Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Personal Experiences => Topic started by: Dawn3129 on October 12, 2023, 08:24:42 AM
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Been on duloxetine for 8 weeks now and on 90mg. Had one week of total relief but back to panic, anxiety and insomnia - is this a sign to switch? Or am I not giving it enough time?
I'm miserable.
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Morning. Is this a single dose or R U able to split to morning and night? When is the anxiety at its worst, mine was from 3.30 a.m. onwards - during the day I improved and by evening was well again. Repeat, repeat, repeat >:( :'(. My GP gave me betablockas to ease the early morning anxiety surges.
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Yes single dose. I can't fall asleep and when I do I'm restless.
Same as you worse in the mornings then better by night. Some days it lasts longer but I'm just in this limbo. I want to be well and I'm not sure if this med will allow it.
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NHS Guidance: as well as avoiding all alcohol -
Duloxetine usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to work. It may take longer if you're taking it for nerve pain.
Common side effects include feeling sick, a dry mouth, headache, constipation and feeling sleepy. These side effects are usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
If you and your doctor decide to take you off duloxetine, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent withdrawal symptoms.
You may find you cannot concentrate properly while taking duloxetine. When you first start taking it, it's a good idea to stop driving and cycling, and avoid using machinery or tools, for the first few days until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
Why did your GP prescribe this? In the 1980s when I first began ADs for depression/anxiety, without 24 hours I would have extreme nausea - it took 8 different tablets B4 I found 1 that didn't cause this. Since then, the ADs have worked well for depression and I have an go-2 emergency med for anxiety. Is 90mg the highest dose available, I would have expected some relief by now.
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I have tried sertraline, seroxat, citalopram and apparently fluoxitine although I don't ever remember being on it.
Venlafaxine is the next one he's suggested (he's only been my Dr a year).
I don't drink. I can go up to 120 but that's the max - I'm just not sure it's the right one for anxiety/panic/cptsd.
All on line research suggests venlafaxine, busporin or venlafaxine.
I'm beginning to think it's me.
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It is you: because your brain/automatic nervous system is on heightened alert. I had a therapist tell me that panic attacks cannot be sustained by the body for more than 20 mins.; I walked out of the session. My longest attack was almost 3 days :-\. Still here.
May I ask when you take it?
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Been on duloxetine for 8 weeks now and on 90mg. Had one week of total relief but back to panic, anxiety and insomnia - is this a sign to switch? Or am I not giving it enough time?
I'm miserable.
I take it at 7am every morning. I had a similar experience with a counsellor who told me to "walk off" my panic and anxiety. I curtly told her I do not want to be medicated but I also don't want to not be here for my hubby and wee boy but that's how I feel. Like somehow it's an opt in condition.
One of the mums at school was talking about paroxetine?
CLKD you are always such a support thank you x
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paroxetine - Seroxat, Paxil etc.. Made me really angry :cuss: and some find it difficult to stop taking.
I have found that ecistalopram [sp] has suited my depression for several years. My anxiety is less now that I have a go2 tablet, I have also found 'my level' so no longer say 'yes' to requests ::).
MayB ask your Nurse Practitioner for something that you could take as well as or instead of Duloxetine to spread out the dose. Despite some product suggestions 'take at night' or 'take in the morning', I found that spreading out helped me feel in control as well as allowing my brain to settle . Once I felt better I went back to 5mg at breakfast and 10mg at night.
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I'm on 90mg once a day and I feel like I get sp far then its a set back.
I will ask about splitting the dosage. Theu won't give me anything with it for sleep or intense panic - it's frustrating.
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I think that U need something different to try to ease symptoms. Even though I know the physical causation for panic attacks, it doesn't help when anxiety floors me.
I had betablockas and ADs without the GP being worried. Is there a Nurse Practitioner with whom you could talk?
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Yes I have a lovely np but everything has to go through the Dr. I've been trying to research what's best for panic and anxiety and ask others but it's mixed.
I think in part with it not being a physically seen illness it's deemed not as important but that's just my experience x
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Hi Dawn3129, has anyone suggested Mirtazapine? If sleep is an issue it can be a very effective sedative & is sometimes prescribed for anxiety/panic as well as depression. If you've not tried it, might be worth reading up on to see what you think. Just be aware though, that if you have a thyroid condition, as more of us do at this stage of life, it can mess with thyroid levels.
Wx
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R Nurse Practitioner can prescribe without consulting the GP. There are two who have undergone extra training.
Let us know how you get on.
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I've got an appointment for next Friday :( hopefully I will get some help. I feel like this has been going on for too long x
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Take a list with you.
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Hello Dawn3129
I know what it is like to deal with anxiety and panic so you have my sympathy.
I recently contacted my surgery in the hope of seeing a doctor to discuss my HRT and a possible change of AD. A Nurse Practitioner replied and prescribed an increase in my existing AD. She asked that I try the new dose for a month and after that it may be possible for me to see a GP.
The above response made me think that NPs only prescribe within a limited range of treatments as obviously they don't have the knowledge that a doctor has. When reassured that the my current AD had been prescribed by my doctor the nurse was happy to arrange a higher dose.
If you feel that you really want to see a doctor I suggest that you insist on a GP appointment instead of an NP.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Thanks Kathleen. My no is really good but she always goes through the gp. I see him Friday. I just don't feel myself due to menopause but tue anxiety is horrendous x
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Dear Dawn,
I’ve just started Duloxetine and am struggling to feel the benefits too. Did you keep going? I’m thinking of asking to switch to Venlafaxine.
I’ve been on 60mg for 7 weeks with only 4 days of feeling half normal and on 90mg for 4 days and feeling no different. When I started on it I dipped hugely and felt worse.
I hope you don’t mind me asking.
Thanks
Anna