Duloxetine experiences pleaae

[Timeforhector]

Hello, Is anyone taking Duloxetine for depression? How are you finding it and did you have any side effects when you started them. Thanks

No one?

I started about a year ago after going through three other drugs, none of which proved effective. It works well, I feel that I’ve finally regained control over my life. Side effects were mostly gastric (non-stop stomach rumbling for a while, and diarrhoea). Temporary sleep problems each time I upped the dose, but that didn’t last long.

Thanks, that’s really encouraging.
How has it helped you?

I take it for anxiety, not depression. It works brilliantly for anxiety though.

I have no enthusiasm for anything and find it a real struggle just to force myself to do what needs doing. I’m hoping Duloxetine might give me some hope that there is a future for me.

Have you started taking it yet OP? I’ve just been prescribed this but not started yet. I’m nervous about side effects.

Not yet, I’m tapering off citalopram as that doesn’t seem to be helping me and I’d rather not start another AD if I can cope without it.
The side effects of duloxetine don’t look too bad though compared to some of the medication I’ve been on and I’m looking forward to losing my appetite if I do take it 😀
What symptoms do you have atm?

I really, really struggled with basic everyday activities that people do by default, without thinking much about it. I didn’t want to be on any medication and hoped I would manage to sort myself out without that, but was slowly turning into a vegetable. Now I’m able to function like a normal human, focus at work, have a reasonably orderly home, pay the bills on time, etc. As a bonus, I regained the ability to focus uninterruptedly for longer periods, so got back into reading books. You mentioned citalopram, I was on escitalopram before and it didn’t do anything for me. Neither did sertraline.

That’s amazing @crowstreet.
Do you feel any joy or enthusiasm about life now?

I've been on it for 8 years and thunk it's brilliant. I had a brief try on another drug, got very depressed. As soon as I went back to dulox, I felt like myself again.
I have to take it in the morning or I can't sleep.

Thank you for sharing that @Cupofteaforyou. I’m feeling more positive about it after hearing the experiences on this thread

I take it and have genuinely found it life changing for anxiety. My mood is just so much better now and I can honestly say it’s been a total game changer. I sweat a bit more on it but quite frankly I’ll take that in a heartbeat for the benefits. It hasn’t really helped my chronic pain but it’s worth it a hundred times over for the mood improvement. Best of luck!

Thanks, I’m so pleased it is working for you ❤️

Saved my life. Both depression and anxiety. I get withdrawal surge of symptoms if I miss a few doses but it's really really helped me, have gone from barely functioning and despairing to returning to normal life and starting to feel happy again

That’s great. I just want to feel some enthusiasm for something in life

My main symptom at the moment is just very low mood. I’m pretty depressed I guess, very tearful, dark thoughts, no motivation, no interest in anything whatsoever

That’s similar to me except I’m never tearful however bad I feel.
Hopefully, you are find the other posts on this thread encouraging too

I changed to duloxetine about 8 years ago when a psychiatrist said the citalopram was no longer working. The only side effects I noticed were dry mouth, sometimes altered change in taste and increased sugar cravings. But mentally it’s been fantastic, albeit I’m on a high dose I think, 120mg a day. I’ll fight anyone who suggests I try to come off it. Been on AD’s since I was 27 (54 now) and I’m never coming off them.

Sounds really positive apart from the sugar cravings, I have too many of those already 🤷‍♀️

It worked for me. I felt groggy and nauseous for the first few days but settled quite quickly and made a huge difference to my mood.

Oh I know, then I gave up alcohol 5 years ago and that made them even worse 😩😩😂

Took the first tablet earlier this evening, and now I’m vomiting. Not sure these will work out for me but I’ll give it a go.

Oh no, that’s a really quick reaction. Could it be something else making you nauseous?

How are you feeling now @BlackMess?

Definitely the Duloxetine making me vomit - every antidepressant I’ve tried has been the same.

Today is day 4 and I’m managing okay with the nausea/vomiting but have zero appetite so not really eating. Focusing on making sure I get enough fluids. I’m very drowsy, struggle to keep my eyes open at times - having multiple naps a day.

Mood wise feeling ok, but my thoughts are starting to race a bit, feels like I’ve got too much going on in my head.