First Week On Cymbalta: Advice?

[31Springs]

H, everyone. I've been on Cymbalta one week today, and I'm not feeling much better. In fact, at times it seems like I feel worse than before I started it. I've read that it can take several weeks before you really see the benefits of this type of drug, though. On the other hand, some people I know told me, no, if it doesn't help within a few days, it's probably not going to. Can I get some of your opinions on this? Should I stick with it for another week or two, or should I contact my doctor and ask about other options? I'm sorry if I seem impatient--it's just been a particularly bad week. Thanks in advance!

[junebug01]

H, everyone. I've been on Cymbalta one week today, and I'm not feeling much better. In fact, at times it seems like I feel worse than before I started it. I've read that it can take several weeks before you really see the benefits of this type of drug, though. On the other hand, some people I know told me, no, if it doesn't help within a few days, it's probably not going to. Can I get some of your opinions on this? Should I stick with it for another week or two, or should I contact my doctor and ask about other options? I'm sorry if I seem impatient--it's just been a particularly bad week. Thanks in advance!

Hi 31Springs,

My experience with Cymbalta was pretty similar to yours, in fact the first several days I was on it I became MORE anxious. But it DOES get better so I really encourage you to try to hang in there and give it a chance. It's true that in some cases people can start to see therapeutic benefits as soon as a week, but in many cases it can take a little bit longer. For me, I gradually started feeling a little bit better at around week 2 and it kept going from there. I've been on it for almost 4 weeks now and am feeling SO much better. Some of what you may be feeling are the side effects from starting the drug, I know I struggled with that for about 3 weeks. What dose are you on? I started at 30mg, bumped up to 60mg for about two weeks and am now at 90mg.

Keep us posted 31Springs!

[31Springs]

Thanks for the reply, junebug. I started on 30mg, took that for a week, and just now went up to 60mg. I took my first dose at that level last night. I'm not really feeling adverse side effects except some sleepiness. I'm just not noticing much improvement, either. This is the first and only medication of this type I've ever taken, so I don't have anything to compare it to. It definitely sounds like I should stick with it for a few more weeks. Thanks again, and best wishes!

[junebug01]

You are welcome and best of luck! :)

[MaddieLouise]

The first few weeks on Cymbalta might be quite challenging. I remember feeling pretty bad with symptoms like nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, and dizziness. It did subside however, and I'm really glad I stuck to it. I do hope these side effects go away for you soon. I'd be sure to keep your Dr. advised. Please keep us posted.

Sincerely,

MaddieLouise

[Rmap23]

Check out the Cymbalta side effects & withdrawl symptoms people have. I strongly suggest you find another medication.

[crazyguy]

31springs Hang in there it should get better!

[coppazz]

hello i am on my first day on cymbalta 60mg went straight away with this dode and im having a bad side effect fast heart beat and nausea and dry mouth is there anything i should worry about? or its ok with those side effects i can feel my heart beat and beating arround moderta pulses 100 or 110 max i guess please let me know if i should continue or not cause im feeling like i will have a panick because of it... im worried thank you

[MaddieLouise]

Coppazz,

I too had an elevated heart rate, nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, dizziness and just a general feeling of anxiety. My only concern was if my blood pressure was high and staying there. I started taking my blood pressure and sometimes it would be high briefly, but then would go down again, and was down more than it was elevated, so I felt okay with that. However, if you feel like you are going to have a panic attack or this has you extremely worried, call your MD asap or drop into a 24 ER clinic or even the hospital if it would make you feel better. It would be best to get a Dr.'s opinion.

I wish you luck!

Sincerely,

MaddieLouise

[Guitarman78]

I also started 60mg of Duloxetine/Cymbalta today, and normally I don't feel any effects of other SSRIs for around 2-3 weeks, but after only hours of taking this I felt some effects, I was getting really good feelings followed by bouts of anxiety, but the good feelings were good, so I figure its worth hanging in their, as if their is more of that to come, then it will be worth it, I think your body is just getting used to the new drug, like anything from coffee to sleeping pills, your body needs time to adjust, found it strange to feel something after one day though

[angel100]

I've been on cymbalta 60 mg for the last two months for anxiety. When i was prescribed this I was literally in a state of panic 24/7. Within two hours of taking the first tablet the anxiety was gone....literally ..gone. If it dosen't work for you in a week or two, switch to another medication and of course If you start to feel very low or down go to see your gp straight away. This has been the only medication that worked for me ....lexotan made me have horrific nightmares and made me hallucinate, not what anyone needs when they're already panicky lol. Beta blockers were just pointless, all they did was make me very easily puffed out while just ...walking slightly fast...again not a good side effect. They were really strange to be on for anxiety because you feel the cold bursts down through your legs while your panicky but the heart and lungs dont respond to the adrenaline. They do nothing for the actual panic. Mirtazapine....I took one of these tablets and It knocked me out like a drunk elephant within five minutes.....I was seeing double..literally for the next 24 hrs...so that was the end of that little trial. So now Im on cymbalta and doing good :)

[Guitarman78]

I've been on cymbalta 60 mg for the last two months for anxiety. When i was prescribed this I was literally in a state of panic 24/7. Within two hours of taking the first tablet the anxiety was gone....literally ..gone. If it dosen't work for you in a week or two, switch to another medication and of course If you start to feel very low or down go to see your gp straight away. This has been the only medication that worked for me ....lexotan made me have horrific nightmares and made me hallucinate, not what anyone needs when they're already panicky lol. Beta blockers were just pointless, all they did was make me very easily puffed out while just ...walking slightly fast...again not a good side effect. They were really strange to be on for anxiety because you feel the cold bursts down through your legs while your panicky but the heart and lungs dont respond to the adrenaline. They do nothing for the actual panic. Mirtazapine....I took one of these tablets and It knocked me out like a drunk elephant within five minutes.....I was seeing double..literally for the next 24 hrs...so that was the end of that little trial. So now Im on cymbalta and doing good :)

