Antidepressant Duloxetine side effects tough, any suggestions?

Hi @mombo, I'm sorry to hear that the Duloxetine side effects make it difficult to use for the pain. There is another discussion that you might want to read through while you wait for members with experience to respond.
-- RA severe pain, what helps?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ra-severe-pain-what-helps/
Did your doctor have any suggestions for alternative medications?

Nope said I had to go to my GP.

I take it for Fibromyalgia but before I could afford it a doctor put me on Nortriptyline for pain/tension, Prozac for the depression and Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) for muscle relaxer which is also a serotonin so it helped with the pain and depression but it makes you sleepy so low dose at night only helps rest deeper.
The first one I mentioned will rather be good or it might be bad like Duloxetine but it’s cheap. If it helps then you can take several other options that work better for depression than Cymbalta/Duloxetine.

@mombo
I have small fiber neuropathy, spinal stenosis and arthritis plus depression due to chronic pain.

I was on Cymbalta/Duloxetine for a while and it helped some but then it stopped. I was started on 20-30 mg then ended up at 60 mg. It was very hard to come off the medication due to side effects. I was then put on Prozac/Fluoxetine 20 then 40 mg and it caused me to become apathetic. When my doctor added Wellbutrin/Bupropion (75 mg 2 times a day), I started getting brain zaps! I gradually was weaned off Prozac/Fluoxetine and then gradually increased to 300 mg Wellbutrin/Bupropion once a day (extended release). This helped to manage my depression and believe it helped me with perception of pain. It took a while (September 2023 through August 2024 to feel the full benefits). I just had spine surgery 8/2/2024 and doing pretty well.

In the past, I was on Zoloft/Sertraline for panic attacks/anxiety and I did well on it with few side effects.

Good luck finding the right medication to help you balance brain chemistry to feel your best self!

Good suggestions. Thanks

A homeopathic lead in dose makes tolerating it much easier

What is it?

Thanks or the options.

Hi..I was on escitalopram for several years and it worked pretty well even for my migraines then I was put on Hydroxychloroquine for RA..these 2 together can cause heart issues and not wanting more heart problems and I already have a heart valve issue so my search began for another antidepressant..I don't know if you have the same problem but the antidepressant that can be taken safely with hydroxy is Wellbutrin, Cymbalta( the Dr just ordered this for me..it helps with pain also but after reading the side effects I decided not to take it) or Paxil..I'm trying to do without any for now...getting off any antidepressants is harsh..GL in your search

I use St John's Wort which is classified as an MAOI. That's the oldest form of antidepressant. You can buy it OTC as it is an herbal supplement. I have allergies to the other kinds, though I've yet to try Cymbalta, which I'm planning on trying because I have a new diagnosis of CFS, so it's not for the antidepressant aspects. I'm to take the Cymbalta for overall pain. St. John's worked very well on me and if the Cymbalta gives me troubles, I'll just go back on it and have the doctors treat the CFS as best they can without it. You do have to be careful though not to take both too close to each other. There has to be a clear break between taking them. Some other OTC, like cold/cough medicines have warnings against taking them while on an MAOI. My doctors have only recently begun to even list St. John's on my medical records, they had so little respect for me taking it. I have only respect for the stuff, it transformed my life after the loss of husband.