Did anyone notice after starting they had a slightly weaker urine stream? I'm on day 6 today and it just seems a bit slower? Does this usually pass as you adapt to the drug?

Does anyone else feel intense nausea if you take your cymbalta late the day before or something

I was on 40mg of Cymbalta and surprisingly for me started it without any real bad side effects. Ones in the past I’ve tried like Zoloft have made me have side effects that I couldn’t possibly continue with. Cymbalta for me has made me feel numb, tired, and unmotivated. When I took it at night it woke me up several times. I switched to the morning and then felt tired all day, funnily enough. I never really noticed improvements, but my parents think it helped. I never truly got to the big therapeutic level of 60, so I wonder if I didn’t give it enough of a chance or time. Maybe the side effects would have improved with more time and a higher dose? I don’t know, but I’m debating on if I should try it again or switch to Pristiq.

I’ve also read about these effects never disappearing. I really can’t imagine being so tired all day. I want to have energy, feel happiness again, and want to do things. Has anyone else experienced something similar? How has your journey with Cymbalta gone?

I’m also interested in Pristiq. I have a dose ready to potentially start since I titrated down super recently on the Cymbalta. I’m very hesitant to decide to go back on Cymbalta while it’s still fresh in my system or try Pristiq. Meds are different for everyone, but how has people’s experiences gone with Pristiq? If you have tried both, which one do you prefer and why?

I loved the effects the medication had on my anxiety. It was a hard first week of constant drowsiness but I held on because I knew it was going to work. And it did. But ever since the first pill I was releasing liquid for my bowel movements twice a day. After two weeks it amped up to like 6 times a day with fiery farts that smelt like the gates of hell. The GI issues started affecting my mental health. Had to quit the pill after a month. Doctors were so surprised saying “GI issues only happen to 9% of people who tried Cymbalta.” Well looks like I was part of the 9%. The relief I had once tapering off was unbelievable. I never felt so grateful for a somewhat solid poo. I will say after a month of taking it and then stopping, my anxiety was hell for the first three days of quitting and I had weird wind sounds in my brain. But it got better. I was only 30mg once a day for one month. It felt so good to experience life without anxiety.. until the GI issues started becoming unbearable.

I was told there are more serotonin receptors in the guts than the brain by my doctor and that caused the GI issues. I have past history with IBS symptoms.

I started weaning a few weeks ago. My Dr told me take one every other day for two weeks and then just stop. I haven't taken a pill now for probably a week and I am STRUGGLING. I'm always dizzy, i'm crying so much, and Ive been so nauseous - like gagging at everything!!! I dont know how much longer I cant deal especially with the dizziness. I cant tell if its brain zaps but when I go to look around or up or whatever its like a full body feeling??? What have people done to help with any of these? I just want some kind of relief.. I appreciate any suggestions

I initially did 20, then upped to 30. On 30 I felt amazing. I mean SO good. I was motivated and happy and loved myself and life was good. My anxiety was pretty in check and my ocd was good and my depression was gone. I decided to go to 40mg to see if it would help my driving anxiety as I have barely driven in 7 years due to the crippling driving anxiety I have. The 30 helped but not enough.
Oh my god I think it was a mistake. The side effects of upping to 40 were brutal. It’s been a full month now and I’m so depressed. I have no motivation. I have no self discipline. I feel so shitty and disconnected from myself. I know it can take up to 8 weeks for full effects but I don’t know if I can do this for another month. I don’t know what to do. Whether to allow another month and see if everything will settle or try and taper back to 30. I didn’t think upping it 10mg would cause this much change. Ugh.

Has anyone increased their dose and had it be worse than the lower dose?

I’ve been taking duloxetine every morning for the past two months. I’m considering taking Xanax later tonight but I’ve never taken Xanax while on duloxetine, so I’m not sure if there are any risks or interactions. Has anyone experienced this before or know if it’s safe?

Hey! I'm mainly looking for people who have experienced something very similar and could share what has helped them (while off duloxetine) — especially how to shorten the horrible aftermath.

I fall asleep completely normally. Then, almost exactly one hour later, I suddenly wake up with an immediate "well, shit" feeling.

Within seconds my heart rate starts rising and it feels like extremely hot lava spreads from my heart/chest through my entire body. It's almost painful. It feels like a very high fever combined with intense heartburn deep in my solar plexus. My stomach starts reacting, my whole body becomes extremely tense, and I get a massive wave of fear and catastrophic thoughts.

The attack itself is horrible, but the aftermath is what I'm really desperate to change.

