off it. Don’t start! I am now in my 13th month coming off this drug. It has been the worst thing ever. I am now counting beads in capsules and reducing slowly; am down to 10 mg. Five more months and I hope to get my life back. This drug should be used only as a last resort when all else has failed. Would give it a zero if I could."

• Adu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2017

For Chronic Pain "I suffer from chronic pain, depression, and anxiety for the past 10 years and I'm 30. Football ruined my life, but Cymbalta has made it worse. Not only did I NOT receive any benefit from Cymbalta, but I gave it a serious 2-month try and I'm now spending 90% of my time withdrawing from it. I cannot imagine if I was on this a year, let alone ten. If this medicine helps you, I would weigh the benefits seriously because either you're going to the grave with this medicine or you're going to have to feel the 'benefits' of coming off of this poison. Beware because no doctor will tell you these things. Worse than 2 years of clonazepam, alcohol, or opiates, no joke. Hope this helps someone!"

• jom...
• September 27, 2007

For Pain "Cymbalta provided amazing relief for my neuropathic pain and depression, though it also seemed to have bad side effects. The night terrors I experienced were unimaginable and occurred almost nightly. I had taken this medication for over a year, and after choosing to discontinue it, the withdrawal symptoms that followed seemed severe. I would advise a cautious approach."

• Nic...
• July 5, 2019

For Depression "I had been on eight different antidepressants for 12 years. I tried Cymbalta and had been on it for 14 years. I tried to get off of it and it took eight months, but I completely went off. Withdrawals were horrific. All of my depression and anxiety came back, but worse than ever. I’m so glad to be back on it. Cymbalta is a lifesaver."

• Mag...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 19, 2023

For Fibromyalgia "The worst experience of my life, the weight gain, the constant brain fog. If you forget to take it, the withdrawals are enough to make you want to kill yourself or others!!! This drug should not be prescribed to people without a tapering program in place for them to get off it. Why don’t we have tapering management centers the way pain management centers do?"

• Jas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Had a great 12 years with Lexapro 10mg. It stopped working. For the last 3 years, I’ve tried Wellbutrin, Prozac, Effexor, Vybrid, Trintellix, and Cymbalta. With all of them, I felt a floaty, sedated feeling all day long. Cymbalta is starting to work. I believe it's the norepinephrine component of the drug that’s helping me stay more focused and energized during the day. I’m on 60 mg daily. Psychiatrists and GPs alike don’t know the effects of withdrawal unless they’ve experienced it themselves. Not every patient’s cure comes out of a medical textbook, and doctors need to understand that you’re not neurotic and these drugs affect your delicate brain chemistry. Rapidly tapering from one drug to another can be disastrous for some. My thoughts are with those going through this, trying to land on the right med."

• SJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I had tried a lot of drugs for my horrible anxiety and depression. I've been taking 80mg of Cymbalta. Nothing before this touched my anxiety, and I was housebound for 10 years. The positives are my anxiety has gone from a 10 down to at least a 6/5, depression from a 10 down to a 7/6. I can orgasm, on other meds can cause issues. The negatives - The withdrawal is REAL (try not to miss a dose), constipation, my body metabolizes this medication fast. I have to take an extra 20 mg dose in the morning. When I was just on the 60 in the evening I'd get bad brain zaps/dizziness. The biggest downside to this med is getting off of it. If you need to come off it, taper as slow as you can and ask to go on Prozac, which can really help with withdrawal. I recommend giving this med a try for anxiety. It's the only thing to help me. If you have depression alone, I'd try something else first like Prozac or Wellbutrin, as they are really easy to come off if they don't work for you."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 12, 2019

For Chronic Pain "Cymbalta did not help my pain. I have myofascial pain syndrome. It made it worse because it caused me to clench my jaw. It also came with severe side effects, and then I found out it is almost impossible to get off. Withdrawal symptoms are horrendous and last months to years. I am on a 2 to 3-year taper schedule to get off of this drug that never helped. I gained 40 pounds and have terrible daytime fatigue. If you are considering taking this drug, please do a lot more research."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2020

For Depression "I tried SSRI (paroxetine) for a couple of years on and off. I was off the drugs for a couple of years, and then I decided to try the SNRI drug, first Effexor and then Cymbalta/Duloxetine. I took it for about 2 years. Taking this drug felt horrible. When I finally managed to get off of it (with extreme withdrawal symptoms), immediately after getting off the drug, I had leg pain and tingling in my feet and was diagnosed with Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes. I was 30 at the time and have no history of diabetes in my very large extended family. I would love to hear from anybody with more to say about this… Something tells me my usage of SSRIs and mainly the SNRI is what brought about my T1D diagnosis. Anybody else with a similar story? What are your thoughts about this? Thanks."

• Ron...
• December 20, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Cymbalta ruined my life. If I forgot to take it one time, it would be like going through heroin withdrawal. Not to mention my brain feels like mush when taking it, forgetting things, and doing odd things. Don't get me wrong, the first 2 months were great, but everything slowly started getting worse. Emotional outbursts, angry all the time, overwhelming feelings, unable to control my emotions, suicidal thoughts, blood pressure dropping all the time, and the list is endless. I ended up making my doctor take me off this medication, I felt like I was losing my mind. The withdrawal from Cymbalta is absolutely horrible. I have never posted a review on anything online ever! But people need to know how terrible this medication is."

• AGn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 6, 2015

For Chronic Pain "While this med is fairly effective in the treatment of chronic pain, unless you plan to stay on it for the rest of your life, you should not even consider taking it. Discontinuation of this medication has to be done under the supervision of a physician, and the withdrawal is horrific, leaving one unable to function in a normal capacity for weeks, or even months. Most doctors don't mention this. Some aren't even aware of it. I urge you to be cautious in your decision to take Cymbalta. Google 'Cymbalta withdrawal' first!"

