Posted on 09/02/2024 10:09:28 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
An already registered antidepressant, duloxetine, may also have positive effects on memory and cognitive functions in the elderly.
A new study shows that duloxetine, in addition to treating depression, also inhibits an enzyme involved in the regulation of the nervous system that affects memory and cognition. This could potentially prevent the development of dementia diseases, especially Alzheimer's disease.
"Both depression and cognitive impairment often occur simultaneously in elderly individuals, particularly those in the early stages of a dementia disease," says Taher Darreh-Shori. "The discovery that duloxetine can have a dual effect is very promising."
"This has been an unexpected discovery alongside our main research," says Taher Darreh-Shori. "We hope to conduct a clinical study on patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease."
The results are important because there are currently no drugs that cure dementia diseases. The fact that an already registered drug can help both with depression and cognitive impairment can be appreciated by both the medical community and elderly associations.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Double dose to Joe.
Canada has a competing therapy called the MAID program (MAID Medical Assistance in Dying).
Joe Biden looks at article and says “If only I had this 20 years ago...”
Or maybe now he has no idea his dementia has advance so badly.
I thought of Ducolax, the stool softener.
Of course constipation can you make you depressed and confused.
I’m 66 and take duloxetine for depression. It has been a very effective drug for me but ironically in the first several weeks it seems to make depression and anxiety worse before it starts working.
I am still forgetful and absentminded but I have been all my life😄🤔. Glad it might help prevent dementia. My mother in law it bad. bad. It is the most horrible disease anyone can get.
That’s called crankypation.
“My mother in law it bad” bad.
Should be has it bad
I was on this for almost a year. My doctor wants to try another drug for my peripheral neuropathy and told me to wean off this over 3 weeks. I weaned off in 4 weeks and have never felt so horrible in all my life. I decided to go back on it after a week and after 4 days, feeling better.
The kicker is you are supposed to wean off of it over a much longer period of time because of the massive side-effects. Studies show that depending on how long you’ve been on it, you should wean off over at least a year.
Needless to say, I am seeing a different doctor at the end of the week.
Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome can vary considerably between individuals and also depending on dose and length of time on the drug. Some people can get away with stopping cold turkey (not recommended), others have to taper over a long period. Even the same individual might have very different results if stopping more than once at different times.
Good luck with it!
Thanks. I definitely found out the hard way. I really felt like I was dying. Oh, and my poor wife! Haha
I am going to ask my neurologist when I see her in November.
I was provided with this medication to use for my neuropathy in one foot. It was meant to be taken with gabapentin, a med I have taken for years. The duloxetine left my mouth and all mucus membrane extremely dry. I discontinued it after just a few days. I’ll rely on gabapentin alone for now. Every patient is different.
What the first doctor advised — the 3 week tapering — was not out of bounds at all. You obviously need longer. You’d be surprised at how many medical providers don’t bother to mention anything about gradual tapering of antidepressants.
How severe is your peripheral neuropathy?
I’m on Neurotin (2x) which has me dizzy all day. Somewhat better than the disease!
We already knew this for a while. I remember that’s one of the things that helped me decide to go on it.
Any secrets you learned on the ‘dry mouth’ issue? Every med I’m on has that at the top of the list. Severely parched here! Dry as a bone. It feels sun-baked. You’d think we live in a desert. (KS) Making myself aware my mouth is dry and I need a refill.
I’ve gotten into the custom of always having a few sticks of mild flavor chewing gum or Tik Taks in my change wallet. This, mostly for when I am out and about,not wanting to drink more fluids for the moment. Sometimes it only takes a tiny piece of gum to do the trick, keeping the mouth moist inside.
I actually ended up seeing the same doctor again today. She is just going to keep me on the Cymbalta but see how the 30mg dose does for me over the next few weeks (I was on 60 until I tried the tapering). The 30 I put myself back on has made a world of difference. She said we can get back to tapering later on. I can say for sure that the Cymbalta was, and is now, making a huge difference with the neuropathy burning and pain.
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