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Duloxetine for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

Brand names: Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka

Duloxetine has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 46 reviews for the off-label treatment of Bipolar Disorder. 63% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 24% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Duloxetine

  • Anonymous
  • November 14, 2011

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been taking Cymbalta for the second time after going off it cold turkey 5 months previous (wouldn't recommend it). I have found in the last week feeling very hyped up again the depression is not as bad but the hyped up feeling is becoming hard to control. I'm on the 30 mg only sexual disinterest and constant feeling of wanting to go the toilet are a little frustrating."

5 / 10
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25 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 11, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta for me has been very beneficial in treating the anxiety/depression periods of Type 1 Bipolar Disorder. Some say antidepressant medicines can cause adverse reaction in Bipolar patients leading to Manic episode, but it didn't with me. It worked better over a long period, the negative effects when first starting the medication, and when stopping, can be quite bad (head spins, nausea, dry mouth, very tired, etc.) and can take a while to subside. I experienced many positive effects after being crippled with depression/anxiety for sometime. Biggest advice - DO NOT STOP TAKING SUDDENLY and DO NOT MISS DOSES. Decrease dosage slowly (speak to your Doctor)."

8 / 10
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27 Report
  • Ooano
  • September 21, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been on Cymbalta 30mg for the last 5 days. I noticed a lot of side effects good and bad. The bad ones include insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth. The two good side effect was less urgency to urinate and fewer hunger pangs. I used to run to the bathroom every hour and almost constantly eat. My mood is improving and I seem to be coming out of my shell. In a few more days my dose will double and I am sure this medication will work. I feel as if I am on the right path to becoming who I used to be years ago."

8 / 10
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27 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Saral...
  • October 11, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta was a wonderful mood elevator and controlled my swings especially well at first, but the emotional blunting and sexual disinterest and malfunction were devastating to my relationship with my mate. After several months of taking Cymbalta, it quit working so well, and when my dose was increased, the emotion blunting and other side effects turned me into a walking, talking, zombie."

7 / 10
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24 Report
  • anony...
  • October 4, 2015

"I was on both cymbalta dueloxetine and I would swing in and out of black moods and get very angry and uncontrollable. I'm a small girl 5"3 114lbs at the time and it took 3 full grown men to get me held down several times. We're now trying new medications after we discovered I was having seizures for months before starting the meds, It is a great medication to be on if it fits with you and your current medications. Do your research thoroughly"

1 / 10
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14 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Anonymous
  • October 17, 2009

"After a few years on SSRI's with recurring switches to hypomania I was put on Cymbalta Lithium. First there was a great antidepressant effect, but soon after I was told to raise the dose, I switched into a period of mania, making me aggressive. Since two years I don't take any antidepressants and have not been hypomanic/manic a single time."

1 / 10
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19 Report
  • Beth
  • February 2, 2022

"Saved my life. I only use 10 granules in the morning and ten granules at night. Breaking open capsule per my Doctor I was in a major depression. I have been able to get out of bed and do things. I can eat, sleep, going to bathroom ok. Seven years looking for a solution. I also suffer from fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain on my feet which is why I was prescribed this medication even with the risk of mania. Tried the super low dose and it kicked my depression to the curb. I still have pain in feet but body pain goes away. I don't even care about the foot pain because my depression has finally lifted and I don't feel like ending it all anymore. So for me it is a miracle and I am so happy to be alive and not have done anything. Prays to everyone out there suffering with mental health issues, you are not alone."

10 / 10
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More FAQ

  • Tony
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 3, 2019

"I have bipolar type 2 with mixed episodes and just been taking duloxetine for 3 weeks and got very manic. I had to stop them and really want to warn others with mixed episodes to not take these. All antidepressants gives me hypomania, but Cymbalta and Wellbutrin has been The Worst. I take Lamictal and Olancapine as well."

1 / 10
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8 Report
  • Gfer
  • August 19, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I find this new antidepressant the best I have tried so far and I have tried so very many. I give it 95/100, only because it gives me really really bad hot flushes through the night which wake me up and I toss and turn and get hot and cold - all night."

9 / 10
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14 Report
  • Bea...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 15, 2022

"Over nearly 50 years I have taken many antidepressants, always with Lithium. Each faded in effectiveness over time. All had unpleasant to serious side effects. No side effects from Cymbalta. Tapered Lithium slowly over six to 8 weeks as symptoms began to lift with Cymbalta. My new sense of authenticity is in part a gift of this med. I credit myself for my lifetime of work toward goals of living."

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  • Blue
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • May 7, 2020

"@Tony I’m also on Duloxetine, Wellbutrin, and Lamictal. I feel flat. I miss being manic. When manic I tend to lose a bunch of weight, drink excessively, buy a lot of stuff, and be sexually promiscuous. Lemme tell ya, that last one was a fun 9 months. I’ve been In a depressed/flat state just about 2 years now. I changed my lamotrigine dose (I’m such a horrible, non-compliant patient) a couple of months ago and eased my self down from three pills to one pill per day. (I think it’s 30 mgs maybe). I haven’t noticed any difference yet though."

