Duloxetine for Osteoarthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Flo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 26, 2023

Duloxetine "My pain from osteoarthritis was not being controlled, and I had really reached a point of non-functional desperation. My nurse practitioner put me on Cymbalta. It is strong, and it took a few weeks for my body to adjust. I am so glad I did. I now lead a normal life. Yes, I have some pain, but I can handle it again. Cymbalta, I am sure, strengthens me emotionally too. I no longer feel life is too hard to deal with because the pain and fatigue is too much. I feel resolute and able to meet challenges. So I am grateful, and I would recommend at least giving it a try if you are considering it."

• Ast...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2019

Duloxetine "I was given Cymbalta 60 mg for arthritis pain primarily and insomnia secondarily. It had been recommended by both my oncologist and PCP. I felt awful the 5 days I took it. While there was a slight reduction in pain from a 4 to 3, I couldn’t eat. I woke up from restless sleep vomiting; I could have aspirated. I stopped immediately and had no side effects from doing so. The nausea was unbearable, and my anti-nausea meds were contraindicated. Horrible experience. I gave a 2 rather than 1 due to slight pain reduction. I saw no improvement in sleep."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2023

Duloxetine "My doctor prescribed Cymbalta for anxiety. It was very hard in the beginning. Nausea, tiredness, insomnia... I was on 30 mg for 2 weeks and still had lots of side effects. She added amitriptyline (low dose) to my medications in the evening. I slept like a baby! After a couple more weeks, my anxiety was gone and bonus my osteoarthritis knees feel so much better. They still hurt when I overdo it but I don't think about the pain as much as I used to. Best I've felt in a decade!"

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2017

Duloxetine "I started taking this med six days ago to treat neuropathy pain in my feet and lower legs. It, like gabapentin that I was taking before this, is giving me severe arthritis pain in my hands and knees, which I did not have before. I will discontinue the use today. It stopped the neuropathic pain but is crippling me in other ways. I will go back to treatments with NSAIDs and acetaminophen."

• mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 19, 2021

Duloxetine "My doctor prescribed this for chronic pain and joint damage, diagnosed juvenile onset Still's disease 30+ years earlier. The first night I took 1 tablet. The next morning I woke to 2 voices talking in the background, and then suddenly a voice like an old lady right next to my ear said HELLO? I jumped and was scared out of bed. It was weird. Then my eyes went really blurry. This is apparently a normal side effect?! I felt very numb and basically stopped being able to function. I couldn’t tell you if I still felt pain or not. I couldn’t do anything but stare at the wall and cry. Our family went to another family’s house for dinner, and I was so confused socially I didn’t know what was happening. I hid in the bathroom crying. I persisted with this medication for 3 months so I could tell the doctor I tried. I was very happy before I took it, and I’d rather be in horrible pain and happy than dysfunctional like that. That was barely even existence."

• Ric...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 12, 2022

Duloxetine "I've been taking Cymbalta off and on for a few years. I just recently resumed this medication, and I can tell you this drug works for my osteoarthritis, bursitis, and low back pain. I took (1) 60 mg capsule, and my pain level dropped. I have had no side effects from taking Cymbalta and feel a lot better."

• Que...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 21, 2018

"I am 31 and have had arthritis in my spine since I was 24/25. I have taken many painkillers, including morphine, but my body became too used to it, and it stopped working. My doctor put me on duloxetine for the pain, also for depression, and this medication has changed my life. I'm able to be more active with my children. My depression has eased off, and my mood has stabilized completely. I take the tablets at night as it causes me to be drowsy, so I get a good night's sleep as well, so it is a win-win."

• Ang...
• October 29, 2020

"Duloxetine is the worst drug I have ever been on, now for only 10 months of 30 mg a day. My doctor took me off it last week. The side effects and withdrawal effects are a nightmare that don't seem to be going away. I've suffered loss of balance and had two bad falls. Severe, debilitating insomnia, depression, head zaps, irritability, and for me, the worst is intense itching all over my body, my scalp, everywhere, every day, all day. This drug is dangerous and should be taken off the market."

