Duloxetine

[bonjour16]

Today I was prescribed 30mg of duloxetine for depression and anxiety. Bit scared of trying a new antidepressant and all the side effects that go with it, but I'm desperate to find something to make me feel better. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this antidepressant and how you got on with it?

Thank you in advance!

It’s the only one that works for me.I’m on 90 mg. I started on 30 and worked up. It was the one with the least side effects. I lost weight on it (that’s stopped now). I don’t recall it being too problematic and I started to feel “normal” relatively quickly.
I’m allergic to sertraline.

@Iwant2move thank you very much. That's reassuring. Hope you doing well.

Just wondering if anyone else has any experience of duloxetine? Good or bad.

I take 120mg, for a combination of depression and pain. It works for me, when others didn't. I will say, the withdrawal is an absolute bitch. Even if I am late taking it, its awful. I get like these weird zaps in my head and down my arms. Others I know report the same. Do not ever let yourself run out of it. I've been on it for years and the thought of ever having to come off it makes me wish I'd never tried it in the first place, though it does work.
I'd recommend only taking it if you've exhausted alternatives.

@JemimaPuddleCat thank you. Are the zaps painful? Do you experience any other side effects. Do you think it has helped with anxiety? Thanks again

I take it and it’s the only thing that has worked for me, agree with the above poster who said withdrawal is horrible, I did a cold turkey withdrawal several years ago because there was a supply issue amongst all my local pharmacies and I’ve never felt so Unwell in my life.
I also found that starting it gave me a bit of nausea and dizziness so would maybe suggest starting on a Friday where you can then relax at the weekend.

That said, it allows me to function 100% better than before and for that I would put up with any negatives

I was on 120mg day for pain and depression and it's one of the best ones for me, the first few weeks were tough but persevere and it's worth it longer term, I've gone through most of them and this definitely worked better on me, also had no appetite for first couple of months but did need to lose weight anyway, wishing you all the best

Thank you for the replies. I hope it's better than the citalopram I've been on!

It works really well for me and I have not had awful side effects as I have with other antidepressants. When I first started taking it it massively dilated my pupils which was very strange but wore off within a week. As others have said withdrawal is really unpleasant and if I miss just one dose I will start to feel very unwell a few hours later - so worth setting an alarm or something to remind you to take it! Hope it works for you.

@pyjamas89 thank you. So do you need to take it exactly the same time every day otherwise you will feel ill? If you feel unwell from a missed dose, what do you experience?

Thank you in advance.

No worries!
I don't take it at exactly the same time on the dot but always with breakfast (so a bit later at the weekends!) A few times my routine has changed and I've forgotten to take it- I will realise by about 12 hours after the missed dose because it makes me very nauseous (I have been sick before) and I just generally feel a bit out of sorts.

@pyjamas89 thank you! I will have to remember to take it everyday. Glad it's helped you though. Fingers crossed it helps me x

It didn't work for me but then I suspect I have have been misdiagnosed with depression as nothing has ever helped.

Withdrawal was horrific, it took probably 2 years to come off it when I splitting 15mg capsules to tiny amounts in the end.

I am surprised that the Dr has only tried you on citalopram prior to putting you on this?

@RandomMess I've tried a few different antidepressants and now my Dr has prescribed this. Getting a bit scared as so far people are saying withdrawal is horrific. ☹️

If you have tried all else and you need medication to make your life better surely it has to be worth trying?

Being aware that coming off them takes time is not necessarily a bad thing. Cold turkey is not really feasible but slow weaning was fine even if I did have invest in drug scales

I love it and will be on it for life. I take lowest dose once every two to three days and it turned the anxiety tap off. Ime all anti depressant drugs have withdrawal symptoms-I have no intention of stopping this one though!

Me and my mum both love duloxitine. Weve tried MANY antidepressants over the years (mum has severe anxiety, and I have a awful mix of anxiety and major depressive disorder) and honestly neither of us could function without it.
I initially was put on 90mg to begin with which gave me awful side effects but soon as it was lowered to 30mg I was fine, and honestly I would go through the side effects again if I needed to just to be able to actually live relatively normally as I'm able to now!
The biggest issue we both found with duloxitine is that it made me VERY ill when I was smoking tobacco (had bad hot/cold sweats which lasted 10 minutes and found it reacts badly, but had no issue vaping with it) and also it dosent respond well with alcohol, dosent make us ill but can lead to feeling rough for a few days and bad rebounding depression a few days afterwards as alcohol cancels out the effects, but in all honesty alcohol does the same if taking most antidepressants!

I have no side effects and drink fine on it. I think it’s more expensive than other drugs which is why gps don’t prescribe it in the first place.

I've been on 60mg of Duloxetine for 6 weeks and i feel apart from a few days my anxiety, especially on waking up. I'm wondering whether going up to 90mg would help. Any opinions would be appreciated.