Cymbalta horror stories – An antidepressant from hell? (3 terrible experiences)
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OptimistMinds
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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
In this article, we will discuss Cymbalta horror stories. We will talk about the common and rare side effects of Cymbalta and how this antidepressant could be a nightmare for some individuals. We will also discuss the therapeutic benefits of this antidepressant.
What have people experienced so far with Cymbalta?
Many people have used Cymbalta and they all have different experiences. Some individuals were subjected to terrible side effects, while some responded pretty well to it.
A 37-year-old Martha shared her story:
“I had struggled with nerve pain for years and was very skeptical when my doctor prescribed me Cymbalta. I read a lot of bad reviews, so I was not sure whether it was a good option for me, but went with it anyway because your doctor knows best, right?”
She continued:
To my horror, that antidepressant ruined me. It’s supposedly an antidepressant, but it made me depressed, and I actually started having terrible mental health issues after taking it. I went through with them until one day I asked my doctor to switch me to another med.”
A 42-year-old James came forward and shared his experience with Cymbalta:
“I battled with depression for years and tried many antidepressants, but some made me nauseous, some dizzy, and some caused insomnia. Then my doctor switched me to Cymbalta, after which I actually started missing my older antidepressants and their mild side effects.”
He continued:
“Cymbalta made me MISERABLE! It affected my mental health even more and made me suicidal. I was constantly throwing up and literally wanted to kill myself. At last, I stopped the medication and decided to never even look at it again.”
It is indeed a disappointment when medications, which are supposed to improve the quality of your life, make you miserable. James here sounds extremely disappointed and the fact that he doesn’t even want to look at the antidepressant anymore clearly indicates how much he has suffered.
Patrick, a 47-year-old librarian shared his nerve-racking story:
“I don’t even know where to begin. Cymbalta has been an absolute nightmare for me, and I have just recently stopped using it. When I took it for the first time, my whole face started to hurt, and my head. I was told that it was temporary and would subside within a few days, but it just got worse.”
He continued:
“I started to lose my motor coordination and became unconscious. Fortunately, my wife was with me, who called an ambulance right away and took me to the hospital. They monitored me for 24 hours and sent me back home when I was stabilised.”
Patrick further talks about Cymbalta:
“I don’t recommend anyone taking this medication, and those who want to try it should have someone by their side to take them to the hospital if something goes south.”
This indicates how Cymbalta can be an antidepressant from hell for some people. However, it is important to note that people are different and can respond differently to medications. Some people may do well on this antidepressant.
A 35-year-old Samantha stated:
“I struggled with fibromyalgia for years and tried many medications, but nothing helped me feel better. It all started taking a toll on my mental health.”
She continued:
“One day my doc put me on Cymbalta and told me that it would help manage my pain and my depression as well. I wasn’t sure as I had so many bad experiences with medications before. But to my surprise, Cymbalta worked! It helped me with my pain and depression, and I was finally relieved.”
This review clearly indicates how Cymbalta can actually work well and make positive changes for some people. The effects of antidepressants can vary from person to person and one should always keep an eye on the potential side effects and report them to their healthcare provider.
What are the side effects of Cymbalta?
Cymbalta is associated with the following side effects: (1,2,3)
Common side effects
- Weight changes
- Increased urination
- Sweating/night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Acid reflux
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Muscle pain or cramps
- Sexual side effects in both men and women
- Tremors
Serious and less common side effects
- Extreme fatigue or weakness
- Unexplained bruises or bleeding
- Severe stomach pain
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Persistent itching
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Dark-coloured urine
- Confusion
- Unsteady walking leading to falls
- Flu-like symptoms
- Agitation
- Loss of coordination
- Severe diarrhoea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Fever
- Blisters
- Rash
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Swelling of different parts of the body
- Hoarseness
- Difficulty in urination
In case you experience any of the severe side effects, immediately seek medical attention.
What to do if Cymbalta is not the right choice of antidepressant for you?
If you think Cymbalta is not the right choice of antidepressant for you or you are experiencing side effects, please reach out to your doctor. There is a chance that this antidepressant might not work for you or cause unbearable side effects.
In this case, your doctor may try adjusting your dose first if your side effects appeared after a recent dose escalation. This does help in some cases. However, if your doctor believes that it is not safe or effective for you to continue using Cymbalta, they will consider alternative treatment plans.
Many antidepressants can replace Cymbalta and it’s quite common for people to try multiple antidepressants until they find the one that works best for them. So, your doctor will safely taper Cymbalta off and switch you to another medication.
In some cases, doctors may combine Cymbalta with a compatible antidepressant to enhance the therapeutic effects of the treatment and manage side effects. Just make sure not to stop Cymbalta abruptly or make any changes to your prescription on your own.
As a pharmacist, I have seen people skipping doses deliberately which could be dangerous, especially if you have been using Cymbalta, or any other antidepressants, for a while now. So, it’s best if you do not make any changes to your treatment plan on your own.
References
- Dhaliwal JS, Spurling BC, Molla M. Duloxetine. 2023 May 29. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31747213. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549806
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Cymbalta (duloxetine hydrochloride) Delayed-Release Capsules for Oral Use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022516lbl.pdf
- Duloxetine-MedlinePlus [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [Last Revised – 03/15/2022]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604030.html