• Jul...
• May 26, 2020

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Took Cymbalta for severe nerve pain. (Hemangioblastoma removal inside spinal cord @ C4, 5, 6). It worked well for the pain, and I had little side effects. Came to a point my doctor and I decided I didn’t need it anymore. Then the fun began. I don’t care what kind of issue you have or how much pain you are in - DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION! Trying to get off this was the worst thing I could ever have imagined, and it went on for months!! The list of symptoms was long and bizarre. I can’t stress enough how bad it was... please, please don’t take even 1. PS To Loulou: after being deathly ill for weeks, I called my doctor again, and they told me to just start taking it again and start tapering off again at another time! What?!? No frigging way, so I suffered through almost six months of horrid withdrawal. It does go away, I promise! You aren’t alone - I felt EXACTLY the same way you do now! Hang in and do not start taking it again!! Good luck to you!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 7, 2012

For Depression "Cymbalta saved my life. I have tried dozens of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, you name it. At 19, to treat anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, I was finally given Cymbalta. I had very few side effects, maybe a few days being a bit dizzy. And then, after a week or so, I realized I wanted to get up in the morning. I no longer regretted having to breathe. A few months in, I no longer needed anxiety medication. I could sleep all night. I was normal and happy. I would not have lived if Cymbalta didn't exist. The only drawback is if for any reason you have to go a few days or longer without it, the withdrawal will be bad."

• Can...
• March 6, 2013

For Depression "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!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "Do not take Cymbalta! The side effects are horrible, and the withdrawal symptoms from getting off of it can land you in the hospital. I took it for arthritis and would rather hurt than go through this garbage again. If I had known what damage this drug does, I would never have taken it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 23, 2014

For Chronic Pain "I had blissfully forgotten how much pain I had been living with before taking Cymbalta, until I ran out unexpectedly. Pretty short half-life. The pain was debilitating and constant; much worse were the very unpleasant withdrawal symptoms which took hold very quickly - won't list them as they probably were related to my brain trauma. Obviously it's best not to run out, but if so, be aware of the withdrawal symptoms and pain returning. The good news is that all that unpleasantness is gone relatively quickly: 2-3 days. Another point: not covered by my insurance, and I take 90mg/day ($$$), but my G.P. spoke to Lilly (manufacturer) who agreed to provide me with 6 months worth at a time - gratis! Worth checking into."

• Maz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2020

For Back Pain "Prescribed for back pain. I was told I have to start with 30 mg and in a week increase it to 60 mg. After two days on Cymbalta, I knew I would never make it. I got sick almost immediately - stumbling, brain fog, diarrhea, jaw pain, headache, and nausea. I told my doctor I wanted off, but she said to take it 'a few weeks' before I went up to 60 mg. I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, so I stayed on it for a few more weeks, but didn't get better, and it actually got a lot worse. I called my doctor's office and told her I wanted off. There was no way I was going up to 60 mg. Since I had never increased the dosage, I immediately went to every other day for a week, then stopped. The withdrawal was every bit as bad as the reaction to the pill. There is finally a slight alleviation in the symptoms, so I've decided just to wait it out. MY RECOMMENDATION: My experience is this is the worst pill I have ever taken. Bottom line? DON'T TAKE THIS PILL!!!!"

• Nat...
• March 14, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed Cymbalta after taking Zoloft for a few months. Zoloft was horrible, but when my prescription was changed to Cymbalta, my anxiety and everything else seemed to lessen. I was more calm in handling situations, and my husband seemed pleased with the change in my attitude. For the first week while on Cymbalta, the experience was horrible. I had all the side effects listed and more, but I was determined to stay on it. It only lasted a week, then things became more clear. The only thing I fear is the withdrawals. I've experienced it accidentally when the medication wasn't available to me."

• Ava...
• August 2, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "At first, I thought this was a miracle drug, but after about 2 months, they had to double my dosage. Then, about another 2 months later, the same thing. Next thing you know, I'm on the max dosage with no symptom relief. OMG, that's when the real nightmare started. It was almost impossible to stop. I was ready to check into a hospital. My doctor did watch me and did her best to get me off the medication safely, but it was really, really hard. Even though it did not help my fibromyalgia, I suffered from withdrawal. Please, PLEASE, really read the side effects before taking this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 19, 2017

For Depression "I was put on Cymbalta 60mg when I was in the psych ward for a suicide attempt. This medication significantly helped my depression and my thoughts of suicide went away. Cymbalta has been life changing for me. I thought I didn't need it anymore so I took myself off of it a month ago. The withdrawals are terrible! Worse than withdrawing from benzos, I was shaky for a straight week. After being off of it for a couple weeks my depression and anxiety came back full force, I realized how much it had been helping me and asked my doctor to put me back on it. I'm now on 30mg and feel less anxious and less sad."

• TPa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 8, 2019

For Depression "Cymbalta helped me get through a rough patch in my life. I am grateful for how it allowed me to cope with my sibling's passing. I was on 60 mg and recently decided it was time to move on and discontinue medication. I decreased dosage every two weeks by 10 mg, then weekly by 5 mg (taking out one small pill of the 12 pills in the capsule). Please talk to your doctor if you wish to taper off the drug, but this method worked for me. I was terrified of withdrawals based on the horror stories I read, but I had almost no withdrawal symptoms. The sexual side effect of the drug was a real bummer, and the only negative of my experience."