Losing Weight after HORRIFIC Cymbalta

I am not sure about cymbalta causing weight gain. When I was on Cymbalta, I actually lose a lot of weight(because I was losing appetite like crazy!) But then since we're all wired differently, it could be different for everyone. The only bad experience I had with cymbalta was that it was causing me more distress and nightmares lol. That being said I agree that you shouldn't quit taking your meds before discussing with your doctor. I quit taking my antidepressant (voluntarily) once and it put me through a miserable living hell for nearly six months or so.

I don't really have much advise to offer but I hope you will discuss it with your doctor and work on a new solution. good luck!

Cymbalta is not an SSRI. It effects both seritonin and norepinephrine. Wellbutrin impacts dopamine. Also, if you see an MD I strongly encourage you to bring all your vitamins and herbal supplements. They can interact with medicine.By suddenly stopping your antidepressant watch out for increased depression especially suicidal thoughts.

I am just in the process of coming off cymbalta-was on 90mg now on 20mg. Some of the side effects have been awful, but it has been made easier by reducing slowly recently. I dont think it effected my weight but i was getting some horrible symptoms-too much serotonin in my body i think and generally feeling quite unwell. Good luck with it!

wow, for you to have quit cold turkey and only have mild side effects is awesome! I had all of those while I was on cymbalta and worse. I started having aggressive thoughts, thoughts of suicide, emotional meltdowns, nightmares, ringing in ears, brain zaps, vision problems, tingling in my eyes and lips.... I ended up in the hospital because I was having very bad visions and uncontrollable crying for hours. So I had to quit cold turkey and the withdrawals were the same, but magnified by 10! I had to be monitored for more than a week. I couldn't drive for 10 days due to thoughts of running my car off the road. It was the WORST time in my ENTIRE LIFE! I was at my highest weight when I came off of cymbalta but I was able to lose 5 lbs shortly after that. I didn't get serious about weight loss until almost a year later. It has been almost 2 years now since that awful drug left my life and I still have occasional ringing in my ears, trouble focusing, nightmares, and odd habits that I didn't have before I took it. I tried contacting a lawyer but the only class action suits are for the families of those who commited suicide while on it so I couldn't get anyone to represent me without a large up front fee. Also, my dr who prescribed it to me (for fibromyalgia pain, NOT DEPRESSION) made it look like it was simply insomnia instead of a reaction to the drug. If ANYONE knows of any lawsuits out there, feel free to inbox me more info.

ETA: I was on the lowest dose so that's why I quit cold turkey per my dr. and under strict supervision. You should really consider going to a lower dose at first! If you start to have agressive thoughts, please do not be alone or by yourself with children. Call someone to come look after you or go to the dr.

I am just in the process of coming off cymbalta-was on 90mg now on 20mg. Some of the side effects have been awful, but it has been made easier by reducing slowly recently. I dont think it effected my weight but i was getting some horrible symptoms-too much serotonin in my body i think and generally feeling quite unwell. Good luck with it!

What were your side effects?

I was put on Cymbalta after major back surgery. I had fusion, two cadavar discs, and seven titanium screws. It was given to me for nerve pain issues. I never had issues with depression. Contrary to most posts here, my doctors told me that it absolutely can cause weight gain as it changes all of the chemicals in your body and messes up signals. It in no way is just because you're eating too much or chosing the wrong foods. What a thing to post for someone who is already having depression issues!!! At any rate, I was on 60mg twice a day and gained 65 pounds over a course of two years. Aside from that the sweating was horrific! I was very fit before the Cymbalta and mortified about what happened while I was on it. One day I googled weight gain with Cymbalta and about died when I read most of the posts. Finally at least I had an answer. So, like you, I did the wrong thing and just stopped taking it without weaning or doctors help. I would absolutely not recommend that. I passed out at Target, no clue why, I was just trying to buy some bread and the whole room was looping around me and I was on the floor. Luckily softly since I would have freaked out if someone had to pick my fat tooshie up off of the ground! A few months after I stopped, my mom died suddenly at age 66 and one of my four daughters was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Needless to say I haven't lost a pound. You hang in there girl, you got this one way or another!

SSRI's always cause weight gain for me, regardless of what I'm eating. Was just on a very low dose of Celexa for 2-3 months and gained 15 pounds. Took about 6 months to go back to my normal weight. Ironically I was actually eating better while on the Celexa -low carb, no sugar, etc., and exercising, and the scale was always going up. This last month alone (and 6 months total of being off Celexa) I've been eating lots of takeout, sugar, etc. and I've lost 5pounds (back to my normal weight finally.). The downside is I am much more unhappy mentally/emotionally now. I wish I could feel better without having to accept the weight gain. It really doesn't seem fair. =\

I have gained 27 llb since taking cymbalta in January. I monitored my eating before and after. When I noticed the weight gain, I started eating 1200 calorie daily diets and still gained weight. I am convinced the medication is associated with weight gain despite the information that suggests otherwise. I stopped cold turkey after getting frustrated about my weight. Bad idea! I went through major pain, moodiness random crying and sweating profusely. It was weird. I don't like this drug but it does help me with my pain. Sometimes I think I am going crazy because my body hurts so bad and I can't work out as much as before without it causing major tightness the next day. If anyone found or uses a different drug for fibromyalgia please share!! I'm so insecure about my size and in so much physical pain.

I, too, gained 30 lbs on Cymbalta. My appetite went through the roof. Everything I have always avoided like sweets and carbs and things just became like survival to me! My husband said he's never seen me eat like this before. I've always been slim and trim but I had to try different drugs to ease my bipolar symptoms. Now I cannot stop eating. It's so disheartening. I try so very hard to not eat them and even when I go days and days and days without carbs or sweets, I think god who can live like this? Ugh.

I take it for my Fibromyalgia...I've had no adverse effects at all. It's helped me a lot. I was on Lyrica previously and THAT made me gain weight. I was eating everything in site with it!