Duloxetine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2020

Duloxetine for Depression "I’ve been taking Cymbalta at a dose of 40 mg for 1 week now. I feel lightheaded. Not really depressed or having anxiety, but I can’t sleep and I have no appetite. I’m already underweight. Feeling stoned all day. My stomach also churns all night. I think there must be something more tolerable for me. I can’t function. Any suggestions?"

• kaz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 4, 2018

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I don't usually leave reviews for anything, and I researched this drug and saw so many negative comments about it, so I thought I would leave a positive one. People seem to try this for 1 - 3 days and give up, how is this giving the drug a good chance at working? I have had chronic musculoskeletal lower back pain for just over a year now without any opiates working long term, so my doctor prescribed Cymbalta 30mgs to start with. Yes, I did have side effects... nausea, insomnia, lack of concentration, fainting, headaches, etc., but when you are desperate for pain relief, you try anything and I stuck it out for the 2 weeks. All the side effects have gone, and I now have gone up to 60mgs, and I feel this is kicking in quite nicely. I don't need my pain patches anymore, etc."

• Anonymous
• August 25, 2018

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Cymbalta was really hard to take at first. I felt very out of it the first day. The second and third days, the nausea was unbearable. I had terrible stomach cramps, but the worst was the insomnia (but I had that before I started taking Cymbalta). I was advised to try to stick to it and not give up because the benefits were coming. After 6 days, I was so happy that all the side effects disappeared. I'm sleeping on my own without insomnia meds. I feel like myself again, and the terrible panic and depersonalization I was having are gone. I know I still have some time to go until it's in full effect. I'm only in my second week, but I'm excited to know that it's going to be even better. Yes! Side effects suck, and you feel you can't take it! BUT I think about the quality of life I was having without it, and I'm grateful because it was so bad I was thinking of doing 'anything' to stop it. Cymbalta is giving me the opportunity to enjoy life again. If you are struggling with side effects, just hang in there. It will get better."

• Ste...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2021

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I had insomnia badly for the first couple of days, but taking it in the morning helped. I also experienced lack of appetite for the first couple of weeks and felt very energized. It faded, but same things when the dose was increased to 60mg. It was great for anxiety, even helped with things that I didn't know were from anxiety; however, I had no relief of back pain unfortunately. I currently have no side effects after 2 months."

• Boo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2020

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have only been on this medication for a week but I already notice a huge difference. I suffer from depression and anxiety as well as panic attacks. I noticed a difference on the 3rd day. My mind isn’t racing 100 mph and I can concentrate. Anxiety is still there a little bit, but no panic attacks. I had some nausea and diarrhea but I’m not sure if that was from Cymbalta as a bug was going around. The first few nights I had sleep issues, but those have passed. No sexual side effects thus far. I was on Lexapro before and I hated it. Felt like a zombie. This is altogether different. I know each drug is different for everyone, but so far Cymbalta has done wonders for me."

• Spi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2021

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "This drug had some side effects the first two weeks. I could not get more than one hour of sleep. It takes away some of the chronic pain in my hands, and I can get a full night's sleep. Give it time to work, if you're using it for chronic pain, don't quit after one month because it takes a good 6 to 7 weeks to really enjoy the benefits of Cymbalta."

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2016

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I began taking Cymbalta six weeks ago for generalized anxiety disorder. Although the initial side effects of disrupted sleep were difficult, it disappeared after about three weeks. I started on 30 mg and increased to 60 mg after one week. The results have been incredible. For the first time ever, I can sit quietly without a million thoughts running through my head. I no longer feel 'stuck' on certain thoughts. I feel calmer, more relaxed, and happier. I also find that my thinking is very clear. Overall, feeling very, very good. Highly recommend Cymbalta."

• g0l...
• November 16, 2018

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I had a large but benign brain tumor removed a year and a half ago. After my recovery, I had depression and anxiety, which I had never really experienced before. After dealing with it for over a year, I started generic Cymbalta three months ago. For the first two months, I took 30 mg a day. I experienced some initial insomnia, one day of upset stomach, and loss of appetite (lost 8 lbs) for about three weeks. It helped immediately with depression, while anxiety issues took about five weeks to improve. After two months, my doctor increased the dosage to 60 mg a day, which I've been taking for four weeks now. My anxiety has significantly improved, I feel it coming on now and then, but it doesn't last. I've regained the lost weight but nothing extra. I'm sleeping for 6-7 hours a night, which is about average for me. This medication has really helped me, I don't take anything else with it. I'm sorry to hear it affects some people so negatively, but please try to stay on it until your body can get used to the side effects. This drug has greatly improved my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 2, 2018

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "After years of chronic pain, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, intermittent depression, and anxiety, I did my research on fibromyalgia and had a conversation with my doctor. I had read about Cymbalta, and my doctor agreed to prescribe it and see if it would help my multiple issues. I felt better after the first day of 30 mg of Cymbalta. The only side effects I had were insomnia and daily headaches the first week. My side effects were tolerable, and the benefits outweighed the side effects. I stuck with it and have now been on Cymbalta for 4 weeks. I'm so thankful for this medication and feel I have my life back! I took high-dose Xanax for years, I couldn't fall asleep without it. I have been able to wean off Xanax as well, something I had been unable to do before. I see my doctor again this week and can't wait to tell her how well Cymbalta helps me."

