PlainPill

Cymbalta

People mainly take Cymbalta for mood, focus, energy. Based on 6 first-hand reports and 3 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #1083 of 1,974 overall.

14
User score
Mostly negative
17% positive0% mixed67% negative17% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 20% are positive.

Clinical research
BModerate research base
3
meta-analyses
5
RCTs
86
papers

What Cymbalta does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

BModerate research base

At least one meta-analysis, or 5+ randomized controlled trials. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

PLoS One · 2011 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Depression screening and patient outcomes in cancer: a systematic review

Conclusion: The one treatment study reviewed reported modest improvement in depressive symptoms, but no evidence was found on whether or not depression screening in cancer patients, either alone or in the context of optimal depression care, improves depression outcomes compared to usual care. Depression screening in cancer should be evaluated in a RCT in which all patients identified as depressed, either through screening or via physician recognition and referral in a control group, have access to comprehensive depression care.

PubMed 22110613 ↗
Health Technol Assess · 2015 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Interventions to treat premature ejaculation: a systematic review short report

Conclusion: Several interventions significantly improved IELT. Many interventions also improved sexual satisfaction and other outcomes. However, assessment of longer-term safety and effectiveness is required to evaluate whether or not initial treatment effects are maintained long term, whether or not dose escalation is required, how soon treatment effects end following treatment cessation and whether or not treatments can be stopped and resumed at a later time. In addition, assessment of the AEs associated with long-term treatment and whether or not different doses have differing AE profiles is required.

PubMed 25768099 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

60 mgdaily

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

withdrawal ×2fatigue ×1emotional instability ×1

What users say

Verbatim quotes, shortened only — each links to the original discussion.

“Very exhausted with taking antidepressants, wanna quit.”
Source discussion ↗
“Cymbalta here. Absolutely ruined my life. Started early 2018 and quit cold turkey (nobody told me I couldn't) later that same year. I'm still a mess all this time later.”
Source discussion ↗
“I tried using SNRI (cymbalta) as an experiment for chronic fatigue, and not only did the chronic fatigue disappear, but many of the ADHD symptoms also disappeared.”
Source discussion ↗
“I've taken Prozac, Wellbutrin, Viibryd, and Cymbalta over the past 5 years. None of them did anything for me.”
Source discussion ↗
“In 2012 I was on cymbalta for back pain and that had no effect on my short term memory.”
Source discussion ↗
Top discussions (5)

Other options for mood

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 2, 2026. How we rate