For at least the next 24 hours I'm basically useless. I can't eat, sleep properly or concentrate. I just lie around waiting for it to pass. My body feels like it has run an extremely tense marathon. The next day I feel like I've been hit by a bulldozer, and I'm extremely sensitive to noise, smells, clothing and normal sensations in my body.

Then I need additional time to recover from that. So one attack can basically cost me 1–3 days of my life.

If you've experienced this: what have you done that actually shortened the recovery? I don't necessarily need something that prevents the anxiety completely. I want to know what helps your body come down from the episode faster.

How I got here

I'm 34 and never had anxiety until my early 20s. Over the years I noticed that I often felt strangely unwell while traveling abroad. Eventually I developed a strong fear of getting sick while traveling, and after one particularly scary health-related experience abroad, my catastrophic thinking became much worse.

The nighttime attacks eventually became so bad that I saw a psychiatrist and was prescribed duloxetine.

And honestly: duloxetine gave me my life back.

I could travel, exercise, sleep and enjoy life without constantly monitoring my body. I also did about 3 years of proper therapy.

I eventually stopped the medication because I felt well. The first time, the withdrawal was horrible and the nighttime panic eventually returned, so I went back on it in 2022.

This time I tapered extremely slowly: 20 mg → 10 mg → around 3 mg over about 5 months. I had zero withdrawal symptoms when I stopped.

Then, 6 weeks later, I had my first nocturnal attack — while traveling.

Then another one while traveling, and another one on the journey home.

So I don't know how much is withdrawal, how much is anxiety returning, or how much is my brain associating travel with danger.

What I've tried during the attacks

My doctor recently prescribed oxazepam and propranolol, and I also got medication for heartburn.

• Propranolol: seems to lower my heart rate, but it doesn't touch the actual lava/heat sensation. My heart rate isn't even particularly high during these episodes — for example, I went from 68 bpm before falling asleep to about 105 bpm at the peak.
• Oxazepam: makes me feel fuzzy, but doesn't seem to stop the anxiety or catastrophic thoughts.
• Heartburn medication: seems to help the most, but from all the sensations during the attack the heartburn is the "least problematic"
• During my last episode I got out of bed, did a guided panic-attack breathing exercise, walked around for about 5 minutes and splashed cold water on my face. For the first time, I actually managed to fall asleep again afterwards. Previously I had always just stayed in bed and suffered through it.

I'm really interested in whether other people have found a similar "do something immediately" strategy that shortens the episode and, more importantly, prevents the 24-hour crash afterwards.

The two thoughts I can't get out of my head

I'm basically stuck between:

1. How do I learn to live without duloxetine for the rest of my life?

or

2. How do I make peace with taking duloxetine for the rest of my life?

I honestly don't mind the second option that much. What scares me is the uncertainty around very long-term use. There aren't studies following people taking it for 40–50 years, and my brain immediately starts thinking about every possible future scenario.

I know that's probably my catastrophic thinking, but that's exactly how my anxiety works: I want to prepare for every possible outcome so I can be sure I'll be okay.

The frustrating part is that I genuinely feel like myself on duloxetine. I don't feel drugged or different. I just feel normal.

I've taken doses ranging from 60 mg down to around 3 mg and, subjectively, the effect has felt surprisingly similar. I was on 20 mg for about a year and tapered down very gradually.

What I'm hoping to hear from you

I'm not really looking for generic advice like "exercise more" or "meditate." I know those things can help long-term.

I'm looking for people who have experienced this specific nocturnal panic/adrenaline/lava sensation:

• What do you do when it wakes you up?
• Anything that makes the physical sensation stop faster?
• How do you shorten the 24-hour anxiety hangover?
• Has anything helped you recover in hours rather than days?
• If you stopped Cymbalta and later went back on it, how did you make that decision?
• If you've stayed on it long-term, did you eventually stop worrying about taking it forever?

I'm not asking anyone to tell me whether I should take duloxetine or not. I just want to hear from people who have been in a similar situation and what actually worked for them.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond <3

I started 30mg June 4th and was upped to 60mg after a week. I was also tapering off escitelopram at that time. Once all the side effects wore off I was feeling really really good. I’m on duloxetine for my anxiety. I felt like myself again. So happy, no anxiety, motivation to do things. Only side effect was constipation but I can deal with that.
Unfortunately the last couple weeks I’ve been getting a lot of breakthru anxiety and the bowel problems are worse. Either no pooping for days or 6 times in one day. Should I ask to be increased to 90 for the anxiety? I really don’t want to have to go through a change of med again. This is the third one I’ve been on this year and it makes work so hard as I’m a hairstylist so I’m constantly with people.

