Hi there,
I just wanted to document my experience with Duloxetine.
I've been depressed for years and after venlafaxine stopped working last October, I weaned myself off of it. I supplemented as I wanted to try the natural way but gave in in March.
Since the beginning of March I'vee been on Vortioxetine = extreme brain fog, suicidal idealation (2 weeks). then Lofepremine = bad anxiety (11 days)
So, I am now on Duloxetine and wanted to document my experience to help others.
Day 1
About 7-8 hours after taking it, I felt extremely tired. I woke up really tired today too. I do feel a little tingly, like I feel like I've taken something but nothing too harsh.
its the only problem with new med is the getting over the initial stage,ive been on mine for ages and still feel tired most of the time but better that than were i was this time last year,stay strong things get better all the time
Yep, i can empathise, the vortioxetine causes vomiting, lofepramine did nothing. Duloxetine very fatigued, may just have been start ups. Im still looking for something i can take
DAY 2
Im taking my tablet in the afternoon, maybe I should consider taking it earlier as I had a terrible nights sleep last night.
I just layed awake. I'm feeling that tingly feeling all over my body. Feel slightly wired.
do you take it in the morning or of a night?
i started in the afternoon, but now i take it in the morning.
Maybe i should consider taking at night?
DAY 3
I had a good nights sleep last night. I woke up a couple of times and was able to get back to sleep.
I feel a bit brighter today. Not as jittery and tingly but its early yet and I'll see how the day goes.
I can't say that I've got any major side effects at the moment which is amazing!
I'll keep posting
So yesterday was day 6
I felt great yesterday! The brian fog seemed to have cleared a bit. I felt more motivated and more up beat.
I decided to take my tablet before i went to bed because I have been taking it in the morning.
I've woke up today feeling crap again. Extremely tired. Like i could sleep all day long. I feel foggy and generally feel really down. I thought it was too good to be true feeling so great yesterday.
Im thinking maybe it was because there was such a gap between taking my tablet, being that I took it in the evening rather than the morning.
Now I don't know what to do in terms of taking it going foward.....if taking it at night makes me feel this groggy, maybe I'll stick to the mornings.
I think I've put on a few pounds since taking it. Orderd some scales so i'll be able to monitor this properly!!!!
I'll keep posting.
So day 8 of taking duloxetine.
Seemed that my mood has lifted slightly. I felt a little bit more motivated and not a as fatigued.
Then last night, after I took my tablet at about 8pm, by 10pm, i felt quite aggetated with palpitations and felt quite anxious.
I've woken up today feeling the same. Anxious, the tingles and generally aggetated.
I really hope that this will pass as I can't bare the anxiety syptoms, i'd rather be fatigued.
Sorry you are having these symptoms, i have had them on other meds too. I ended up so fatigued on duloxetine i had to give up. Seems you are getting some benefits, may be the one for you.
So i'm on day 12 of duloxetine. I can't say i feel any better at all.
I'm very tired all of the time. I've no improvement on my mood at all. I wonder if i should see if my GP will increase to 60mg to see if i get any kind of improvement on that dose.
I'm really at my witts end. I've been depressed for over 6 months now. I've been off work for 3 weeks and i just can't be off for much longer.
I've spent £2k on private psychiatrists to feel no better whatsoever.
Sorry to hear you are not doing so well. Trial and error all this. I tried private psychiatrists but was no better, just sooner appointments and they all seemed to work in. Nhs part time too.
Duloxetine didnt do it for me, I was so flat on it. Increase in dosage made it worse for me.
still seeing psych, still searching for cure.
How long were you onthem for Ann?
I've just been to my doctors and he said that I need to give them at least 3 weeks at 30mg to see any benefit and before he'll up the dose to 60mg.
I've been on them 12 days so far, so i guess that's only a short amount of time
i ended up having a good day yesterday afterall. My mood was lifted and generally i felt good. I was able to get out and about.
So its day 14 today. I've woken up very anxious. That tingly feeling and tummy going over.
This has happened a couple of times since being on the Duloxetine but has managed to subside. I just hope this passes. Mood is very flat today. I just want to lay on the sofa.
I've also lost my appetite since being on it. Its like I have to faulse myself to eat.
So, Im having good days and bad days.
My doctor said to give it another week before considering an increase.
I'll keep posting!
have you tried high dose vitamin B3 vis. NIacin, look on youtube about it
Hope you have good success with this. We are all different. Just couldnt take side effects and really down for me. Keep us posted.
no, i've heard and tried lots of other supplements like t-tyrosine, Vit b complex and folate etc. Have you tried the B3 Niacin?
I have taken 5 0 mg, which is the starter amount, you get what they call a hot flush which is supposed to be a sign its working and you stop at the hot flush and when that reaction stops you move up to 100mg. etc etc. I took 100mg straight off roasted turned red and itched all over, then I felt sleepy and I dont like that, I also felt a bit dizzy and sick, not much but I thought it was a strong reaction so I have crept off taking it but have been thinking before bed might be a good idea as its known for sleeping too. My husband takes 600mg a day and hasnt had a stiff joint of muscle since and we are 70, he was constantly on anti inflaments, I tell you there is something to this vitamin but youve got to expect a strange sensation though it only lasted about 20 minutes, as to depression I didnt even notice. But then I can be ok for a week two weeks who knows then get agitated or extremely depressed as I am rapid cycling bipolar.
thanks Ann. I just had a call with a very good psychiatrist. He has advised me that 30mg is a very low dose and that he wouldn't expect it to have an effect on my mood. He said I should increase to 60mg to see if i benefit.
He suggested pregablin if i get bad anxiety.
I'll keep posting on it all.
So its day 15 on 30mg. I don't feel good at all.
I spoke to a very good psychiatrist today who said that 30mg is low and it may not have an effect on my mood so he has suggested increasing the dose. He said rather than hanging around 'waiting' for the 30mg to work.
He will also prescribe pregablin for anxiety if it gets bad.
So pleased to talk to someone who knows what they're talking about!!!!!