don't know what to think - scared...

seems like i'm getting a build-up of side effects from 60 mg. cymbalta i've been on since april. caused a serious mental fog and confusion as well as sleepiness. now, i have additional issues that are off and on. nausea, diarrhea, and strange sensations in my head. i've seen my pdoc 2 days ago and decided to lower the dosage to 40 mg. i'm starting on that 40 mg. dosing tomorrow. i know it takes awhile for the side effects to subside. but, it freaks me out because the symptoms can be all kinds of other things, including depression. i know i just need to hang in there for at least a week on this dose. i'm not thinking straight. couldn't do anything today because i end up going in circles in my living room and making myself sick. i know this doesn't make sense - it doesn't to me. it's like i'm trapped. i'm like a scientist, and i can't even manage researching because it causes me further confusion. i'm treatment-resistant, so it's really tricky in finding the right treatment for my mdd. i hope this doesn't sound like i'm reaching out for straws, but i feel that way. i've had mdd since i was 20 and that's been 15 years now. it's a real nightmare. i just don't want to lose hope in finding the right treatment. no, i can't do ect treatments because i can't see how it can be safe for me with my stroke-related brain damage and the depression-related memory deficits. also, put this on top of this mental fog i'm in, there's no way i will do ect.

Hi wickedwings

I know side effects from meds can get VERY uncomfortable and down right painful (mentally and physically) but just try to hang in there while you try the new dose. Be sure to call your doctor if anything major happens, including suicidal thoughts, etc, which I'm sure you know but I just wanna reiterate

As for treatment-resistant, I don't know. I'd be very cautious of ECT too. It seems scary to me, but as a last resort, I might consider it. I'm not sure what else to suggest. I have also heard of Vagal Nerve Stimulation, but I don't really know much about it or how it works. I hope you can find some relief somewhere..

((((asylumgardens)))) thanks so much for your reassuring words. yeah, i'm slated to have vns therapy (the vagus nerve stimulator). i'm waiting for my insurance to pre-approve it. may take 2 months for that to happen. ect is on my mind only as a last resort. hopefully, the vns can happen before i would actually have to make that decision, which i hope i won't have to do. vns is definitely safer than ect, in my opinion. can't wait for that. hehe, but like all good things, we have to wait.

Two months, jeez. I wish insurance companies could help people a little faster sometimes.. it's important. I hope it works out and helps you!

On a side note, I have actually read good things about ECT in the past. It just seems scary to me.. shocking your brain? But I guess it must help, but I hope you don't get the point where you have to decide about it yet, either.