Cymbalta Reviews
(Newest replies first)

Has anyone been prescribed this medication for back pain?

REPLY

REPORT

I was on Cymbalta for two years. And the first 6 months were fantastic...my pain was controlled and my energy level was great. Then I hit a wall...so my dosage was increased...in the meantime my blood pressure was high and was put on medication. That dosage increased 3 months later. The pain increased and I had depression. My Cymbalta dosage was at the highest allowed so I was then prescribed Prozac. I had to retire due to my chronic pain and while waiting for my disability retirement to be approved by my employer and social security I was without health insurance. By this time I had been off the Prozac. I did not have the money for my Cymbalta refill and I did not do the research on what to expect when withdrawing from this drug. It was terrifying...for a month I was in bed experiencing brain zaps, hallucinations, night terrors. I then read how tapering was the safe way to stop. By tapering off with removing small amounts of the beads at a time. I had to continue the cold turkey method (which I do NOT recommend) and it took 3 months for me to almost feel like myself. It has been 2 years since I have been off this evil drug. My blood pressure is controlled..I still and always will have the pain. One thing that also improved is my eyesight...the strength on my glasses has gone down! I joined a Cymbalta Help Group and it amazed me the awful impact this drug has on so many. I was told of a website that lets you look up what your Doctor is being paid by insurance companies and sure enough my doc was listed with payments from Eli Lilly. Now before I'm prescribed any medication I do my research instead of relying solely on the doctor.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Stephanie (# 50)

I just started Cymbalta 20mg & day 1 & 2 gave me the worst migraines & nausea I think I’ve ever experienced... Today would’ve been day 3 but I didn’t take it cuz I couldn’t afford to be bedridden a 3rd day in a row.
Has anyone else had this happen trying to start the medication? I really want to give it a chance to help my pain & minor depression but the migraines were debilitating ??

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was prescribed it for depression. I’ve had low back pain for as long as I can remember. (bulging discs, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease) well after a year I decided I wanted to come off it. I weaned myself off it very slowly. Am having some mild withdrawals, nothing I can’t handle. But my back is killing me!! I sure hope it gets better. Clearly it helped my back pain without me realizing it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Do any insurance plans cover paying for Brand Name Cymbalta? I've tried the generic two times and it does not work for me at all. I've reported it to the FDA (if you've had similar problems, please report it!).

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: bonnie (# 1)

I took it starting at 10 mg and for two months it was like a miracle drug that greatly reduced the pain. Then month 3 it help at 20 mg. Month 4 30 mg did nothing. Month 5 60 mg did nothing.

I was kept on it and eventually had to raise my fentanyl patch from 62 mcg tp 75 mcg. I hit serotonin syndrome which may be how adhd kids feel. Could not stop moving could not sleep. Had to go to ER. THEY CUT Cymbalta to 30 sent home. Three days later back to er w same symptoms. Cut completely and put on reducing dose Valium. Nine days of high fever back to er. Home after a day.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: marcia (# 61)

If you have been on it for a couple of months, and it has helped you, and you have not experienced any, or few, side effects, why not stay on it for a little while longer...giving your shoulder time to heal? You may find that when, and if, you increase to 60 mg daily the side effects may become more prevalent. You will know when you feel like quitting. Tapering off the drug at a slow pace may help minimize the withdrawal. Good Luck. I am glad you have found some pain relief. I can appreciate how it wears on your nerves and depression.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Trixy (# 11)

I have the same side effects when not taking any depression meds I’ve been prescribed

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Re: Deanie (# 80)

I was prescribed the same for nerve pain, and was on it for a few months. Did not like the side effects. Also, the side effects of quitting are quite challenging. After being off it for over two months, I feel it may have helped a bit with the nerve pain...but the side effects of headaches, insomnia, tummy issues, etc. were worse to deal with than the pain.??????

