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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest An Effective Alternative For Duloxetine

Hello Dr. Rynne, I am a 51 yr old female who was diagnosed with depression, socialanxiety disorder and panic disorder at around the age of 23. I have had the same PCP since my diagnosis (thank god..) And for many years we discovered that Zoloft was the proper med for me. I took this for a very long time, as my d Dr. had said that I needed to accept that this would be a lifelong need for me due to my history. I did however during the last several years have difficulty with sexual disfunction. She suggested that I transition to Cymbalta which she has had success with. My transition went smoothly and I love the way Duloxetine works for me. No side effects and sex drive returned. However, I am without heath insurance, cant afford Obamacare and m my dose of 30mg capsules tid Costs me 117 dollars a month. Its getting to where I just cant afford this med that is so important to my wellbeing. So.....looking for advice on which one of the available alternatives MOST CLOSELY mimics Duloxetine in chemical/pharmaceutical compostion. Please help! Sorry, It wasn t made clear there would be a charge for answering this question. If I cant afford my medication, then I certainly cant afford to pay for answers. Sorry to have wasted your time, Dr. Rynne. Very frustrating as I m Sure it is for you taking the time after hours to help people but I realize your hands are tied. Thank you again .
Tue, 8 Jan 2019
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello,

You don't necessarily need to pay, you can still post and get an answer in the public forum like this one.

If you want to connect to a specific doctor though, want to ask follow up questions then I am afraid you will have to turn to the Premium section which requires payment.

Regarding your question, one option belonging to the same class would be Venlafaxine which is the same SNRI class as duloxetine with similar indications and side effects.

If you are taking Cymbalta which should be the most expensive duloxetine brand then you might also try generic options.

Tricyclic class of antidepressants like Amitriptyline is another option, very effective but causes more often side effects like sedation weight gain, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension.

Mirtazapine is another option, also can cause sedation and weight gain.

I can't say if those are affordable, prices in the US are crazy compared to the rest of the world (where I live quality generic duloxetine can be had for 15$). My guess would be Amitriptyline would be the most affordable of those.

Hope I have answered your queries. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Olsi Taka, Neurologist
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Suggest An Effective Alternative For Duloxetine

Hello, You don t necessarily need to pay, you can still post and get an answer in the public forum like this one. If you want to connect to a specific doctor though, want to ask follow up questions then I am afraid you will have to turn to the Premium section which requires payment. Regarding your question, one option belonging to the same class would be Venlafaxine which is the same SNRI class as duloxetine with similar indications and side effects. If you are taking Cymbalta which should be the most expensive duloxetine brand then you might also try generic options. Tricyclic class of antidepressants like Amitriptyline is another option, very effective but causes more often side effects like sedation weight gain, dry mouth, orthostatic hypotension. Mirtazapine is another option, also can cause sedation and weight gain. I can t say if those are affordable, prices in the US are crazy compared to the rest of the world (where I live quality generic duloxetine can be had for 15$). My guess would be Amitriptyline would be the most affordable of those. Hope I have answered your queries. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Olsi Taka, Neurologist