Psychiatrist visit #2, questions about duloxetine

[NutOrat]

Round two. I went to a different psychiatrist, this one only prescribed 1 drug - antidepressant. Honestly, this visit seemed even worse than last time, I talked less and with less substance, I had trouble remembering what I wrote down, for some reason I was embarrased to take out my phone and just read, stupid, I know. She seemed annoyed and disgusted by me, especially judgemental about me being unemployed: "And who provides for you? Do you feel shame or guilt? How long are you planning to live like this?". Made me feel even shittier than I already did. She also said that unless I can collect my thoughts and talk properly, she won't be able to diagnose anything, and therapy also won't help. She said that I first need to dull depression symptoms, and then we'll talk about diagnosing any other disorders. Current diagnosis: "depressive episode medium-severe".

So she prescribed me duloxetine (most know it as Cymbalta, we have a different brand here). Today is the second day I'm taking it, she instructed to take 30mg for the first two weeks, then 60mg from then on. She also said it won't start working until week 3, nothing about side effects or anything else (I didn't ask, probably should have). This is my first time with mental health medication, currently I'm just kind of anxious all the time, waiting for any side effects to show up. I don't think I ever took a drug with such an exhaustive list of things that can go wrong, but I suppose that's true for all antidepressants.

I'm really on the fence about this doctor, but I don't have much of a choice now. What do you think? What's your experience with duloxetine? Anything to be weary of?

 

[LastNite]

Odd doctor. If you dont like that doc ask for a change. About cymbalta, I've tried it. I hope it works for you because if it doesnt then quitting it is hell. It gives you a week and a half of straight sickness. Youd feel dizzy, nausea, headaches, brain zaps, and other things when you try to stop it.

Id recommend to take OTC dramamine if you end up deciding to quit Cymbalta. Add tylenol on top for the headaches it'll help you quit it. ALWAYS ASK for help to taper off when quitting serious drugs like cymbalta. My psychiatrist said she'll help me taper off of it. That just means theyll give u or instruct you to take less doses. Mine told me she'll send one with a very low dosage which will help me taper off but she didnt so I got the full kick of the withdrawal effects.

 

[-Link-]

Honestly, this visit seemed even worse than last time, I talked less and with less substance, I had trouble remembering what I wrote down, for some reason I was embarrased to take out my phone and just read, stupid, I know. She seemed annoyed and disgusted by me, especially judgemental about me being unemployed

What you've written here is the kind of information that the doctor needs to hear. They need to know about this guilt, shame, embarrassment, and feelings of judgement, and the above quote is illustrative of these problems.

It sounds like this particular psychiatrist could be a little less blunt and exercise more bedside manner, but if she diagnosed "depressive episode medium-severe", then that reads to me as if she at least appreciates the significance of your situation even with limited information verbalized.

In following up with her, I'd recommend typing up notes beforehand and then either printing them out, or else transcribing them handwritten, legibly, onto paper. Then you could go into the appointment with this paper already in your hand so that you don't have to take the extra step of pulling it out of your pocket in the middle of the appointment. Then if you're unable to verbalize what you want to say (which is common among mental health patients, including myself), you could either read from those notes yourself, or if unable to do that, insist that she take the notes and read them herself (literally don't take "no" for an answer).

So she prescribed me duloxetine (most know it as Cymbalta, we have a different brand here). Today is the second day I'm taking it, she instructed to take 30mg for the first two weeks, then 60mg from then on. She also said it won't start working until week 3, nothing about side effects or anything else (I didn't ask, probably should have).

With duloxetine, relieving effects could start within 1-2 weeks but could take up to two months before full effect is realized. Potential side effects are many and vary from person to person, so personal anecdotes would be limited in their predictivity.

As part of note-taking for follow-up appointments, I'd recommend keeping track of observable effects (both good and bad) while also noting start date and the dates of any adjustments in dosage.

Give yourself credit for what you're doing. I think you'd do well to treat yourself for the huge steps you've taken here. I do wish you well with the duloxetine and hope your follow-up goes a little easier for you.

 

[antiqueantipodean]

Probably not what you want to hear and it may not become your experience at all but Cymbalta destroyed my life… I got hit hard with the negative sexual side effects and ruined my sexuality in all ways which is what has made me most depressed and suicidal and broke all my relationships and all my joy and worst part is even when you're off them it can potentially take years for it to come back and if it does it's often never as good as it was before. When the 4 week period hits if you notice you're less depressed but not horny get off them. I'm going to try and start an atypical or MAOI as they have much less records of sexual side effects

 

[NutOrat]

Probably not what you want to hear and it may not become your experience at all but Cymbalta destroyed my life… I got hit hard with the negative sexual side effects and ruined my sexuality in all ways which is what has made me most depressed and suicidal and broke all my relationships and all my joy and worst part is even when you're off them it can potentially take years for it to come back and if it does it's often never as good as it was before. When the 4 week period hits if you notice you're less depressed but not horny get off them. I'm going to try and start an atypical or MAOI as they have much less records of sexual side effects

I'm sorry it worked that way for you, hope the other meds give you no side effects, or at least very mild. I do want to hear all experiences, good or bad, that's why I made this thread. Honestly, compared to some other extreme side effects I'm not that scared of this one, though I'm sure I'm only saying that now because it hasn't happened to me yet. It's just that I already know I won't ever be in a relationship because [REDACTED], and not having to worry about being horny all the time might be a positive then. I'm just saying shit at this point, disregard it, this fucking sucks it all sucks! We'll see soon enough, though.

 

[MapleS]

Works for me (I guess?) and was the first med I didn't have severe adverce effects (5/6th) yey! although it makes me overtimulated more easily.

You know, anxiety actually CAN be an adverce effect of meds but ot should wear off. I had too much anxious energy (hard to sit in ane place kind of thing)

If you will not be able to sit still. Like it will be litterally eating you you should get off meds. Also when you will suddenly be not able to do anything because of sleepyness and lack of energy. like things that make you unable to work

Meds usually work like this:
1. you get adverse effect (if any)
2. meds starting to working
3. adverse effects wear off
4. meds fully work (meds take like twice the time to fully work and usually if you have any positive effect we higher the dosage. if not we wait a little longer or change meds)

Anyway adverce effects sould wear off in a couple of weeks (2-4) but these extremes not always wear off

But don't worry, I just react weirdly to any substance. like 1/2 of the normal beer (off meds) made me extremly drunk and after normal glass of vine (it was normal amount of vine in the glass, not to the brim, not ever 1/2) I literally couldn't walk straight.