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been put on duloxetine for fibromyalgia. Anyone know if it causes weight gain or cause trouble sleeping? Does anyone know if it actually helps the pain? I’m on 30 mg.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Yes...approx. 6 weeks ago. Did not see much improvement until about 4-5 weeks, and I noticed my activity level had improved. I went from being able to walk about a half mile, without significant back pain to walking a mile or more. However, it has not been without side effects. I have tremors in my hands, and more headaches than normal, but for now, I am continuing the drug, since my back pain was so limiting my activity.....and I am enjoying the freedom of being able to walk and shop without having to rest every fifteen minutes.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I have been taking 60 mg of cymbalta for 3 years. This medicine was great in the beginning as far as giving me energy and helped my pain but after time I just felt worn out and depressed. I started winging myself off 60 mg for 2 months and I kept having this weird sensation in the right side of my head along with other side effects, but after about a month with nothing it got worse; crawling feeling, annoyed feeling almost like I was going to have a seizure but more so giving me panic. So I had to go back on the cymbalta until I could get in with a psychiatrist. She took me off cymbalta and put me on Prozac for 7 weeks, then took me off that. Now I'm taking topamax but still have this feeling in the right side of my head, just not as bad, and she says this could take months to go away. Well wtf is it? Has anybody out there had this experience because it's some pretty scary s*** to have happen.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Do NOT take this medication!!!!!!! I can't say it loud enough,strong enough,or describe enough just how bad this medication is. I was on it fo approximately 3 years. It was prescribed for depression and more importantly low back pain. It helped initially but after about 6 months I had gained at least 35 pounds and didn't care about anything. This drug took me an entire year to get off of. I was on 120 mg at peak dose. This drug is truly one of the BAD ones. It is banned in France and cannot be prescribed under any circumstances! My Dr saw how hard it was for me to be on this drug and essentially is very Leary to prescribe due to what it did to me. Eli Lily has been sued a minimum of two thousand times and so many more suits will follow. Eli Lily never provided a way for patients to get off the drug and the insert in the container basically lied to physicians and their patients. I can't say it enough, stay away from this drug!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Do not take cymbalta under any circumstances! I was on it for three years and it ruined my life for 5 years. I was on 120 mgs due to pain and some depression. When I started to go off in Jan of 2016 I was told by my Dr to go off ver slowly which I did. I had tapered down to 10 mg a thought that i could got off all together. Within a week withdrawals symptoms started brain zaps,nausea,severe dizziness for the next 5 months and eventually falling twice which ended in a fractured elbow and a loosening of a total shoulder which had to be revised into a reverse total shoulder. It had been a living hell getting off of Cymbalta and I toughed it out! This drug cannot under any circumstances be prescribed in France and probably other c ountries too.
Do not go on this drug, start walking 5 minutes a day and work up like I did for up to 1 hour at a time. You will feel better, sleep better, depression will get better! These drugs are all just a croc of crap. They promise things that they won't heal.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I am an RN. I, by no means, wish to over ride your MD. If your doctor thinks you should be on it, and you disagree, SPEAK WITH YOUR MD! Let her know why you're apprehensive. For me, the withdrawal was so physically and emotionally painful that I will never go on any antidepressant again. Although I'm fighting the rebound depression, I feel physically better off the needs. I'm less clouded. It's a personal decision. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I was previously on cymbalta and it worked very well for me. I stopped taking it because I felt I didn't need it any longer, my doctor didn't know I stopped until I told her. She wants me back on it because I'm again declining (emotinally and physically) since stopping the medicine. I know this medicine works very well for me but now I have a big fear of starting it again. The fear brings on anxiety and panic (thank goodness no panic attacks yet, they're so bad!). I don't know why I'm afraid of starting it again but I do know that starting off of my medicine is not an option anymore. Can someone please help?!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Ive just started taking 30mg of a generic brand of cymbalta made by teva.ive only taken it for four days and have severe nausea feels like i may vomit everytime i yawn.and the headaches are unbearable..and i can barely stay woke.i know it takes time for your body to get used to it i guess.does anyone have these problems and how long before they subsided cause frankly id rather be depressed than go through these symptoms

