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← Return to Best "Senior" Antidepressants
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Good question. I’ll be following this. I’m on cymbalta/duloxetine for past few years. It works pretty good. I’m very sensitive to meds too, but this one has been pretty much ok. Different dosages 20,30,40,60 at different points in time Good for pain issues, too
But, hard to wean off to try anything different so I’ll stay on it I guess.
I am 73 yr. Female. Been on all kinds of antidepressants over the years.
Replies to "Good question. I’ll be following this. I’m on cymbalta/duloxetine for past few years. It works pretty..."
Hi bnancy,
I wanted to update you. I began cutting my Paxil 10 mg. in 1/2 this week in anticipation of coming off of it. I spoke with my psychiatric nurse practitioner this morning. I will be starting Zoloft 25 mg. tomorrow and completely stopping Paxil. I can not take Cymbalta. I have had the GeneSight Psychotropic testing done and I have a significant gene-drug interaction with this drug. Zoloft is "use as directed" for me. I would recommend anyone who is struggling with finding the best "psychiatric" medication for themselves to speak with their providers about having this test (it's a cheek swab & sent to their lab). I am on medicare and it cost me nothing...your insurance might not cover it completely but I felt it was worth it even if it cost me money since I am so "difficult" to treat now, at 68 y.o.
Glad to hear your medication is working pretty good for you. Continued good luck!
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Thank you bnancy for your thoughts.
Yes, I also heard Cmybalta so hard to wean off of but at 73 you will probably be on it the rest of your life so no worries...and that's how I personally feel about myself. I will be on mental health medication for the rest of my life also.
I reached out to my psychiatric nurse practitioner re: my issues. Yesterday and today I cut the Paxil 10 mg. in 1/2. I did this on my own and asked him today in the hospital portal for his thoughts on doing this. Since in a previous session I mentioned Lexapro and Zoloft he is zeroing in on "those" medications to switch to. But my feeling is - he is the expert here - not me.
I want "his" thoughts on what he believes would be a safe medication for me to deal with my depression and severe anxiety disorders. I am so sensitive to medications plus I have heart disease and a host of other physical ailments. All things to be considered in prescribing these drugs for our mental health. Hopefully we can stay in touch. Thanks again.