What is better Cymbalta or Xanax?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 16, 2026
Xanax (alprazolam) effectively treats occasional or short-term anxiety and panic attacks. Compared to similar drugs, it is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms and can have more interactions with some medicines. Cymbalta (duloxetine) may help relieve nerve pain from diabetes and other forms of chronic pain.
Is it OK to take Xanax while on Cymbalta?
ALPRAZolam DULoxetine
Using ALPRAZolam together with DULoxetine may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination.
How quickly does Cymbalta work for anxiety?
It takes two to four weeks for duloxetine to start helping. It could take some weeks or months to get its full effect. Scientists believe that at first the higher levels of serotonin (and possibly noradrenaline) have direct effects which do not help relieve the depression or anxiety.
Is Cymbalta a good choice for anxiety?
In this nine-week study, Cymbalta significantly improved core anxiety symptoms such as anxious mood, fears and tension by 51 percent in patients taking 60mg/day and by 50 percent in patients taking 120mg/day compared to an improvement of 32 percent in patients taking sugar pill.
What drug is most like Cymbalta?
What is a good alternative to Cymbalta? Cymbalta is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Other SNRIs include Effexor (venlafaxine), Pristiq (desvenlafaxine), and Savella (milnacipran). Talk to a healthcare provider about potential antidepressant treatment options for you.
33 related questions foundIs duloxetine the SAMe as Xanax?
Xanax (alprazolam) effectively treats occasional or short-term anxiety and panic attacks. Compared to similar drugs, it is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms and can have more interactions with some medicines. Cymbalta (duloxetine) may help relieve nerve pain from diabetes and other forms of chronic pain.
Which SNRI is best for anxiety?
These are the most commonly prescribed SNRI medications for anxiety:
- Effexor (venlafaxine)
- Pristiq (desvenlafaxine)
- Cymbalta (duloxetine)
Does duloxetine make you calm?
Cymbalta can restore balance by preventing your brain cells from quickly absorbing these neurotransmitters. By bringing equilibrium back to the chemicals in your brain, Cymbalta can help alleviate anxiety, lessen panic attacks, and improve your mood.
How much Cymbalta should I take for anxiety?
For treatment of anxiety: Adults—At first, 60 milligrams (mg) once a day. Some patients may start at 30 mg once a day for 1 week before increasing the dose to 60 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed.
Which SSRI is best for anxiety?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed to treat social anxiety disorder. The only SSRIs that are currently FDA-approved for this condition are sertraline (Zoloft) and immediate- and extended-release paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR).
Is Cymbalta 30 mg effective for anxiety?
Cymbalta (duloxetine) is good for treating depression, anxiety, and some forms of long-term pain, but it's more likely than other antidepressants to cause problems if you drink alcohol or have high blood pressure.
Is Cymbalta worth the risk?
The prominent consumer group Public Citizen indicates that the antidepressant Cymbalta should not be taken for any of the approved uses, as there no evidence that the benefits outweigh the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects associated with the medication.
Can Cymbalta make you more anxious?
Some patients may feel worse instead of better when first starting drugs like Cymbalta or when changing the dose. You may feel more anxious, agitated, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, and feel like you are not yourself or become less inhibited. You may have thoughts of suicide, hurting yourself or other people.
What antidepressant works best with Cymbalta?
With respect to the combination group, the most commonly prescribed antidepressant with duloxetine was mirtazapine followed by paroxetine CR, escitalopram, venlafaxine, bupropion, sertraline and fluoxetine.
How does Cymbalta make you feel?
What Are Possible Side Effects Of Duloxetine? Headache, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, decreased appetite, increased sweating, feeling nervous, restless, fatigued, sleepy or having trouble sleeping (insomnia). These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication.
Does Cymbalta make you sleepy?
The serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are similar medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and sometimes, chronic pain. They include duloxetine (Cymbalta) and venlafaxine (Effexor) and can also cause drowsiness and fatigue.
What is the most common side effect of Cymbalta?
The most common side effects of the drug include nausea, headache, dry mouth and sleepiness — but more serious side effects may occur. Like most antidepressants, Cymbalta (duloxetine) may trigger suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents and adults under the age of 24.
Who should not take Cymbalta?
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to duloxetine, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® within the past 14 days. You should not use this medicine if you have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
Does Cymbalta change your personality?
Some people may find themselves more frustrated, irritable or lacking in patience when taking the drug. Occasionally this can escalate to open hostility towards others, extreme agitation and even mania. These effects may be more apparent early on in treatment or after discontinuation.
Does duloxetine help with social anxiety?
The newest SNRI, duloxetine, has been shown to be effective at doses of 60mg/day to 120mg/day for anxiety associated with depression, and is anticipated to be a broad spectrum agent for mood and anxiety disorders (Dunner, Goldstein, Mallinckrodt, Lu, & Detke, 2003).
Is Cymbalta better than Lexapro?
Is Cymbalta or Lexapro better? Cymbalta and Lexapro appear to be similarly effective in treating depression. Large meta-analyses of multiple studies indicate that the higher rate of adverse events with Cymbalta may be a reason to try Lexapro first in most patients.
Is Cymbalta energizing?
It's more energizing than other antidepressants, so it's good for people who have low energy. Might be a good option for treating children with depression and/or OCD. Doesn't have effects on the heart unlike other antidepressants so it may be a better treatment choice for older people.
What's better Zoloft or Cymbalta?
Some studies have shown that Zoloft was more effective for symptoms relating to anxiety, agitation, and excessive fear of having an illness. But Cymbalta was more effective for treating physical symptoms, slowed movement/thinking, and sexual problems.
What is the mildest anxiety med?
Buspirone, also known by the brand name BuSpar, is a newer anti-anxiety drug that acts as a mild tranquilizer. Buspirone relieves anxiety by increasing serotonin in the brain—as the SSRIs do—and decreasing dopamine. Compared to benzodiazepines, buspirone is slow acting—taking about two weeks to start working.
What is better than Paxil for anxiety?
Lexapro offers similar efficacy to Paxil with a better tolerability profile. Another class of drugs may also be preferable in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, selective norepinephrine inhibitors (SNRIs). These include Effexor XR (venlafaxine) and Cymbalta (duloxetine).