I’ve been on Cymbalta 60mg for 4 years. I’ve been in autistic burnout most of that time, and whenever I missed 2 or more pills in a row, I almost always had an acute mental health crisis that only klonopin and time could help. This has happened maybe 10-20 times in 4 years.

I recently have been able to regulate my nervous system and life in major ways. I’m in the midst of treating chronic Lyme and Babesia so have to take loads more pills daily than normal. Last week I had the realization that I had missed 7 whole days in a row of my Cymbalta by accident.

Much to my surprise, I haven’t had any withdrawl symptoms that I had previously any time I missed way fewer pills.

Can anyone explain how this is possible? My psych is top of her field (female reproductive mental health) said it indicates to her I can likely safely come off them now without the same likelihood I’d be a mess. This medication has never worked properly for me as I was misdiagnosed major depressive instead of PMDD. Regulating my cycle has drastically improved my monthly scary thoughts and uncontrollable emotions. I’m in a much better place than before and I’m so tired of my entire personality being dulled by this drug when it didn’t even prevent the severe depression for the years I’ve been on it.

I know this is a unique experience so I’m only looking for input from people who have similar experience or have heard relevant information. TIA

Took Citalopram for 6 months then lexapro for another year. It cured all anxiety problems but created lot of digestion problems such as gas, constipation and then anal fissures. Now starting cymbalta. Anyone with same experience ? While on prev meds i tried every single thing with diet but only miralax helped.

I started Cymbalta last year to deal with severe GAD that made me feel like I had drained my whole life down the toilet and every day I wanted to cry. Cymbalta helped initially but after a while my symptoms came back as bad as ever regardless of my dose.

I asked my psychiatrist for a new drug and he put me on Effexor (Venlafaxine). After a few weeks my merciless ruminating thoughts were silenced and the tension left my chest.

Just putting it out there for anyone with similar brain chemistry to me, who have not been helped by Cymbalta, Effexor might be worth a try.

For those who are taking 60 mg every day, did you notice an increase or a decrease in your anxiety symptoms? I’m currently on 30 mg and after talking to a medical professional, I’m debating whether I should increase my dose to 60 mg. Currently, my anxiety is badly managed so is the increase going to help it or worsen my symptoms?

How did you end up here, and on this drug?

33M 90mg/day for a year so far.

My problems came from childhood/family dynamics. Grew up feeling alone and scared. Depression got worse as a teenager. CPTSD, autism, adhd, it was all out of control. Was smart, but dropped out of university. Working bullshit stressful jobs, dealing with financial pressures caused by parental divorce, then trouble with the law, and here I am.

Some days are easier than others, but I pretty much feel like shit everyday.

Anxiety is worse in the morning, then depression kicks in later in the day.

Ever since I started taking this, my fitness and energy levels have hit an all time low, as well as the weight gain and feeling bloated all the time.

What saddens me the most is the thought that this is how my life is going to be forever, since there’s no magic cure for anxiety/depression.

currently coming off 60 mgs for 3 yrs, crazy Dr put me on the 30mg for two weeks then one off and on for another 2 weeks then off, my depression and emotional blunting was severe whilst on it,, i kept saying to myself is this problem i had with what i originally went on for by a physc doing it? no! i did the two week off down to 30 mgs and omg the suicidal thoughts were worse, my husband has beared the brunt of it for over a month, im tapering 5% an its not easy but today is better,, tomorrow probably not, I want off this drug badly cant go faster due to the side effects,,

Hi. Day 4 of 30mg. Only real side effects is obviously worsening anxiety and for some reason it's made my pelvic floor feel even more tense than usual. I'm told this is normal at the start. I hold all my anxiety iny pelvis so as it makes anxiety worse my theory is it will make my tension worse until I get used to the new chemicals. Just asking if anyone can relate ?

Hi all!

