1. < Depression & Anxiety

Did duloxetine / Cymbalta raise your blood sugar?

Posted by annewoodmayo @annewoodmayo, Mar 24, 2023

Hi, everybody!
Has anyone had their blood sugars go up from Cymbalta/duloxetine?
If so, what did you and your doctor do about it?

My blood glucose and my A1C have been going higher, even though I lost 15 pounds and started to exercise. I've been on Cymbalta for a few years now.

Hope you all are hanging in there OK. Thanks for your help!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

mitfit | @mitfit | Apr 5, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@mitfit It’s great that you noticing a change for the better. I know how hard it..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@mitfit It’s great that you noticing a change for the better. I know how hard it is to find a medication that works and sometimes you have to try different meds to get to something that is helpful.

By this time of 5 weeks I think you would know if the Cymbalta is working for you and the side effects will have diminished. For me, when I started Cymbalta I noticed that it worked for my anxiety within a week. I’ve been taking Cymbalta for about 8 years and it’s still working for me. I still get anxious on some occasions and then I use my coping skills and can manage. Do you have coping skills you’ve learned to use?

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My husband said I seem happier and my son says I look better, so it must be having an effect. I have been giving breathing and medication as copies skills. Are there any others I should know about? The heart pounding and shaking are what really concern me. The anxiety is not medical, it is physical. I am happy to hear the Cymbalta has worked for you over the long term. This gives me hope!

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popolopo | @popolopo | Apr 9, 2023

I tried cymbala but I could not get any sleep on it so I quit.

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annewoodmayo | @annewoodmayo | May 1, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@annewoodmayo That happens to me too. I get so wrapped up in the primary reason to..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@annewoodmayo That happens to me too. I get so wrapped up in the primary reason to see my doctors that I forget to look at the questions I brought with me. Does your rheumatologist use the patient portal so you can write her and ask your question?

I will see my doctors on April 21 and I plan to ask your question. My A1C is in a normal range but I’m very curious about that. I will come back here and let you know.

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Hi Helen,
Did your doctor have an opinion on A1C and Cymbalta? Hope you had a good appointment!

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 1, 2023

@annewoodmayo I didn’t see the doctor at the visit two weeks ago. I saw a nurse practitioner who works with the doctor so I didn’t ask the question. Thank you for the reminder. I have a few questions to ask the doctor that I’m going to send via the patient portal and I will ask that question.

Thank you for asking. All of my other appointments were good. The CT scan showed no evidence of cancer and the physical exam showed nothing new.

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1 reply
annewoodmayo | @annewoodmayo | May 2, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@annewoodmayo I didn’t see the doctor at the visit two weeks ago. I saw a nurse..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@annewoodmayo I didn’t see the doctor at the visit two weeks ago. I saw a nurse practitioner who works with the doctor so I didn’t ask the question. Thank you for the reminder. I have a few questions to ask the doctor that I’m going to send via the patient portal and I will ask that question.

Thank you for asking. All of my other appointments were good. The CT scan showed no evidence of cancer and the physical exam showed nothing new.

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Helen, that is good news! 🙂

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ladysong | @ladysong | 2 days ago

I was instructed to stop taking duloxetine by my PCP on the 12th of February, a thursday. She thought it might help with my nightly bathroom visits(might be interfering with my sleep) Around monday I noticed a bad itching on my legs and right arm with red swollen patches. I could not sleep for a few nights the itching was so severe. my blood sugars dropped to double digits, from triple. I was glad to see the very low blood sugars, had not seen them in a couple of years while on Duloxetine. Perhaps it kept me so high!

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mitfit | @mitfit | 2 days ago

I have not had any problem with Cymbalta and blood sugar.

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bshiver | @bshiver | 2 days ago

I'm happy to come across this post. I'm not sure yet about blood sugar levels, as I was just prescribed duloxetine on 2/4 with full dosage (60mg x 2 tablets) beginning on 2/11. My PCP prescribed to help with chronic pain due to RA and neuropathy (I know most use this for anxiety and depression). Anyway, last night while I was reclining in bed my heart felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. My apple watch instantly sent warning that my heartbeat had risen to 160 bpm, so took it with pulse oximeter and read 185 bpm. Over the next hour it ranged from 155-185 bpm. During this hour, I took my blood pressure which was 127/120! I took it 3x and it was about the same. One hour later my bp lowered to 120/90 and my pulse rate to 80-90. I had taken nothing different, no caffeine or exercise. This morning my blood pressure consistently is 103/54 and pulse around 85. I do not have any sugar issues nor HBP. Over the past year, I've had a full workup on my heart and everything has come back with good results. It felt almost like the way others described panic attacks, but I do not suffer with these. I do have an appointment this afternoon, but curious if this has happened to anyone else when first taking duloxetine. Thanks for reading this long post. 🙂

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