Strugging on Duoxetine?Any advice gratefully received

Hi everyone,
New here.
I’ve recenty been diagnosed with ppms aged 64 after many years of back and forth and worsening symptoms.MS first mentioned 25 yrs ago, so diagnosis not the biggest shock in the world.
I’ve been prescribed duloxetine 60mg each morning.Ive been on it for about 2 weeks but feel so tired during the day and quite dizzy.I’m not sleeping well either.I’m trying to stick with it
as my nerve pain has decreased a little and I was so hopeful for an improvement in my symptoms.I’ve tried gabapentin in the past but it completely spaced me out .Does anyone take it in the evening?I think I need some encouraging words …any experiences of taking this med gratefully received.

Unfortunately I couldn’t tolerate Duloxetine. It made my heart race and I felt very anxious and fatigued.
My MS nurse recommended that I stopped taking it.
I’m now on Nortryptaline for nerve pain which has worked well for the past few years but I’ve recently had to increase it.
It can be trial and error until you find something that works for you.
Speak to your MS nurse they may suggest an alternative medication.

Hi Happywalker,

I’m sorry to read about your problems. I was diagnosed 20 years ago, although like you, I’d had problems for years before that.

I found partial remedy through diet. The essential thing is to stop consuming cow’s milk in any form; cheese, butter, cream, etc.

Since there is no medical cure or even treatment for this condition, I looked further afield and began to research diet as a cause and treatment. The first thing that I read was that it is unnatural for humans to consume cow’s milk. Consequently, it provokes the immune system. Since MS is an auto immune condition, I stopped consuming milk.

I felt better in all respects within 72 hours: my MS calmed down, my arthritis went and my hay fever also stopped and has not returned for 18 years. I had three young children who all suffered from eczema and that also cleared up once I stopped them having milk.

Perceived medical wisdom seems to be that MS is caused by lack of vitamin D, due to low levels of sunshine. There does not seem to be any medical analysis in this theory, it appears to be statistical supposition because MS is most prevalent in Canada, Scotland and Scandinavia where sunlight levels are lower. However, another interesting statistic is that milk consumption is higher in these areas, probably because arable farming is more difficult in a shorter glowing season, whereas cows can be be farmed in barns.

This seems pertinent for me personally because I was born in Jersey and spent my early life on the beach receiving frequent exposure to the sun. Furthermore, for the few years preceding my diagnosis, I was based in Cyprus and Iraq. However, my mum put milk in all our food because she grew up on a farm in Yorkshire and protein was expensive. Moreover, I played a lot of rugby in my teens and twenties at my father’s behest and he used to insist on me consuming a ‘special energy drink’ that he’d concocted from milk and raw eggs.

I hope my perspective is useful and that you might be able to use my ideas. I could elaborate if it were helpful. To put this in perspective, I used to be an army officer, a ski instructor and a very happy family man but now I live alone because my wife left, I was medically discharged in 2016, can’t walk and have watched my children growing up with another man in a house that I pay for, all because I drank too much milk.

Kind regards,

Jonny Cox

Morning,Thanks for responding. I was beginning to think it was just me,not responding well to medication. Its reassuring to hear others’ exeriences.I’ve
got an added complication in that I am having major orthopedic surgery in 3 weeks and don’t want to feel dizzy or spaced out then.Definitely don’t need to feel unsteady.I think I’ll ring my GP and see what she says …im minded to come off it for now.I feel pretty dreadful and am daunted at the thought of feeling no better in 3 weeks time.I haven’t actually met my MS nurse yet and probably won’t until after the New Year when i will hopefully be up and about again.I am feeling optimistic about it…its at least one positive thing.

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Hi Jerry,
Sorry you have had such a tough time.
I was interested to hear your views on dairy consumption and glad it has helped you.
Ive never drunk cow’s milk,although do eat some dairy and just try to eat a balanced diet generally.In this horrible MS struggle,my appetite is about the only thing that has stayed the same ,so I’m grateful for that!
I’ve looked at various diets and regimes and not convinced by any of the ‘science’ as yet ,but as always, remain open to suggestions and always happy to hear of the experiences of others.