Duloxetine for fibromyalgia: Does it work long-term?

Hello @johnc777,

Duloxetine has been approved for Fibromyalgia patients. You can read a pretty extensive review of the medication here, https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/duloxetine-oral-route/description/drg-20067247.

In this explanation, it does state "You will need to use this medicine for several weeks before you begin to feel better. Keep using the medicine even if you feel you are not getting better, and talk to your doctor if you have any questions."

How we each process medications is different so it is difficult to gauge long-term use. @johnc777, have you had a chance to talk to your provider about this medication? If so, have you been able to discuss how long you can use the medication and the risks vs. rewards of long-term use?

@JustinMcClanahan many thanks

I was on Cymbalta for about 15 years. It helped when I first started it. I Didn’t know it was effecting me until I got off it at my request. Went off March 2025. Very difficult withdrawal probably because I was taken off in 2-3 weeks and now found out it should have been tirated for a lot longer. Before getting off it I would stay in bed anywhere from 1-5pm every day. Now I’m up by 9am at latest. Feels good to be able to function. However the worse thing is the long term effects I still have from the withdrawal of the drug. I cry everyday for any little thing. It’s terrible. The full blown emotions along with the crying. I’m basically disabled by it. I don’t socialize even less because I break down when talking to anyone. Sometimes in the store, etc because of a thought. I used to be a tough person. So this is unusual. I have very bad memory although that I’m not sure if cause was the Cymbalta. This was my experience, everyone is different.

@jeannesf1 many thanks for this. I hope your situation improves; perhaps time will heal. all the best

I guess what I’m saying is, try not to take it for long term (change to different medications), because some of these medications haven’t been around long enough to actually know long term effects. However it did help with the pain. (I don’t have a specialist, the general practitioner just wings it) Doctors don’t know enough about these medications and how to get you off safely. We need fibromyalgia specialists available through our insurance to know these medications but at least for me it’s not going to happen. I can’t afford a functional doctor that might know more about fibromyalgia. I’m taking LDN now that has maybe 3 or 4 side effects and I’m doing better. A lot better. It doesn’t cure it but pain is gone from some areas entirely and the areas that do hurt are not chronic. They come and go. I wish you the best. Peace and love.

I have been using Duloxetine for approximately two years. I built up to 120mg a day (60mg/am and 60mg/pm) however, I found this level - although helpful with the pain, left me totally brain fogged. After chatting things over with GP - we decided to titrate back to just 60mg in the morning - along with a low dose Buprenorphine patch. However, the patch has been gradually increased to 15mm and with the addition of paracetamol three or four times a day - - it has made the pain much more bearable. I also have recently been diagnosed with four broken vertebrae T12, L1, L4 and L5 - which led to a Dexa Scan confirming Osteoporosis. I also have osteoarthritis in my lower spinal facet joints - plus, I have replacement left and right hips - obviously, all these extra issues, together with fibro, literally are a pain in the butt and the back - as well as in all the other parts of my aching body !! If all that wasn’t enough, at the end of February, I underwent open heart bypass surgery (CABG) that included a collapsed lung! No real surprise as I have Asthma - and am 80 years young. What I wasn’t expecting, was in April, for my lungs to decide to take on fluid, for it to hang around and then provide the perfect breeding ground for pneumonia. At this point I was briefly back in hospital where they filled me with a couple of heavy duty antibiotics that quickly allowed me to return home to recuperate. Having cleared a good percentage of the gunk from the lungs, a CT Scan in May - has shown several suspicious 6mm nodules - so the radiologist has scheduled me in for another CT scan in September . You wouldn’t think that my nick-name is Lucky would you!!🇬🇧🤣😂🤣😂

@jeannesf1 many thanks. Good to hear LDN is helping you. Peace and love in return.
(p.s. ref access to doctors, I think talking to good AIs (e.g. Claude Fable) can be helpful for ideas. You can have a conversation with it that goes on, 24/7 whenever, forever. Worth trying. But need to watch for hallucinations.)

@dollydutchgirl1946 crumbs you certainly are up against it. terrific that you can even comment. I hope you eventually reach calmer waters and can enjoy some good times ahead. All the best

@johnc777 - thank you so much for your kind words, they are truly appreciated. I had a tough upbringing but, guess that’s what has made me who I am and, how I cope with things. I also have an incredibly, amazing husband, who would literally walk through fire for me plus, a truly wonderful daughter, son-in-law, a nearly 18 year old fabulous grandson and a just 27 year old, caring and loving granddaughter - who will be getting married on September 6th. We are so happy to be blessed with such an amazing family who we absolutely adore. We are so looking forward to welcoming our granddaughter’s fiancé into the family.
Hopefully, you will find an answer to dealing with your pain - that doesn’t cause you too many side issues. Take care….🇬🇧😊