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Read about the withdrawals that come with this drug before taking it daily. It may be wise not to start it.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Not back pain, but peripheral Neuropathy in my feet. NOT diabetic. I have suffered greatly for almost TEN YEARS! Recently, I visited a neurologist to see what's new in treatment. I eschew opiates and have learned to live with the constant debilitating pain. I even have a TENS unit implanted on my spine. This Dr. prescribed Cymbalta. I read up on it and decided not to take it. But the pain is so bad I gave in and I was astonished to have pain relief within hours. I woke up in the morning and was prepared to be slammed and there was nothing. No lightning strikes! No hammered toes. I am amazed and practically in tears! This JUST happened. I am ecstatic and foot pain free for the first time in TEN YEARS! I'm dizzy and have NO appetite and can't really eat anything, but I hope that subsides. If we have to ramp up the dose though. because of diminishing efficacy, I will revisit my decision.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I read about those electric shock bolts on another site. Seems many people experience this when they go off Cymbalta. Doesn't sound good to me.. Hope you come through it happier and healthier.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hi everyone! I am new to this topic. So I've had everything from chemo in '07-'08, then Zoloft (made cleaning OCD worse), Wellbutrin (increased anxiety/deer in headlights eyes), Ativan (great!), Xanax (good!), Buspar (???), Gabapentin/Neurontin (drunk), HCG homeopathic diet (later huge fail!), Viibryd guinea pig (hell w/ sleep paralysis & discontinuation syndrome), Prozac (zombie), Gralise (???) and now Cymbalta!

I started on the Cymbalta weeks ago in order to have less depression, anxiety, & then pain relief from my peripheral neuropathy. But the only thing the CYM. has helped w/ is my Spondolythesis! (L5-L6) & less neck pain. So that has been a welcome surprise. I read about it helping w/ back pain after the fact & then made the connection.

But I've had a few upsetting dreams. And I could sleep 20 hrs. off & on in a 24 hr. period. Prozac made me not care about anything & it helped w/ the neg. thoughts. CYM. is a little like that, but since I end up sleeping more now, it's like a way for me to escape any neg. feelings. But this is no way to live.

I started removing (eyeballing) about 30-50 tiny beads from the capsule on a couple occasions in the past two weeks & then end up going back to 60 mg. I only took 30 mg. for a couple of days after stopping the Prozac, because after seeing a pain mgmt. dr., I was desperate to feel better. My in office questionnaire while on Prozac was as if I wasn't even on an anti-d. I can completely see how people can become suicidal on Prozac. Or divorce the one they love. : 0 I will never try Prozac again. I think it works too well. That's the problem. Hence, zombie.

So that's where I am at w/ the Cymbalta. I don't know what I am taking yet. Leaning towards weaning, because of the fatigue & lack of libido. I am able to cope with different situations better, but I've also lost any excitement over anything in life. I look forward to nothing. Feelings of panic still creep in & then a somber song will make me cry.

Lets just say that those people you see in Walmart in their pajamas...well they are most definitely on an anti-depressant! That is not like me to do this, but I did & I am so embarrassed! (Pj pants....jacket)....

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Anyone out know about cymbalta? I've just been put on it a week ago. I was suicidal, not now. They just took me off ...

3 REPLIES

I am in the later stages of RSD and have tried ALOT of Rx that haven't helped. Has anyone else taken cymbalta for RS...

40 REPLIES

I have been taking Cymbalta for 6 yrs. along with Wellbutrin (150mg) Could it cause sores in my mouth? Could it cause my...

32 REPLIES

I gained 68 lbs while on Abilify. Now four years later my weight is still 30 lbs over my normal. I still have some depre...

29 REPLIES

I am 34 years old and have been taking anti-depressants for about 3 years. I started on Lexapro, which quit working afte...

23 REPLIES

I am looking for someone who has been on this medication for a while. I would like to know how fast it works and if ther...

21 REPLIES

I have been on Cymbalta for 7 yrs. For the last 4 yrs I've been on 120mg per day. I have dealt with many, many side ...

12 REPLIES

Has anyone else experienced tremors while taking C? I look like I've got the DT's right after I get a dose. Also...

12 REPLIES

I had a gastric bypass in 2001. I am on a higher dose of Cymbalta. Does anyone know if the absorption of this medication...

12 REPLIES

hello, i am taking 60mg, and it hurts my belly, i don't want to eat or drink and feel nausea when i do try to eat or...

10 REPLIES