Yes, duloxetine should be discontinued gradually. Usually, it is the attending physician who develops a withdrawal plan, which may consist of a gradual reduction of the dose over several weeks, depending on the initial dose and duration of therapy. As a general rule, the dose of duloxetine is reduced by an average of 20-30 mg every 1-2 weeks until the drug is completely stopped.

About Brintellix, vortioxetine (the active substance in Brintellix) may be an alternative to duloxetine in some patients, especially if the patient is experiencing side effects from duloxetine or if the medicine does not improve sufficiently. Both duloxetine and Brintellix are used in the treatment of depression. Switching should always be done under medical supervision and should include a gradual increase in the dose of Brintellix while decreasing the dose of duloxetine. According to the guidelines in the Brintellix SmPC - The initial recommended dose of vortioxetine once a day is 10 mg vortioxetine. Depending on the patient's individual response to treatment, this dose may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg vortioxetine once daily or reduced to a minimum dose of 5 mg vortioxetine once daily. Dose changes should be consulted with a physician on an ongoing basis and adjusted to the patient's condition and response to treatment. If you have any doubts, please consult your doctor and do not take action on your own.

You can make an appointment for a teleconsultation here:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/telekonsultacja

The availability of Brintellix in pharmacies in Polish can be found here:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/produkty/13859/brintellix-tabletki-powlekane/apteki

I encourage you to read:

https://www.gdziepolek.pl/artykuly/depresja