I had to stop taking the 60mg 5 days after starting it, as I was getting bad head aches, but I started taking 30mg of it on Saturday and no head aches, It also feels a lot better, the 60mg was effecting me a lot the first few days, although it dies down after that, but the head aches followed, anyway the 30mg feels really good, maybe I will stay on 30 for a wile and go up to 60mg when it is in my system, as 30mg feels good already, I have noticed my mood being a lot better already, I don't feel like it is a struggle to get a shave on a morning ect, so that tells me something is working, the CPN doctors in my area are all saying it is one of the best drugs for my problems and they have had good results with it, you do hear some horror story's online about side effects, but I try not to read into them to much, as they are normally servear cases, I came off Benzo's after 12 years, and know exactly what bad withdrawl is, I was on 65mg of diazepam and 40mg of tamazipam, so that was like a bad time, pleased I am off it now, sure it made everything good wile i was on it, but you were dependent on your next tablet, you were watching the clock so to speak, my decision to come of it rather than doctors, but i would rather try the type of drug i am on now than take diazepam all my life, as diazepam can sometimes make you worse, if you go without one day, you know about it,

[MaddieLouise]

Glad to hear it helps you at a lower dosage. We are all so different and it still amazes me how these medications can be combined or changed in just some slight way to help us.

[Doxiemama]

I just started Cymbalta about a week ago. You’re all right. Anxiety is bad and I already have anxiety so it’s really bad. Dr said it would get better in 2 weeks. I sure hope so because it’s bad. It seems to be worse in the morning. And I’ve tried taking it a night and in the morning but it does not matter.  

[Drok007]

On 2/10/2018 at 2:16 AM, Doxiemama said:

I just started Cymbalta about a week ago. You’re all right. Anxiety is bad and I already have anxiety so it’s really bad. Dr said it would get better in 2 weeks. I sure hope so because it’s bad. It seems to be worse in the morning. And I’ve tried taking it a night and in the morning but it does not matter.  

Hi Doxiemama,

 

I am currently on this medication for the 2nd time due to GAD turning into depression due to health related anxiety.

Last time i was on the medication i was on 120mg and after about 18 months i managed to get off and get my life back in order. All the side effects do get easier and it certainly does help with being able to function. 

After just 5 days on it at only 30mg i have managed to get back into work and function and also started my recovery.

No matter how hard it gets just know that it will get better and you just have to push through.

 

Best of Luck

[izzie bella]

I just started on cymbals, plus remeron 15 mg and clonopin. When will I start to feel better. 

[Stacy7]

On 7/10/2012 at 5:14 PM, angel100 said:

I've been on cymbalta 60 mg for the last two months for anxiety. When i was prescribed this I was literally in a state of panic 24/7. Within two hours of taking the first tablet the anxiety was gone....literally ..gone. If it dosen't work for you in a week or two, switch to another medication and of course If you start to feel very low or down go to see your gp straight away. This has been the only medication that worked for me ....lexotan made me have horrific nightmares and made me hallucinate, not what anyone needs when they're already panicky lol. Beta blockers were just pointless, all they did was make me very easily puffed out while just ...walking slightly fast...again not a good side effect. They were really strange to be on for anxiety because you feel the cold bursts down through your legs while your panicky but the heart and lungs dont respond to the adrenaline. They do nothing for the actual panic. Mirtazapine....I took one of these tablets and It knocked me out like a drunk elephant within five minutes.....I was seeing double..literally for the next 24 hrs...so that was the end of that little trial. So now Im on cymbalta and doing good 🙂

I just started taking Cymbalta today and my experience was the same as yours. I was shocked that my anxiety was eradicated immediately as I had never read this was a possibility. And, like you, I was also in a 24/7 state of non-stop horrific painful panic when I began taking Cymbalta today -- as I had been for the past several months. So relief of unrelenting anxiety was a dream. I thought I would be waiting a minimum of two weeks for a wait-and-see moment. I'm curious as to why the possibility of instant anxiety elimination is not better known in the literature. 

[Stacy7]

On 3/24/2012 at 9:07 PM, MaddieLouise said:

Coppazz,

I too had an elevated heart rate, nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, dizziness and just a general feeling of anxiety. My only concern was if my blood pressure was high and staying there. I started taking my blood pressure and sometimes it would be high briefly, but then would go down again, and was down more than it was elevated, so I felt okay with that. However, if you feel like you are going to have a panic attack or this has you extremely worried, call your MD asap or drop into a 24 ER clinic or even the hospital if it would make you feel better. It would be best to get a Dr.'s opinion.

I wish you luck!

Sincerely,

MaddieLouise

I, too, had severe anxiety (as I have had for the previous three months) when I began taking Cymbalta for the first time today. Within one-half hour of my first dosage, I have almost no symptoms of anxiety, maybe zero. I am shocked that my panicky anxiety virtually disappeared with one dose. A sick feeling has overcome me, however, which I hope will subside (nauseousness, sleepy, stomach ache, clamminess, no energy). 

[jkd_sd]

I have been on 30 mg Cymbalta for a few years.  It does help.   It has a relatively short half-life so should be taken at the same time each day.  The main side-effect I have is sweating or being extra warm with even mild physical exertion.  Annoying but livable.