I was on the highest dose of Cymbalta over a period of 2 years. I took it while I was addicted to pain pills and also during my first year in recovery. I have chronic back pain and I never really thought Cymbalta helped that much with pain until I stopped taking it. My back hurt a little more.

I thought it worked great for my depression while I was on it but I didn't think it was very consistant so after about 2 & 1/2 years of being on it my dr put me on Pristiq which is one of the newer ones. I actually asked my dr to because I heard about it from a few friends here who were taking it.

I don't think you have anything to fear from antidepressant medication. I guess they are mildly addictive over time but not as bad as narcotics for example, nowhere near as bad. I was actually skipping doses of my Pristiq for awhile, not usually on purpose, I would just forget to take them (That's what happens when you get old :) It would usually take 2 or 3 days for me to realize, I probably should take them because I would start feeling depressed again.

So I think both Pristiq and Cymbalta do their job and they do it quite well. I am not afraid to take them. I don't think they made me numb to emotion at all.

I just have the wires crossed in my brain and that's what causes me to feel under the weather all the time so antidepressants just make me feel normal.

Good luck

I was on Cymbalta for many years. It brought me out of severe depression. It is not addictive as a pain reliever, at least for me. I think it's a great medication, but it is VERY expensive. It has been out for years, and so far still no generic. I would try it. Good luck.