13 replies to this topic

[ValerieB]

I've been off Cymbalta for a months now and I'm still getting acne! In fact, it seems worse. Has anyone experienced this?

[natboo]

I hadn't related the 2, but since going off Cymbalta just over week ago, my acne is much worse than normal. It would be interesting to know if this has happened to others.

~Natalie

[nursedeborah]

Hi, and Welcome to the both of you,
Please go to the withdrawl symptoms, and you will find the list of all the symptoms,
you will see just what happens to allyou systems coming off this stuff

http:/prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

Good Luck, you can do this,

Debbie

[userihs]

Hi, I too have have had horrific breakouts since stopping cymbalta in August. I have always had mild acne but these breakouts are horrible, tons of little whiteheads mostly around my mouth, and chin. Nothing else in my skin routine has changed and I am no more stressed now than I have been at other times.

[nursedeborah]

Hi, I too have have had horrific breakouts since stopping cymbalta in August. I have always had mild acne but these breakouts are horrible, tons of little whiteheads mostly around my mouth, and chin. Nothing else in my skin routine has changed and I am no more stressed now than I have been at other times.

userihs,
Welcome to the form.
You say that your not stressed, but let me tell you your body is coming off this
crap. I would have to look it up on the withdrawl symptoms, but my guess with
this drug anything is possible. I know my skin has changed on my face, and other
area's of my body that I have never had any problems with before. I have these
bumps all ove my lower legs, and top of my feet since I have been on Cymbalta.

Here is the site with all the withdrawl symptoms. It has really helped me when I
get something weird, and it's usually on the list!
http://prozactruth.com/cymbalta.htm

Other than that how are you doing? Let us know, as it always helps to know how
someone is doing once they are off this drug.

Thanks,
Debbie

[AnMaMoRo]

I first went on Cymbalta in November 2015 for anxiety & depression, and noticed that I started breaking out a little in January 2016 but I had no other side effects from Cymbalta so I didn't think much of it (because otherwise it worked wonderful for me so I had a perfect year mood-wise). However, as the months went on I broke out more until the Fall of 2016 it was a struggle so I decided to wean myself off Cymbalta in November 2016 since I knew it could increase sweating so I wondered if that's why I was now dealing with acne at 36 years old. Instead, I broke out more -- in January and now February 2017 I have the worst cystic acne of my life!!! As in, painful, bleeding blisters on my face! Embarrassing large, puss-filled lumps. Every day my face looks bruised and swollen. I didn't expect this at all because not only did I not have any other side effects going on it, but I didn't have any going off, either. I was scared from all of the horror stories online but that wasn't my experience because I weaned slowly from 60mg and counted beads each week for 6 weeks until I was off completely. It did what I needed it to do as far as picking me up from the worst depression of my life to now doing well even these past 3 months. But now I fear with this acne I'm going to be depressed again!!! I've had my hormones tested, been to the dermatologist, my primary doctor, and my OBGYN and everything appears to be great with my labs. The prescriptions they've given me to try haven't helped at all. I've done everything under the sun and nothing has helped. I haven't changed anything else about my life so I don't understand why all of a sudden it's gotten this bad. I actually have very little stress in my life right now, am getting plenty of sleep, using skincare, eating healthy and exercising...basically following every rule I can think of with not a day improving!!! At first I didn't consider it being related to going off Cymbalta since it started when I went ON, but now I've discovered these message boards with other people saying the same thing so it makes me think Cymbalta can cause acne as it enters the system AND gets out of the system! If this is the case, can anyone tell me how long to expect this to last? If this is my withdrawal...it's been 2 months now that there's been zero Cymbalta in my system. I pray this doesn't last much longer.  

[gail]

Hello AMMR,

Welcome to the forum. I am in no position to answer your question, sorry.
But, our guru FH, surely knows about this and should be coming in soon. Stand by!

[gail]

Earth calling Fishinghat!

Sorry AMMR, but he is the only member that can answer you. Perhaps he took the day off with his lovely wife as he has been working real hard lately.
But and but, be assured of an answer.

[fishinghat]

Welcome AMMR

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. Yes, the development of severe acne during use and during withdrawal is a fairly rare event but does occur. The crawling skin, acne and itchy skin that can occur with withdrawal is slow to fade and can take as little as 2 or 3 months and as long as 7 or 8 months BUT it does go away. I will see if I can find any details on it.

 

Yes Gail a day spent with my lovely wife on a lovely day. Don't get to do that often enough.

[fishinghat]

While the FDA only reports 0.2% of those taking Cymbalta report acne as a side effect but one independent study (non-scientific) reported it at closer to 8%. The worse cases were in the 30 to 50 age group.

[fishinghat]

I did a quick search of this forum and found quite a few mentions of acne outbreaks but only one that appeared to last for several months. A few had success using a good probiotic to help reduce the severity. Acne can be related to digestive issues.

[AnMaMoRo]

Thank you for the reply! I'm sure since it's a small percentage that is why I never heard about it before--but it finally makes sense!!!! I hope that I am in the percentage with the shorter time frame! I started taking a probiotic yesterday and also gave up dairy this week so hopefully these things help to speed the process. Glad you had a great weekend!

[AnMaMoRo]

I wanted to give an update - my acne has FINALLY gone away over 4 months after going off Cymbalta. My doctors couldn't find anything that would cause it and none of the normal things helped, so I have no doubt it was the Cymbalta. Also, my period didn't start for 52 days the month after I went off it but my cycles have been normal since. I'm so glad that my body finally returned to normal; I had no idea this could happen but wanted to let others who experience this know that it will eventually get better. 

[fishinghat]

Thank you so much for returning and giving us an update AMMR. This helps us give answers to other members who may be experiencing these issues. I hope all is well with you and please come back anytime.