5 / 10
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  • m1106
  • June 2, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I really like Cymbalta. It eliminates my anxiety and levels me out. What I don't like about Cymbalta- night sweats and general muscle fatigue. I laughed when I saw that it is a treatment for hot flashes. I have been on numerous antidepressants and that is one of the main side effects."

8 / 10
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12 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 17, 2022

"I began at 30mg, when it started to kick in I essentially felt like I had taken some mdma/amphetamine. Hot flashes, panic, uncontrollable sweating, and even explosive diarrhea to the point where I had lost multiple pounds over the course of one night. After that had mostly subsided, I could not stop grinding my teeth and moving around like I was coming down from some strong stimulant. The twitching was unreal as were the intrusive thoughts, I was extremely exhausted but had so much trouble getting to sleep. For some reason I had taken it the following night before I went to sleep, I awoke in a panic feeling all of the blood pulse throughout my extremities and my vision so blurry that it was a struggle to make out anything around me. I ended up in the ER with stroke level blood pressure and severe hallucinations. The hallucinations and severe anxiety persisted for about three days after taking it for two. Certainly not a fun time!"

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  • Kate
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • September 25, 2021

"I can only say good things about Cymbalta. I have been on it about 8 years. It was prescribed for depression and a little Fibromyalgia (I was pain sensitive to touch). Well, it worked wonders on both accounts. At one point I felt I need something extra, so my GP upped me to 120 mg, and I felt no different. I worked in pharmacy, so I knew 90 was max you could absorb in 1 dose. So, I went back to 60 mg. I had no side effects that I noticed. I had to change GP's, and was sent for Psych evaluation. I was finally properly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder mixed episodes. Occasionally I have a tiny bit of mania/depression. I had already been taking Trazadone for sleep. So between the 3 I'm stable, I have moments but not often. I remind others there is no cure, or magic pill. Meds help YOU manage it. Cymbalta is great!"

10 / 10
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  • Lunch...
  • January 29, 2016

"i have been battling with major depression since I was a child. I have been on many different types of medications over the years. I also have a major case of obsessive compulsive disorder and as I I'm getting older it has been getting severely worse. Everything has to be in perfect order I spend hours upon hours a day making sure everything is order. It's so bad that I can not even have garbage in my garbage cans if so I have to clean the cans immediately. It has become so bad that it cuts into other daily activities such as spending time with my wife, family and friends . Some days I do not even attempt to get out of bed. Some days I will sleep for well over 24 hours. These are the medications in taking daily . I take 150 mg of Lamotrigine"

7 / 10
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  • sgonez
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • June 20, 2021

"duloxetine did nothing for me but induce my mania and depression. I was also misdiagnosed. My emotions felt a little torturous because I couldn’t control my emotions at all. I fell into depression being slightly triggered and tapering off this medication it sucked so badly. It’s been the worst, with my mood swings, crying spells, hypomanic episodes, depressive ones became triggered etc etc."

1 / 10
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  • Etta
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • December 11, 2020

"I used to be on Cymbalta, and loved it! Then I was put on Seroquel and loved it too. But which one, to me, is the absolute best? Seroquel in my opinion, though I'm not on it now, and trust me...I'm feeling it! And why? Simple. Because I wasn't watching my supply so as to know when it was time to replenish it. But I'm planning to and I'm certain that I won't run out of my Seroquel again!"

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  • MGO
  • September 16, 2011

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "While on Cymbalta I became suicidal. "

1 / 10
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29 Report
  • THard...
  • March 6, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta has really helped me calm down and figure out what my problem is with my psychologist. Thank God for Cymbalta."

9 / 10
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21 Report
  • Marty...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 5, 2023

"Since I started Cymbalta, it has helped me greatly have more energy and want to be more social."

9 / 10
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  • Anonymous
  • August 20, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Made me too tired to function."

2 / 10
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19 Report
  • Caz
  • February 7, 2017

"Awful. Sent me high as a kite, chaotic, impulsive & suicidal. It was being administered without mood stabilisers though and at a high dose."

1 / 10
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9 Report
  • Anonymous
  • November 10, 2009

Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I really did think that is was a pretty good medicine had no problems with it."

5 / 10
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14 Report
  • mikeyst
  • April 22, 2021

"Hypermanic from it if I take 60mg, even 30mg, so no this medicine is not for me. In the beginning it helped my neuropathy but now I am getting hypermanic on it."

2 / 10
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  • Gregory...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • October 28, 2023

"It has been helping me up till now, I feel that I'll need an add-on like Rexulti"

10 / 10
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0 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

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