Generic Name: Duloxetine for Fibromyalgia (duloxetine)
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "My primary doc put me on this cause I have Fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. I have been on 30mg for three weeks now and the side effects... well, I have none. In the beginning, for the first two weeks, I had minimal. I’m going to stay on this dose instead of going up to 60mg since it’s working. I went to dinner last night, sleeping better, pain is much better, and I actually want to leave the house. Remember, go slow whether you're going on this med or coming off. Stay on each dose at least a month before moving up or down to the next, and your side effects stabilize."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Age: 54 Hypothyroidism (2008), Fibromyalgia (2009), mild to moderate arthritis (left knee). 2 terrible fibro flares this year that left me barely able to walk, even with a cane. Fed up, I started reading up on current treatments for fibro and found info on Cymbalta and Savella, so I made an appointment with my internist the next day. Took my first dose of Cymbalta (60 mg/day) that evening at 10 p.m. By 4 a.m. the next morning, I was standing up without assistance and my pain and muscle weakness was about 80% better. I was stunned, to say the least. I'm not saying that this will be a 'wonder drug' for everyone because we all have a different genetic makeup, but all I can say is that it has been nothing short of miraculous for me. I could just kick myself in the butt for dropping the ball on continuing to keep up with advances in the treatment of fibro. I could have saved myself from years of needless suffering."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I started taking Cymbalta for fibromyalgia in July of 2017. Prior to this, I was already taking Prozac for anxiety and depression, so making the switch seemed logical. The Cymbalta would help with those symptoms, while also combating the pain and fatigue I was experiencing from fibromyalgia. Honestly, it's been life-changing for me. I feel like my old self again. I'm relatively pain-free, and my energy levels are up. Prior to starting Cymbalta, the pain was so bad that I wanted to die. I even told my husband to divorce me because I didn't want him to be saddled with taking care of me. I was sleeping my life away, missing out on dinner and time with my family. I wore my hair in a bun every day because I didn't have the energy to even hold the blow dryer. It was really bad. I'm 95% back to who I was before fibro entered my life. I would highly recommend Cymbalta to any other fibro fighters out there."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I've been taking Cymbalta 30mg a day for 1 year. After 17 years of fibromyalgia and having explored every alternative therapy under the sun... most recently hyperbaric chamber use & infra-red light... I found myself back in a desperate place once again where any small effort to exercise resulted in a worsening of my condition. Walking any distance was challenging and I had pain all over my body - everything feeling stiff, clicking, cracking, and muscles generally fatigued. Mentally, I felt drained with the constant effort and anxiety of a worsening condition at age 52. Having taken antidepressants when diagnosed and found little effect (except help with sleep), I kept refusing the offer of Cymbalta. For a year now, I have had the energy I had when I was 30. It also seems like my body's soft tissue is improving. I can exercise, feel much more resilient, balanced, stable, and my anxiety is greatly improved. I have not tried to come off it at all. It has made a huge improvement to my life."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I started on 30mg Cymbalta 3 weeks ago, mainly for Fibromyalgia and anxiety. Initially, I experienced extreme nausea, apathy, sleepiness, and brain fog. I read reviews which said, stick with it, so I did! My first night of taking it, my head was buzzing, I was awake all through. So I decided to take it in the morning, but I slept most of the day. No good! I reverted back to taking it at 7:30 in the evening, with food. Over the last 3 weeks, I stopped noticing any side effects and I slept like a log! Fabulous! My pain is now less, I feel really motivated, and my brain is now as it was years ago! I actually feel that I have more wisdom and intelligence! I am more outgoing and sociable, and life is worth living! Give it a chance!"
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Hi. Just want everyone to know that I have been on Cymbalta (Duloxetine) for 5 years. It has been a lifesaver for me. I had a ruptured disc and sciatic nerve pain going down my buttock and leg. This seemed to affect my nervous system. For lack of a better definition, I referred to this as fibromyalgia. I had all over body pain. Cymbalta helped with the pain almost immediately. Beware, and your health care provider should warn you about this, it will make you sick to your stomach the first 2 to 3 days. I used a lot of Pepto Bismol."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I don't usually comment on things like this but I felt I needed to. I've been suffering from pain for as long as I can remember, along with chronic fatigue, stiffness, depression, and a general loss of zest for life. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few months ago and started this medication (30mg for a month then upped to 60mg). I have to say it's been a miracle! I knew I was in pain, but I didn't realize how much of me was in constant pain until it was taken away. My fatigue levels have improved drastically - I still need to nap in the day, but it's not the crippling fatigue I suffered with before. I'm happy, mobile, pain-free, and full of energy thanks to this medication. I have also lost weight, which is a great side effect!"
