Duloxetine & side effects

I've been duloxetine (30 mg) for three weeks. I've been using this medication before and it helped wit hmy depression. I am irritated by the side effects though.

So far, I've expercienced the following:

• tinnitus
• dry mouth (it's irritating and I know from the past that I'll be going to the dentist on a monthly basis starting any time soon)
• sore throat
• lumps of blood in my handkerchief when clearing my nose
• a half-blocked nose
• bad breath (I suppose as a result of the dry mouth and the throat-ache)
• loss of libido, completely (well, being single now, I suppose that's more of an asset)
• I don't sleep nights anymore, I'm lucky if I get two blocks of two hours these days (this is one I can't remember from the past)

Any tips on dealing with this? I have a cortisone nose-spray and chewing gum (from the GP) but they are only half helping.

Does anyone else have the experience that psychiatrists don't seem to be aware of any side-effects of what they prescribe? When I mention the thing that worried me the most (the damage to my teeth because of the dry mouth), he stared at me sheepishly for a few seconds and continued the conversation as if I had never mentioned this ...

In a week, I'm supposed to add 150 mg of wellbutrin to the mix, which I know will worsen the dry mouth, the throat ache and the stinky breath ... I know from experience that the side effects are not wearing off in my case. It's the only combo that ever helped with my depression (the double dose of duloxetine caused sleepiness, the double dose of wellbutrin caused convulsions, the combination of the two on a low dosis kina works), but some side effects are making me nervous.

On the plus side: the smelly breath helps with my social distancing, so nog covid-19 for me (besides: there really should be a sarcasm-emoji)

I'm sorry you are experiencing all of these side effects. I believe duloxetine is the generic variety of Cymbalta if memory serves. (It often doesn't.) I was on the maximum recommended dosage first of Cymbalta & then on the generic once it became available for somewhere between a year or two as I recall. (I don't recall exactly.) But, for me, it was the best antidepressant I ever took. And I experienced almost no side effects that I can recall. So I'm somewhat surprised at all of the trouble you're having with it, although I do understand that psych med's affect people differently. One side effect I did experience was some dry mouth. For that I simply sucked on sugarless hard candy, although there are various products on the market for dealing with it.

You asked about psychiatrists not being aware of the side effects of medications they prescribe. At one point I was prescribed Lamictal but was never told about the dreaded Lamictal rash. I got it. When I called my pdoc's office about the rash I had developed, the staff member I spoke to said she didn't think it was anything to be concerned about. A few days later I went in to see my primary care doctor. He diagnosed my rash as potentially being caused by Lamictal & sent me right away to a dermatologist who confirmed the diagnosis. They took me off of the medication right away. Fortunately I hadn't been on it that long that stopping it cold-turkey was a problem. I hope you are able to find a way to resolve all of the issues you're fighting.

You're correct: duloxetine is the generic version of cymbalta. For me only two of the antideprassants I've used have ever worked. SSRI's cause extreme sleepiness (up to 14 hours a day) and weight gain (26 kg in a year on escitalopram), trazodone made me sleep, a tricyclic one put me to sleep as well. With most medications I've taken, the sleepiness was the main problem. And they did nothing for my depression.

I have the impression that I am bothered by side effects with all antiudepressants that I take. I have pointed this out on numerous occasions. Now, for instance, I mentioned the dry mouth and my dental problems I had in the past (well, we do have good health insurance so the cost is not really a problem, the pain is and the loss of otherwise fine teeth even more so) and it was as if I hadn't said anything.
I've experienced the same in the past: "Sleepiness on escitalopra? Impossible. Weight gain? Has nothing to do with the antidepressant." This was not the same psychiatrist but it gives me the idea that there is a pattern.

On the plus side: I do feel less depressed. For now.
I know from the past that the difficulty I have speaking and my smelly breath can eventually cause me to avoid any human contact out of shame. And that in turn will work against me ...

I take duloxetine and it is the best anti-depressant I have found. I'm sorry you experience so many side effects. The only one I experience that you mention is the lack of libido. But even that could be something else (or just the way I am) because I have been on anti-depressants since before puberty and never had libido. I don't have dry mouth at all. I did have bad nosebleeds on Zoloft (from the drying out of the nasal membranes) but nothing on this.

I'm sorry your pdoc doesn't seem to take the side effects seriously.

It's only teeth, I guess. You can always get a set of these:

Huh. I guess medications affect everyone differently. I'm on 60mg of Duloxetine and haven't noticed any side effects. If they are bothersome to you keep telling the doctor. It is your health, your mental health, your body. You have the right to say what you will subject yourself to. HUGS if wanted, Kit