[Pastel Kitten]

My friend has depression and was prescribed 30mg Cymbalta. He asked his pdoc about side effects, and she gave him a vague answer. Nothing specific. He researched more about it online when he got home and it seems that many people have had awful experiences on it, and that the bad often outweighed the good. He's very worried about taking it and from what I read, I don't blame him, because the potential side effects (particularly if you start to come off of it) seem almost like a taste of bipolar disorder! What are your experiences with Cymbalta?

[Angelique67]

I wasn't on it very long, but I had an increase of anxiety when I started it. Then it seemed good, relieved the pain in my knees. Then I ran out of it, and then ive never given it a serious try since. I read horror stories about coming off it.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I was on it for a long time. When my pdoc wanted to switch to something else it was more than horrible getting off of Cymbalta. I weaned off slowly. Didn't matter. Really messed me up. I will never ever take it again

[spring2014]

Originally Posted by Pastel Kitten

My friend has depression and was prescribed 30mg Cymbalta. He asked his pdoc about side effects, and she gave him a vague answer. Nothing specific. He researched more about it online when he got home and it seems that many people have had awful experiences on it, and that the bad often outweighed the good. He's very worried about taking it and from what I read, I don't blame him, because the potential side effects (particularly if you start to come off of it) seem almost like a taste of bipolar disorder! What are your experiences with Cymbalta?

hi kitten ,
im currently on Cymbalta 60 mgs . I like it cuz its smoother and it keeps my depression under control . I had problems with the Cymbalta when it up to 90 mgs it slowed me down physically and mentally it made me gain weight like crazy. it kept me up when I was on the 30 mgs minus my Vistrail . I like Cymbalta . my therapist is happy with the results of the Cymbalta .




Diagnosis: Anxiety and depression
meds: Cymbalta 60 mgs at night
Vistrail 2 25 mgs daily for anxiety prn
50 mgs at night for insomnia with an additional 25 mgs=75 mgs when up past 1:00 in the morning

[Pastel Kitten]

Thanks for the responses. He is also in particular worried about nausea (because he already has a lot of problems with nausea/throwing up as is), and brain zaps (he had them when coming off of fluoxetine) because he read that they can last up to 6 months, when coming off of cymbalta.

[bolair811]

I've heard of people having good success with Cymbalta, so my experience is probably pretty atypical. I'll be honest and say that after two trials on Cymbalta (a year apart and I had switched pdocs), I realized that I had become extremely suicidal both times (near constant thoughts and researching / creating plans). I was hospitalized both times. It was at my last hospitalization when that pdoc took me off, and it was total h*ll. I was tapering it, but it was still awful with nausea, insomnia, severe anxiety, brain zaps, etc. I think the only thing that got me through it was Klonopin. I couldn't work for over a week, and it was difficult for about 2 weeks after that. I've been on a lot of medications in the last 16 years, and Cymbalta was the worst (Depakote was a close second).

[IrisBloom]

I very recently started Cymbalta 60mg. Three months in and I have had no serious side effects. At first a few random mild headaches, but that was all. I have been on several different meds thru the years and most of them seem to have the brain-zaps as a withdrawal symptom. I believe that is your brain adjusting to the change. Of course there can be worse side effects and withdrawal issues, but I have had a pretty good experience so far.

Remember any time you start a new med it can cause increased depression or anxiety at first while your brain adjusts to it. These pass in a few days usually. Also other things going on in your life can affect your ups and downs. I would give the med 6 weeks (if no serious side effects) to really see if it's working well or not.

As always, get to ER or call 911 if you feel in danger of hurting yourself or others, meds or not.

[buttrfli42481]

I was on 120mgs Cymbalta every morning for several years. Started out at 30mgs in 2007 and increased to the max dose of 120mgs over the years. It worked great for me, my depression was well controlled. In August of 2015 I was hospitalized for an eating disorder and my lab work (liver enzymes) came back extremely high. They took me off cold turkey everything that was processed by my liver. That included my cymbalta. I was so physically ill that I could not keep food down. I also started having suicidal thoughts again. They waited a week before putting me on another anti-depressant, which did not work. I am now on 25mgs of Pristiq going up to 50mgs Monday.

[Marilyn2016]

I was on 90mgs daily for three years. It worked well, and I didn't have any major side effects. I've been on lots of meds, like many people, but I found as an anti-depressant it worked quite well. Maybe too well. I haven't cried for years!

[Travelinglady]

Cymbalta has been a miracle drug for me. As far as I know, side effects are minimal. It has helped me with pain and allowed me to be more active and less depressed. I am not concerned about coming off of it, because I hope I won't have to.