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Look up Cymbalta Syndrome. If prescribed, before you take it - research it - have your doctor research it. It will help for 2-3 years MAX. Getting off of it is a whole other story - the manufacturers KNEW this - and pushed it anyway. They could fix this issue but choose not to. This drug needs to be removed from the market! You don’t know long-term pain and crippling sickness until you try to get off this med. The manufacturer gave us no easy way to taper, no painless way to wean off. I am on my 2nd YEAR of weaning and I will be honest - withdrawals can last months to YEARS. I have 30 mg still to go till I am Cymbalta free... and tons of horrific side effects to still face. Do your research - don’t take this pill, it is beyond hell. And big pharma knew it... yet sell it anyway as well as pay doctors to prescribe it and downplay the true horrors of it."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I was prescribed Cymbalta 30 mg for Fibro & nerve pain. I took one pill. I had never had a panic attack in my life until taking this medicine. I took the pill at 10:30 am. At 12:30, I couldn’t catch my breath. My heart started pounding. My vision became a tunnel, and I felt like I was about to pass out. The only thing I could do was lay down and breathe deeply. Things calmed down. I got up from the bed, and wham! It hit me again. This time, however, my skin started burning. My chest and arms felt like they were on fire. I couldn’t breathe again, my vision went tunnel-like again. Ringing ears, pounding heart. Even my feet started itching really bad. The panic attacks were severe. The ER told me I had to let the medicine run its course, and they gave me a Xanax to help calm the panic attacks. It took 18 hours. The Xanax helped. It was the worst day and night of my life! The doctor said my reaction was not a normal reaction. I couldn’t believe one single pill did this to me."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "After years of hell and sensitivity to so many meds, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, citalopram, amitriptyline, carbamazepine, lithium, sodium valproate, lamotrigine... finally... finally... I'm on Duloxetine and it's working with no side effects... no sweats, no vomiting, no stomach cramps, jaw clenching, loss of sex drive... I cannot believe it's actually working and both lifting my mood and killing the pain."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I took Cymbalta for 6 years after my house burned down, my husband was diagnosed with cancer, he lived 8 months. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and severe depression. It worked with minimal side effects. I felt like myself 3 days after starting it. I was in a good place 8 yrs. I weaned off and stopped taking it. 3 years later I had a massive stroke and slowly began to feel more and more depressed. I was suicidal in Jan. 2016. I asked a new Dr. to put me back on it. I felt better in only 36 hours. It was amazing how it changed my thinking. My back pain, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety had all but disappeared. I would recommend Cymbalta to anyone with any of these symptoms. Everyone is different and it may not work for you. I'm still taking it."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have had significant joint pain ongoing since 2012. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and spent the next three years going through a host of every med available. None of them worked and many made it worse. I went to the Mayo Clinic in 2016. The top RA doc there, after running many tests, said he didn’t think I had RA, but Sjogren's disease. He suggested I try Cymbalta for pain, but was so tired of meds that I honestly just toughed it out until a few months ago. I have been in excruciating pain - mainly my feet and hand joints for six years. I grudgingly found another RA doc who would treat me (Mayo wouldn’t) and the first thing he said is that he felt my autoimmune condition was likely fibromyalgia and suggested I try the Cymbalta. Amazingly, it has been a complete game changer. Within the first month, I could tell it was working. I am now in almost zero pain and have had no side effects that are worth mentioning. I have nothing but positive things to say about this medication."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I suffered from the pain of fibromyalgia for 20 years, and I got my life back after I started to use Cymbalta. I have no more pain, other than that of many 71-year-olds. I consider myself one of the very fortunate people that it works so well for me. I can take fitness classes now and feel the improvement from them tremendously. I also think that what likely helped me work, etc., when I had the symptoms was the fact that I did mild exercise six mornings a week for 20 minutes on the recommendation of an amazing doctor who recognized what I had before most people had even heard of it and told me exercise was supposed to help. I walked up and down my stairs then used a cross-trainer (slowly) - when my husband decided I was wearing out our carpet!"
