Duloxetine / Cymbalta Diary 2013

[MrRedShirt]

How's it going Mark?

[Mark13]

End of first week at 30mg

At least I managed to get out of bed on Sunday. I went for a 6 mile walk with my wife at a nearby park.

Was close to going sick from work yesterday, but pushed myself to go in and perked up a wee bit during the day.

Anxiety still higher than without duloxetine, usual obsessive thoughts etc.

Also it's really getting my wife down as I've been struggling for months now, and trying to find a drug that works well for me. Pregabalin gave me probably a total of 3 good months out of the 4 I was on it, but I was more down than up by the end.

I think I'll give it another week before I ask the Doc to up me onto 60mg.

[SarahH]

Following your thread with interest Mark and wishing you well!!!

Keep going

[Mark13]

Thanks for the support, Simon & Sarah

Days 8, 9 & 10

Still sleeping "differently". Waking up 60-90 minutes earlier than I used to, but still apparently getting enough sleep, I'm certainly not sleepy during the day.

I'm having periods during the day when I feel pretty good, and the odd period where the anxiety spikes along with some depersonalisation - I just ride that out it doesn't last too long.

Today, after feeling anxious on waking (but not as bad as previous days) I've felt quite calm (for me) at work. Not too much nagging or paranoia going on in my head today.

My anxiety goes up and down whether I'm on medication or not, I just want it to be more manageable on a day to day basis and not to obsess over the little things.

So, after a rough first few days (which may have been partly pregabalin withdrawal) I'm becoming more hopeful that this drug may help.

Also my libido has increased slightly from zero on pregabalin, and I've also lost 8lbs in 3 weeks - I believe the pregabalin was keeping my weight artificially high with fluid retention. So those aspects please me.

Looking forward to upping my dosage to the standard 60mg as soon as I get the OK from my GP.

[MrRedShirt]

Sounds like it's going in the right direction

[Mark13]

Sounds like it's going in the right direction

Only for one day unfortunately

Saturday was awful, my anxiety was sky high.

Sunday not so bad, once we went out for a walk at a local park.

Getting mild "brain zaps" though, the last few days. Nothing like I got years ago when I withdrew from fluvoxamine, but a little disconcerting all the same.

Still feeling slightly worse on duloxetine than I was without but as I'm still sleeping OK I'm happy to continue - should get the go ahead to up to 60mg this week too.

Mark

[Mark13]

Days 13 & 14

Still feeling rough, not sleeping well. Waking up with anxiety during the night and when I finally awake for the day. Disipates slightly after I get up, but still as high all day as it used to be without duloxetine.

Still suffering from side effects:
dizziness
insomnia
headaches (having to take paracetomol, a drug I rarely use)
tremors
feeling the cold / shivers
mild brain zaps (very frequent and annoying)
fuzzy head (hard to describe)
trouble concentrating
very little energy

Going up to 60mg on Thursday, now I've got my GPs go-ahead. Hope that'll do the trick.

[Consider]

Hey Mark!

Been reading the diary, hope the Cymbalta experience isn't too bad. Hang in there though, cause this drug really does work for a lot of people.

[Mark13]

Hey Mark!

Been reading the diary, hope the Cymbalta experience isn't too bad. Hang in there though, cause this drug really does work for a lot of people.

Thanks Consider, I intend to.....mainly because the withdrawal syndrome sounds so horrific

The only really annoying side effects at the moment are the mild but annoying brain zaps many times a day, and a loud droning tinnitus in my right ear (as well as the high pitched screeching tinnitus I always have, seriously).

That said my right ear is blocked at the moment, using ear drops on it, so that may be related, but I think it came on first. The brain zaps started after about 6 days on the drug which was pretty weird, unless they're some remnant of coming off pregabalin (but that isn't supposed to have a related withdrawal syndome).

Confused and a bit miserable ATM.

Hope both SEs go away soon, and the benefits start to appear

Oh and ejaculation is painful, I mean you couldn't make this up.

This has probably the most difficult side effects of any drug I've been on, but willing to see it out, because if my mood and anxiety improve these effects may be worth the sacrifice - obviously physical effects are more stressful when you're feeling down.

[Consider]

Blocked ear, I know I have had that before. An ENT can clear this up. Brain zaps on Cymbalta are pretty common, they will go away in time. One month after my anxiety went away, I laughed at actually how silly it was. I was like, "Anxiety, what anxiety?". That will be you too at some point in time. Remember, that this too, shall pass.