1. < Depression & Anxiety

What's your experience with duloxetine (US Brand Name; Cymbalta)?

Posted by d13 @d13, Jan 11, 2022

I was prescribed by my oncologist for the neuropathy in feet and hands. The chemotherapy treatments did this. This drug also states that it is used to treat depression and anxiety. As with any prescription medication, there could be side effects. And a huge list of what not to take with this drug. He also prescribed hydrocodone 5 mg, but to take half of pill four times daily for cancer pain. We’ll, when I got home and read about the Duloxetine use; one of the medications on the list was hydrocodone. I’m now waiting for a call from the oncologist office to see if I can take the Duloxetine with the hydrocodone. Can anyone at least tell me if they have ever taken this medication; Duloxetine? And any side effects?

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journey2013 | @journey2013 | Mar 7, 2023
In reply to @luv2hike "I have also been taking Cymbalta for years (15) . I take it for depression and..." + (show)
@luv2hike

I have also been taking Cymbalta for years (15) . I take it for depression and haven't noticed any side effects. It has helped me a lot, especially after trying other meds; Effexor, Paxil. I take 120mg daily. Your health condition is different from mine so it is always good to talk to your pharmacist. I hope it helps you and wish you all the best!

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I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for years also for depression and haven't had any side effects. I noticed the Cymbalta by itself wasn't helping 100% anymore. Dr. put me on Wellbuttrin and dropped Cymbalta to 30 mg. That didn't help either so dropped Wellbuttrin and back to 60 mg Cymbalta. Will be seeing him next week and wondering if anyone else has needed to add another depression drug to Cymbalta and what their experience was?

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3 replies
sandysings | @sandysings | Mar 8, 2023

I had to stop taking Cumbalta, because it caused permanent involuntary body movements.

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1 reply
yasmineseropian | @yasmineseropian | Mar 8, 2023

I have been on both for a few years, no side effects here.

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Linda Moross | @lmoross | Mar 8, 2023
In reply to @journey2013 "I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for years also for depression and haven't had any..." + (show)
@journey2013

I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for years also for depression and haven't had any side effects. I noticed the Cymbalta by itself wasn't helping 100% anymore. Dr. put me on Wellbuttrin and dropped Cymbalta to 30 mg. That didn't help either so dropped Wellbuttrin and back to 60 mg Cymbalta. Will be seeing him next week and wondering if anyone else has needed to add another depression drug to Cymbalta and what their experience was?

Jump to this post

I have also been on cymbalta for many years. My doctor added Wellbutrin about a year ago. I am not perfect but functioning basically okay. I have tried to taper off cymbalta twice with medical help, but found my mood plummeted. So it does help even if it may not seem like it. Depression is a lifelong battle for me. Best wishes to you.

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gracie71 | @gracie71 | Mar 9, 2023

I have taken Cymbalta for mental nerve neuropathy related to trigeminal nerve damage from a failed endodontic procedure. I have had severe facial pain for almost 6 years. The Cymbalta was taken to ease the pain and subsequent anxiety and depression. I started out slowly with 30mg. and advance to 60, 90 and then 120mg. per day. I thought that it helped some but not to the degree that l had hoped for. My neurologist instructed me to wean off slowly which l did and then began to experience disabling side effects which included feeling lightheaded, unable to walk straight, headaches and enough symptoms to make me pull out covid tests and check my temperature. I also oddly started having afib once every week. I then decided that perhaps the Cymbalta was helping with the pain and anxiety and depression by comparison more than l realized so I am now at the point of taking Cymbalta 30mg. to start over. The minute l began started this the adverse and debilitating side effects stopped except for the afib.

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1 reply
keona619 | @keona619 | Mar 10, 2023
In reply to @gracie71 "I have taken Cymbalta for mental nerve neuropathy related to trigeminal nerve damage from a failed..." + (show)
@gracie71

I have taken Cymbalta for mental nerve neuropathy related to trigeminal nerve damage from a failed endodontic procedure. I have had severe facial pain for almost 6 years. The Cymbalta was taken to ease the pain and subsequent anxiety and depression. I started out slowly with 30mg. and advance to 60, 90 and then 120mg. per day. I thought that it helped some but not to the degree that l had hoped for. My neurologist instructed me to wean off slowly which l did and then began to experience disabling side effects which included feeling lightheaded, unable to walk straight, headaches and enough symptoms to make me pull out covid tests and check my temperature. I also oddly started having afib once every week. I then decided that perhaps the Cymbalta was helping with the pain and anxiety and depression by comparison more than l realized so I am now at the point of taking Cymbalta 30mg. to start over. The minute l began started this the adverse and debilitating side effects stopped except for the afib.

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I had horrible side effects. So did my Mom

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baponte87 | @baponte87 | Mar 11, 2023
In reply to @sandysings "I had to stop taking Cumbalta, because it caused permanent involuntary body movements." + (show)
@sandysings

I had to stop taking Cumbalta, because it caused permanent involuntary body movements.

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What kind of involuntary movements? I have been on cymbalta for, gosh, 10 years. About 4 years ago my toes started moving involuntarily… and constantly. 24/7, even in my sleep. I have seen just about every doctor I can think of and none of them suggested discontinuing the cymbalta.

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rabbit0 | @rabbit0 | Mar 12, 2023

I have been taking Cymbalta for 15 yrs now . The only side effect I have is Over heating. I get really hot and can’t seem to cool off. My doctor recently put me on Wellbutrin 300mg not sure for what?

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journey2013 | @journey2013 | Mar 13, 2023
In reply to @journey2013 "I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for years also for depression and haven't had any..." + (show)
@journey2013

I have been taking Cymbalta 60 mg for years also for depression and haven't had any side effects. I noticed the Cymbalta by itself wasn't helping 100% anymore. Dr. put me on Wellbuttrin and dropped Cymbalta to 30 mg. That didn't help either so dropped Wellbuttrin and back to 60 mg Cymbalta. Will be seeing him next week and wondering if anyone else has needed to add another depression drug to Cymbalta and what their experience was?

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I was wondering what would be a good drug to add to the 60 mg Cymbalta, which I will continue to take?

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1 reply
grammy11 | @grammy11 | Mar 13, 2023
In reply to @kathleen11 "I've recently tapered off Cymbalta after taking it for 18 years. It served me well for..." + (show)
@kathleen11

I've recently tapered off Cymbalta after taking it for 18 years. It served me well for about 16 of those 18 years, but it was time for a change, which can happen.

Just take it at the same time every day and remember it has a short half-life, which can cause withdrawal symptoms (brain zaps, headaches, nausea, etc.) if you miss a dose or lose it before you absorb it (stomach flu...).

And if you do decide to stop taking it, taper off gradually under doctor's supervision, particularly when going from the lowest dose to nothing.

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Did the cymbalta stop working? I've been on effexor for 12 years; 11 were good but it's not working now. Increasing was worse so I'm tapering off. I had no idea they can stop being effective

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