• Aun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 24, 2017

"I never have had such a love/hate relationship with any drug. Started taking 2 months ago and experienced immediate side effects from throat all the way to my intestines, along with a headache. Side effects have decreased, and I've tried going to 60 mg, but that lasted no more than 5 days before going back to 30 mg. I keep waffling between continuing it or stopping it. Only happy days are those I don't take it. Positives are it decreased my osteoarthritis and neuropathy pain and reduced swelling of ankles. Side effects' intensity changes often. This is really the drug from hell!"

• gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2019

"I took my first (and last) duloxetine (Cymbalta) Monday night at about 11:00 PM with a light meal. After about 5 hours I started having stomach aches, followed by severe nausea. I had dry heaves that left my stomach very sore. Tuesday was spent in bed, so tired that I thought I would never be able to get up. By Wednesday at about 9:00 AM I was finally able to eat a slice of toast and some coffee. It is now about 6:00 PM, and I still feel like I'm ready to fall down, and I have shakes in my hands and sweat a lot. My doctor prescribed it for arthritis pain in my knee that had not responded to alternative treatments, rubs, laser, cortisone shot, etc. The duloxetine did stop the knee pain, but it was a terrible trade-off. Will be dumping this poison at my doctor's office tomorrow if I'm able to drive. I do NOT recommend this product. Too many serious side effects."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2021

"Never ever again!! I was on this for one month for osteoarthritis pain, mildly helped but gave me anxiety, depression, panic attacks. Withdrawal symptoms were horrendous and almost hospitalized for suicidal thoughts with constant crying because of nausea. Please I beg you to do your research before using duloxetine. If I could give it a negative 10, I would."

• Pen...
• April 20, 2019

"I am a 61-year-old woman, and I began taking duloxetine in January 2019 for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, hands, knees, and feet. It clearly took the pain away. I then forgot to take the medicine for two days, and the pain began to come back. I got back on track, and the medicine began once again to take away the pain. Then in March, I began getting hot flashes and sweating like never before. On April 20th, after taking my 30 mg dosage, about an hour later, I began to develop hip pain and took 800 mg Motrin. I also had hot flashes and profuse sweating to the point that my pillow was soaked, my sheets, and a towel were soaking wet. I really don’t know what to do at this point."

• mth...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 23, 2025

Duloxetine "I had an osteoarthritis flare about 3 years ago that left me virtually unable to do anything; I ended up on the floor and couldn't get back up. I had to crawl to get a yardstick to knock my phone off the counter so I could call my sister, who came with her husband and got me back on my feet. My doctor tried some prescription arthritis meds for me; I gave the first one a month's trial, but it didn't help, and I never filled the second one because there was the possibility of a reaction between it and a couple of my glaucoma meds. When I called my doctor back about my concerns with that, she decided to try Cymbalta (Duloxetine). She started me off on 30 mg twice a day. Within 3 days, my pain was probably 75% improved, and I could go up and down steps though very slowly. I got a little more strength back every day, and after 3 months or so, my doctor had me start taking 60 mg once a day in the AM. I have never had any side effects and no longer take ibuprofen, just Cymbalta."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 15, 2025

Duloxetine "My doctor prescribed this medication for both generalized anxiety and osteoarthritis in my knees. The first two weeks were awful. I couldn’t sleep or eat. Felt horrible and stayed in bed like a zombie. Slowly I started to feel better. By week four I felt amazing. Knee pain was drastically reduced and mental health much improved. Rarely take ibuprofen anymore. So glad I pushed through the initial pains until my body adjusted to the medication. I still find it disrupts my sleep a bit if I take it before bed. No issues if taken first thing in the morning."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 19, 2015

Duloxetine "Relieve the pain in the joints in my wrists and hands, it was debilitating before my doctor put me on Cymbalta."

• Anonymous
• July 3, 2011

Duloxetine "Worked good for me with no side effects, if only my insurance would pay for it."

• aun...
• August 14, 2011

Duloxetine "Cymbalta made me very depressed and very nauseated, but my doctor wanted me to give it a month to see if my symptoms got better. Symptoms didn't improve."

• PLW...
• July 28, 2019

Duloxetine "Love that I am pain-free!"

• old...
• March 16, 2013

Duloxetine "First two weeks had good relief. It decreased after that."