• Cie...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 24, 2019

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I have rheumatoid arthritis that was not responding to Orencia, Arava, Rituxan, Cimzia, or Humira. Prior to these medications, I was on Enbrel, but it stopped working after 9 years and I was allergic to methotrexate. The Cymbalta seemed to make my pain much more bearable. I still had the joint pains, but somehow, the pain wasn't such a massive ordeal. Oh, and it also nicely treated my chronic major depressive disorder as well. I thought that maybe if I was on a higher dose, I might have less pain, so my dose of generic (Lupin) duloxetine was increased up to 150mg a day, and I found that although I could function fine during the day, I could not sleep. It was like I was too keyed up or something. Not anxious, just keyed up. I was able to sleep once I dropped my dose back down to 120mg a day. I give Cymbalta a 10 because it is a single medicine that treats two medical conditions!"

• Kat...
• December 28, 2007

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I have been on Cymbalta for 8 weeks. I suffer from medical anxiety. I have not felt this good in years. The first 2 weeks, I did have a lot of side effects: sweating, dizziness, insomnia, upset stomach, but after that, I started feeling better. I have lost 20 lbs because I no longer feel hungry all the time. I feel like I did 20 years ago, so much happier. I can't rave enough about it."

• one...
• April 2, 2009

Duloxetine for Depression "I feel the need to warn people about the withdrawal symptoms of getting off of this drug. I am home right now because I feel nauseated, my coordination is way off. I have severe head shock, and can't sleep. Look for these types of stories before taking these types of medicines."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2017

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I've suffered from anxiety and depression off and on for most of my life. I've tried many antidepressants (mostly SSRIs) without success. The side effects of these drugs were unbearable (mainly acute insomnia and panic attacks). Finally, after 30 years of intermittent mental suffering, despite running 30 miles a week and seeing a therapist on a regular basis, my primary care physician prescribed Cymbalta. It is a miracle drug. Although I've only been on it for 3 weeks, I'm already feeling relief from a major depression that started 6 months ago. I no longer have suicidal thoughts, negative, obsessive thinking, panic attacks, and I sleep like a rock. The world is so much brighter - I feel a sense of calm, contentment, and happiness."

• Kip...
• March 20, 2020

For Anxiety "I was suffering from severe anxiety due to a rare drug reaction to an antibiotic. I had never had anxiety before, and I was 65. I lost 43 pounds in 6 weeks (I had to force myself to eat) and this condition lasted for about a year. I tried Zoloft and it made things worse. I was prescribed duloxetine but kept the bottle on my bedside table for a month. I was afraid to take it after reading many bad reviews. Finally, I took the plunge and took my first 30 mg pill. I was feeling better within 5 hours. I had insomnia for about a week (I already had that from the anxiety) but that disappeared. After a week, my anxiety completely disappeared. It has been about a year, and no anxiety at all, despite the present coronavirus crisis - normal worries of course, but nothing unusual. I am sleeping well, and I am happy. This drug saved my life for sure. I know my reaction to this drug is unusually positive. Most don't have such immediate positive results, and some have bad ones, but I was lucky."

• daw...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 2, 2019

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "When I began this med for fibromyalgia I thought it was going to work out for me. I felt good enough to start swimming (the only exercise that doesn't hurt me) after a week of being on Cymbalta. I couldn't take the pill on an empty stomach--stomach ache, I couldn't take the pill at night--insomnia, and I had to take it with lunch in order to not have adverse effects. I felt like my pain stopped lessening after 6ish months of 60mgs a day so I stopped taking it. Another bad side effect was the total destruction of my sex drive. When I stopped taking it, my doctor told me to slowly wean off of it due to terrible side effects, but I had already stopped taking it before I saw her, and I didn't have any adverse effects of quitting cold turkey."

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2024

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I have chronic pain and bad anxiety for many years and have been living untreated and struggling. In the last few months, I started taking pain pills. But then a few weeks ago, I met two totally different strangers who, within five minutes of each other, shared their experience with CYMBALTA - it was like a light bulb went on! I had two or three previous doctors recommend it in the past, so I felt it was a SIGN or a NUDGE to give this prescription medication a go. I’m currently on day five of 30 mg with some side effects such as mild nausea, mild headaches that come and go, and some insomnia. But because of the positive reviews on here, I have decided to push through the side effects and give Cymbalta a chance to CHANGE my life! I have decreased pain meds to 3 a day and feel encouraged that my anxiety will be greatly helped!"