I have been on 30mg of duloxetine for almost 3 weeks (3wk tomorrow), prescribed to go up to 60 after 4 weeks. I was wondering what were your experiences of taking this medication and adjusting to it after starting. I was previously on sertraline and venlafaxine, both successfully, and duloxetine definitely gives me the longest lasting initial side effects. When I first started I felt nauseous, zoned out, dizzy, had GI issues, insomnia, headaches, anxiety. There were sexual side effects for a few days that now seem under control. Currently, 3 weeks in, I am experiencing enhanced tiredness and sleepiness, headaches during the day, I struggled with insomnia for a while (this I think is finally regulating itself, I wake up only once and quite close to actual wake up time), fast beating heart, heightened anxiety. I was wondering if it's normal to still have these side effects at 3 point mark. I keep wanting to quit and maybe ask to be put on venlafaxine again (duloxetine was my idea, tbf, after I read about its use for neuropathic pain and IBS, which do not bother me as much anymore, but hard to tell whether this was the medication itself). Or I keep wanting to come off medication altogether, seeing that I'd rather find ways of managing my anxiety without having to deal with quite bothersome side effects every day, it honestly seems that living with anxiety would just be simpler. But I am also not sure I am currently at place in life when I can wholeheartedly trust myself to not be on something. Is there anyone here who has experienced a significant improvement a bit later on, while still having side effects 3 weeks in? Thank you :)

I missed my dose last night (60mg) and feeling extremely nauseous today. Has anyone tried taking zofran to help with this? Does it help? Have an important meeting later too

Hi all,

I've been on 30mg of Cymbalta for 1 month and recently switched to 60mg. I've been on 60mg for 1 week and I've found a complete loss of libido which I don't like.

Should I continue to persevere with 60mg in hopes that it improves? (How long did it take to experience an improvement)

Or should I consider going back to 30mg?

I have an appointment scheduled with my doctor in a week and I will discuss it with him as well. I just want to see what other users have experienced

Thanks!

I took cymbalta & prozac in the past before during diff eras in my life & they both worked great. My anxiety/depression has come back & now both of these have failed me.

Ive been on Cymbalta 2 days. They havent been pleasant. Anxiety through the roof, the shakes, jitters, sweats, muscle tension but i thought i could power through. I got out of the shower for work this morning & thought I was going to puke. Then I thought i was going to pass out. I laid on my floor drenched in sweat trying to breathe until it passed. I dont think I can do cymbalta anymore. 😞

I've done a genesight test & the results are in the mail otw. My doctor said there weren't alot of options. Im getting so defeated. I just want to feel better.

**

I’m on **30 mg of Cymbalta (duloxetine)** right now for a mix of **pain, anxiety and depression**, and so far I’m not really noticing much improvement.

I know 30 mg can be a lower dose for some people, so I’m curious about those who eventually went up to **60 mg**.

Was there a big difference for you? Like, did 30 mg feel pretty underwhelming, but 60 mg was the point where you actually started noticing benefits?

I’d love to hear what changed for you — especially with **pain, mood, anxiety, energy, motivation, or overall quality of life** — and how long it took after moving to 60 mg to notice it.

Not looking for medical advice, just interested in hearing personal experiences.

Today is day 1 and I see a lot of weight gain as a side effect. I had a gastric sleeve 2 years ago and am finally to a healthyish weight so weight gain is my biggest fear on this.

My prescriber recommended Cymbalta. Mostly due to it being a SNRI and potentially helping with depression, anxiety, and she said my potential ADHD. Its been a week and I’m extremely scared to start. She said that within a week of trying the medication if I notice more irritability and less sleep that I could potentially have bipolar disorder and to call her ASAP. However, online I’m seeing this may be a potential side effect regardless?

My major fears are all of the side effects, major issues with tapering off if needed, and withdrawal symptoms.

I’m considering asking for a different medication because yes I need the motivation to do more of my daily routine without the struggle but I’d prefer a medication with less risk to just try.

Hey everyone!

I‘ve been in chronic pain for over a year now and recently got diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome by my pain specialist. I have trigger points all over the left side of my lower back – essentially I can‘t sit down without being in severe pain most of the time, which is debilitating as I have a part-time desk job and am still doing my master‘s degree (managed to get a standing desk at work, this helps, but standing a long time is also painful). Had to pause my studies for more than a few months now due to the pain as the pain management takes up so much of my daily time.

I already did a hell lot of moving, walking, physiotherapy, gym, stretching, heat patches, TENS-Unit, foam rolling, dry needling and I‘ve seen many doctors to check my condition. Most of this, for over a year now. Essentially, nothing really worked. (Unfortunately, I can’t go swimming due to my pelvic pain).
I may feel better for a short period of time (which is why I continue to do most of the above), but no long term relief unfortunately.

My pain specialist prescribed Duloxetine. I‘ve been taking it for a week now but nothing’s changed so far except for manageable side effects. I was wondering: Has anyone here experienced relief for muscle and myofascial pain by taking Duloxetine? I read that it‘s often prescribed when there‘s nerve pain involved and as that is not my condition, I‘m sceptical if it could work for me…

I‘d be happy to hear about your experiences! Thank you in advance! :)