How long do withdrawal symptoms usually last after the last dose?

The short version: the evidence does not give a single number for how long duloxetine withdrawal lasts. It describes a range.

The 2005 study on abrupt duloxetine cessation tracked symptoms but did not report how many days or weeks they persisted [2]. The broader literature on antidepressant withdrawal defines three categories: new withdrawal symptoms that are usually transient and last up to six weeks, rebound symptoms that are also transient, and persistent post-withdrawal disorders that last longer than six weeks and can become chronic [1]. That framework applies to duloxetine as an SNRI.

The same review notes that onset of withdrawal symptoms typically occurs 36 to 96 hours after the last dose change [1]. Duration depends on the drug's half-life, how fast it was tapered, and individual factors. Duloxetine has a relatively short half-life of about 12 hours, which means withdrawal can hit faster and harder than with longer-acting drugs like fluoxetine. Case reports of similar SNRIs describe symptoms lasting days to weeks after missed doses, with resolution upon reinstating the drug [1].

What is missing from this retrieval is a dedicated study that followed people after their last duloxetine dose and measured exactly when symptoms stopped. The 2005 study reported which symptoms occurred but not their duration [2]. The broader withdrawal literature says most new withdrawal symptoms resolve within six weeks, but a minority of people experience persistent syndromes that last months or longer [1].

My call: for most people, duloxetine withdrawal symptoms last days to a few weeks after the last dose, but the evidence does not rule out longer durations for some individuals. Confidence: moderate.