• myo...
• April 29, 2018

Duloxetine for Depression "I started on 30 mg and am currently on 60 mg - first few days on it were awful, with bad insomnia, nausea/headache, fatigue. However, after ~5-6 days, most symptoms subsided (except the insomnia, which I use melatonin for). It's been about 2 months and I have to say this medication has been life-changing for me in terms of my mood/thoughts. I used to have such dark thoughts and a negative outlook on life, assuming the worst in people and hating everything about myself. That has completely changed and I can say for the first time in YEARS that I feel truly, completely, happy. This happiness is different because it persists even when not-so-great things happen in my life. I will say that the anxiety still lingers but honestly its effects on my depression make the anxiety super tolerable. I hope this medication works for others the way it worked for me - time will tell as far as how long this will last."

• Joh...
• July 17, 2021

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I was prescribed this for severe fibromyalgia pain. It was awful! Insomnia, nausea, headache, restless legs while on it for a month. So even with a proper tapering off, I felt like I was going to die!!! Finally out of my system. Please stay away from this nightmare of a drug, and shame on doctors for not warning people about the withdrawal you may experience coming off of it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 6, 2024

Duloxetine for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I had been diagnosed with OCD and general anxiety, this med changed my life. I’ve been on it for 7 months now. I went from survival mode and avoidance to actually feeling ‘normal’. I never thought it would be possible. My only issue is that my sleep isn’t as solid as I’d like. But other than that, my life has changed for the better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2020

Duloxetine for Depression "I was diagnosed with PMDD and was prescribed Cymbalta. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so sick in my life: nauseous, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, loss of appetite, dry mouth, and all of this after one dose. Never again."

• KMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2020

For Fibromyalgia "I read these reviews before starting Duloxetine for fibro, and I was terrified to try it. To my surprise, it works great, and the side effects are not bad for me at all. The first 2 weeks, I felt unlike myself (a little on edge, with a runny nose and insomnia), but that all faded at about 1.5 weeks. After that, nothing really... but wow, it works. It took the pain down from about 7/8 to about 3/4 on the pain scale. And that is only at the 30 mg lowest dose. I am sure I could go up to 60 mg like my doctor recommended, but I would rather keep it minimal and deal with the remaining low level of pain. I have missed a dose and didn't recognize anything abnormal like the 'zaps' everyone talks about on here. I will update this review if anything changes because I realize it's just as important to read the good reviews, especially when you are worried to try a new medicine."

• LJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 16, 2018

Duloxetine for Anxiety "Dealing with severe anxiety and OCD my whole life, I decided to try medication when I turned 20. While my first few days on Cymbalta (10mg) were torturous, probably partly due to mental reservations about taking a pill every day (I experienced vomiting, headaches, dizzy spells, nausea, inability to sleep, and complete loss of appetite), I'm SO glad I stuck with the drug. Now I am on 80mg, and without sounding completely corny, I feel like I'm finally the person I'm meant to be. Since starting the pill, I've started rock climbing, learned to drive, and just become a much happier, friendlier, and more confident person. My friends and family have all noticed a huge shift in my personality and I'm so thrilled I went on Cymbalta."

• Cym...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 19, 2016

Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia "I saw this medication as a marvel, until I started taking it. I had no problems, except for some nausea, during the first 2-3 months I was on it. And it seemed to help somewhat with pain. Then the fun began: restless legs syndrome, insomnia, horrible sweating even when it was cold, urinary incontinence and frequency, muscle spasms, elevated liver enzymes...but hey, there's another medication for all those side effects. Finally after 3 years, I had had enough and was ready to move on. Unfortunately, the Lilly recommended taper is downright dangerous. After the alternating 60mg/30mg and drop to 30 mg, I was in full blown Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome. Look it up; it's not pretty. Run away from this med as fast as you can."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2013

Duloxetine for Anxiety "I have been on Cymbalta for about 4 months now, and finally can say that it is worth going through some of the beginning side effects. We must be careful though, to listen to our bodies first. Side effects can be bothersome but should not be unbearable, so if this is your case with Cymbalta or any other medication, you must consult your physician. When I first started Cymbalta (which I did twice before finally staying on it), I could not sleep, had headaches, and could not even drink a cup of coffee without feeling as if I was hyper. Eventually, things got better and I was able to stop the additional medication that was prescribed to help me sleep. Switching Cymbalta to bedtime helped tremendously! No pain and/or anxiety."

• Ext...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 20, 2018

Duloxetine for Chronic Pain "I had two major strokes 4 years ago that caused permanent central nervous system damage, severe depression, and anxiety. I had RLS, 'needles and pins' pain, sharp stabbing pains, shaking, quivering, lack of motor control, and more. My neurologist and surgeon suggested I take 30mgs of Cymbalta (Duloxetine) once before bed for pain. Since I started it two years ago, I am now about 80% pain-free. The spasms and intense nerve pain only come when I am very fatigued. The only side effect has been some hot flashes and insomnia, but I take Melatonin to sleep. Originally, my doctors suggested OxyContin, but I'd heard it was addictive so I tried the Duloxetine for pain and it works."