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "Cymbalta has changed my life for the better. Besieged by terrible leg pains and tingling for over 6 months, I tried gabapentin and other drugs but hated how they made me feel. 20mg of Cymbalta started working almost immediately, and has helped me gain my quality of life back. The other positive thing: I've always been anxious and thought it was just part of my DNA, but then I've noticed much of the daily anxious thoughts have gone away since taking this drug. Very grateful."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I've been on antidepressants for years and suffered from chronic pain that was finally diagnosed as fibromyalgia. I started on Cymbalta about 5 years ago because the pain was becoming more than I could deal with and my doctor had read good reviews about patients' reactions with this medicine. I never had any problem with the medicine and haven't noticed any major side effects. It has really cut the pain to a manageable level and kept my spirits up."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "After years of chronic pain, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, intermittent depression, and anxiety, I did my research on fibromyalgia and had a conversation with my doctor. I had read about Cymbalta, and my doctor agreed to prescribe it and see if it would help my multiple issues. I felt better after the first day of 30 mg of Cymbalta. The only side effects I had were insomnia and daily headaches the first week. My side effects were tolerable, and the benefits outweighed the side effects. I stuck with it and have now been on Cymbalta for 4 weeks. I'm so thankful for this medication and feel I have my life back! I took high-dose Xanax for years, I couldn't fall asleep without it. I have been able to wean off Xanax as well, something I had been unable to do before. I see my doctor again this week and can't wait to tell her how well Cymbalta helps me."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have fibromyalgia and was in pain with body aches. My doctor and I decided to use Cymbalta. I started at 30mg for a week then up to 60mg. The first day I felt a little strange. I had no idea what it was. The second day was worse, and I wanted to stop taking it, so I found a site that talked about Cymbalta and fibromyalgia. Most reviews said to push through, keep taking it, and you will be glad you did. I decided to keep taking the Cymbalta. By day three, I still felt strange, but the pain was less. Because I wasn't sure, I did the 30mg for two weeks until I felt comfortable, then I went to 60mg. I haven't felt this good in a very long time, almost like I don't have fibromyalgia. But I missed a dose, and the pain was unbearable. I won't do that again. I love Cymbalta."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I finally decided to try this medication after being sick and tired of being in constant pain, especially at night. I've had fibromyalgia for 20 years, and in the past 10 years, I've been treating it on an acute basis with Flexeril 20mg and Tramadol 50mg as needed. Cymbalta has been a game changer for me! I would like to mention that I've also worked hard to maintain a steady weight for the past 20 years, which as a healthcare professional myself, I knew this was a crucial component in chronic pain management. I believe this helped me not to rely on medications on a daily basis. However, now that I am on Cymbalta, I realize how much pain I truly was in on a daily basis. The only side effects I have suffered thus far are mild nausea and dry mouth, which get better day by day. It's only been a week, and my aches and pains are completely gone! I'm hoping that the sweating side effect doesn't kick in."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I am 46 and diagnosed with fibromyalgia 4 months ago after 1.5 years of unexplained pain, muscle fatigue, exhaustion, etc. The last flare-up was so severe I was unable to walk because leg muscles were trembling, forearms felt like they were on fire with thousands of needles or bees stinging. I was dropping things. I was very confused and unable to even read an email on my computer. We started with a low dose and am now at 60 mg at bedtime. Along with Tramadol during the day and Flexeril for severe flare-ups, as well as moderate exercise, no chocolate, and adequate sleep, I am doing so well. Very few side effects. I am working full time, can wear high heels again, and stay awake past 7:00 pm now as well as resuming doing normal household chores."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "When I began this med for fibromyalgia I thought it was going to work out for me. I felt good enough to start swimming (the only exercise that doesn't hurt me) after a week of being on Cymbalta. I couldn't take the pill on an empty stomach--stomach ache, I couldn't take the pill at night--insomnia, and I had to take it with lunch in order to not have adverse effects. I felt like my pain stopped lessening after 6ish months of 60mgs a day so I stopped taking it. Another bad side effect was the total destruction of my sex drive. When I stopped taking it, my doctor told me to slowly wean off of it due to terrible side effects, but I had already stopped taking it before I saw her, and I didn't have any adverse effects of quitting cold turkey."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I had classic fibromyalgia symptoms. After researching many things that would fall into this category, I was at the point where I was about to give up, literally. I had become depressed after dealing with fibromyalgia for so long, it had broken me. I have a lot of willpower, and normally would have laughed at the thought of taking my own life. But after about 2 years of these symptoms, it was winning, and I didn't think I could go on for much longer. So, after trying a couple of different medications, I was put on Cymbalta. This medication saved my life. It has reduced my pain levels by at least 2-3 points on a ten-point scale and fixed my mood as well. I cannot say enough about how happy I am with this medication."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "The pain is gone. It took around 3 1/2 weeks to 'kick in' fully. Most days are great. I can work again. I can play with my kids again. I'm living again. Cymbalta worked for my fibromyalgia pain when nothing else would."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have tried other medications to control my fibromyalgia, and I had awful side effects to all. Then my doctor tried me on Cymbalta, and this has been amazing! No side effects. I'm on 120mg now, and I feel almost like my old self! It is very expensive though."
Cymbalta (duloxetine) "I have been taking Cymbalta, 60mg, for approx. 2 years. I also take Amitriptyline (I don't know how to spell it!) as well. My Fibromyalgia pain has lessened so much I sometimes think it is too good to be true! My sister was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica at about the same time and was taking Prednisone. She had no relief. I told her to have her primary doc test the Fibro pressure points. Long story short, the doctor put her on Cymbalta and she felt relief within 1 week! She has finally been able to sleep better and lift her arms over her head. This medication has pretty much saved my life. I have been treated for bipolar disorder successfully for many years, but noticed that since I have taken Cymbalta, my outlook on life has improved."
"I read these reviews before starting Duloxetine for fibro, and I was terrified to try it. To my surprise, it works great, and the side effects are not bad for me at all. The first 2 weeks, I felt unlike myself (a little on edge, with a runny nose and insomnia), but that all faded at about 1.5 weeks. After that, nothing really... but wow, it works. It took the pain down from about 7/8 to about 3/4 on the pain scale. And that is only at the 30 mg lowest dose. I am sure I could go up to 60 mg like my doctor recommended, but I would rather keep it minimal and deal with the remaining low level of pain. I have missed a dose and didn't recognize anything abnormal like the 'zaps' everyone talks about on here. I will update this review if anything changes because I realize it's just as important to read the good reviews, especially when you are worried to try a new medicine."
Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka
Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle
