Dear Reader,
*Warning. Taking this medication may lead to worse symptoms, getting off of it is impossible.
Years ago, I asked my doctor about Cymbalta (duloxetine). The commercial told me to and also told me it was a great drug for fibromyalgia. My doctor at the time agreed and I was put on a low dose, I was so happy that it seemed to be working. Then it didn't.
Doctors will up your dose to the max amount. They don't listen or even look at the other medications you're taking to see if your symptoms are caused by that.
I was given the information on the below black box warning.
Summary Of FDA Black Box Warnings
Suicidal thoughts or actions in children and adults
Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality) or unusual changes in behavior, whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications. This risk may persist until significant remission occurs.
In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24. Adults age 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. If these symptoms emerge, they should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or health care professional. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their health care provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.
I was not given the information on the long-term effects of taking this medication, I've had multiple doctor's appointments for some of the following, none of them advised me it could be caused by Cymbalta, I had to find the information out on my own when I finally decided enough was enough and took my time to actually research the medications I was taking.
I've also had multiple surgeries because of torn muscles/ligaments that I didn't know how they happened!
Taking Cymbalta may increase your risk of breaking a bone. This is especially true when you first start taking Cymbalta and soon after you stop taking it.Mar 25, 2021
Does Cymbalta affect the memory?
Yes. This is a common side effect.
How can Cymbalta affect the muscles?
It can cause tiny tears in the muscles and cause pain in other ways too.
Does Cymbalta help pain or cause it?
Both. The longer you take it, the more likely you are to suffer from pain.
Can Cymbalta be causing problems with … (add your key word here!) skin, breathing, pain, sleep?
Can it increase (add your key word here), etc.?
Yes! To almost any side effects!
Abnormal Dreams
Abnormal Liver Function Tests
Abnormal Manner of Walking
Aggressive Behavior
Altered Interest in Having Sexual Intercourse
Anxious
Bad Breath
Behaving with Excessive Cheerfulness and Activity
Bleeding Not Related to Menstrual Period
Bleeding of the Stomach or Intestines
Blood Pressure Drop Upon Standing
Blurred Vision
Bruise
Burning Stomach
Cannot Empty Bladder
Chills
Chronic Trouble Sleeping
Collection of Clotted Blood in an Organ, Space or Tissue
Contact Dermatitis
Cough
Diarrhea
Difficult or Painful Urination
Discharge of Milk in Men or Women when Not Breastfeeding
Dizzy
Drowsiness
Dry Mouth
Earache
Easily Angered or Annoyed
Erythema Multiforme
Excess Urination
Excessive Sweating
Excessive Thirst
Extrapyramidal Reaction
Extreme Discomfort in Calves when Sitting or Lying Down
Fast Heartbeat
Feel Like Throwing Up
Feeling Faint
Feeling Restless
Feeling Weak
Gas
Giant Hives
Having a Rapid Heart Action - Supraventricular Tachycardia
Having Thoughts of Suicide
Head Pain
Heart Attack
Heart Throbbing or Pounding
Hemorrhage
Hemorrhage of Blood Under the Skin
Hepatitis
High Blood Pressure
High Blood Sugar
High Cholesterol
Hives
Inability to have an Erection
Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements
Increased Pressure in Eyes
Increased Risk of Bleeding
Indigestion
Involuntary Quivering
Itching
Life Threatening Allergic Reaction
Liver Failure
Lockjaw
Loss of Appetite
Low Amount of Sodium in the Blood
Low Energy
Mood Changes
Muscle Spasms
Needing to Urinate Immediately
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Nosebleed
Not Feeling Well
Numbness
Orgasm Problems
Painful, Red or Swollen Mouth
Problem with Ejaculation
Rash
Redness of Skin
Ringing in the Ears
Seizures
Sensation of Spinning or Whirling (Vertigo)
Serotonin Syndrome - Adverse Drug Interaction
Sleep Disorder
Sluggishness
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Stomach Cramps
Stomach Ulcer
Suicidal
Sun-Sensitive Skin
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion
Temporary Redness of Face and Neck
Underactive Thyroid
Urination During the Night
Weight Gain
Weight Loss
Yawning
Yellowing of Skin or Eyes from Bile Flow Problems
I was a zombie for so long that I didn't notice I was emotionally blunted.
Some researchers argue that emotional blunting is not only a simple side effect of antidepressants but also a residual symptom of depression. They believe that emotional blunting is a symptom of depression that is not measured in conventional scales and is often incompletely treated with SSRIs
I have never had depression issues; I've never felt so down I just couldn't care. When I finally decided enough was enough, I contacted my doctor about getting off Cymbalta because it wasn't working. The advice they gave me was horrible and you cannot just stop taking it. This effects your brain in more ways than you realize.
Stopping duloxetine abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
A qualitative analysis published in 2020 noted: “It is now suspected that antidepressant withdrawal syndrome is more common and severe than earlier presumed, affecting roughly 30%-50% of those who attempt to stop their treatment.” It reported that some people experience debilitating withdrawal symptoms, pointing to the link between withdrawal and suicide.
Luckily through my research I found a wonderful group that gives you the information and tools you need to get off this medication safely and effetely.
Please, if you are on this medication and want off follow the slow taper guidelines or you will find yourself in a world of hurt!
Duloxetine (Cymbalta) | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Cymbalta Hurts Worse | Facebook
Cymbalta (Duloxetine) Side Effects & Withdrawal Symptoms (drugwatch.com)
Cymbalta Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline & Treatment (verywellmind.com)
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