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What is Cymbalta
DuloxetineThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryDuloxetine is a medication used to treat depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, osteoarthritis, and stress incontinence. It was developed by Eli Lilly and Company in 1993 and approved by the FDA in 2004 under the brand name Cymbalta. It works by blocking the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Duloxetine is also being studied for its potential to treat pain related to cancer and surgery.
Cymbaltais the brand name
Cymbalta Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Cymbalta
Duloxetine
2004
394
Effectiveness
How Cymbalta Affects PatientsDuloxetine helps strengthen the messages sent from the bladder to the brain, which can help with stress urinary incontinence. It is also believed to relieve pain, particularly neuropathic pain, by increasing the threshold at which pain is felt by the brain. Duloxetine has been used to treat mood disorders in humans, but how it affects the brain is not fully understood. Common side effects include an increase in blood pressure due to increased norepinephrine signaling.
How Cymbalta works in the bodyDuloxetine works by increasing the amount of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. This affects several areas in the body, like the urinary sphincter and spinal cord. In the sphincter, it activates certain receptors that allow more nerve signals to pass through. In the spinal cord, it activates another set of receptors that reduce pain signals sent to the brain. It also increases certain signals in areas of the brain responsible for mood, which might help with depression and anxiety. Finally, it can cause blood vessels to constrict, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
When to interrupt dosage
The quantity of Cymbalta is contingent upon the recognized affliction, including Low Back Pain, Fibromyalgia and Prostatectomy. The measure likewise fluctuates in accordance with the technique of delivery (e.g. Oral or Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral) displayed in the table beneath.Condition
Dosage
Administration
Depression
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Diabetic Neuralgia
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Stress Urinary Incontinence
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Chronic Lower Back Pain
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Prostatectomy
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Musculoskeletal System
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Fibromyalgia
, 20.0 mg, 30.0 mg, 60.0 mg, 40.0 mg
, Oral, Capsule, delayed release, Capsule, delayed release - Oral, Capsule, delayed release pellets, Capsule, delayed release pellets - Oral, Kit, Kit - Oral; Topical, Oral; Topical
Warnings
Cymbalta ContraindicationsCondition
Risk Level
Notes
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
Hypertensive disease
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
Liver Disease
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma
Do Not Combine
Common Cymbalta Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Azelastine
Major
Duloxetine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.
Ethanol
Major
Duloxetine may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Ethanol.
Iobenguane
Major
Duloxetine may decrease effectiveness of Iobenguane as a diagnostic agent.
Methylene blue
Major
Duloxetine may increase the serotonergic activities of Methylene blue.
Mirtazapine
Major
Duloxetine may increase the serotonergic activities of Mirtazapine.
Cymbalta Toxicity & Overdose RiskTaking too much duloxetine can be fatal, and may cause symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, seizures, blackouts, dangerously high or low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and vomiting. There is no antidote for an overdose, and dialysis will not clear the drug from the body. Treatment includes supportive care and giving activated charcoal to reduce how much of the drug is absorbed. In mice, taking 140mg/kg/day of duloxetine (6 times the maximum recommended human dose) was linked to increased cases of liver cancer and tumors. However, taking 50mg/kg/day
Cymbalta Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Cymbalta?
387 active studies are exploring the potential of Cymbalta to improve Musculoskeletal System, Prostatectomy and Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) conditions.Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Osteoarthritis of the Knee
92 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4
Chronic Lower Back Pain
43 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Early Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 1
Depression
187 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 1, Early Phase 1, Phase 3
Diabetic Neuralgia
7 Actively Recruiting
Phase 2, Phase 1, Phase 3, Not Applicable
Prostatectomy
0 Actively Recruiting
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
11 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 1
Stress Urinary Incontinence
24 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 2
Musculoskeletal System
3 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2
Fibromyalgia
0 Actively Recruiting
Cymbalta Reviews: What are patients saying about Cymbalta?
5Patient Review
9/4/2022 Cymbalta has been a life-saver for me, managing my depression and also helping to ease the pain of my osteoarthritis. The only downside is that it doesn't seem to help with anxiety, which can be triggered by things like car rides.
5Patient Review
10/22/2022 This medication was very effective in treating my anxiety and depression. I feel much better now and exercise has helped to improve the effects of the medication.
5Patient Review
9/22/2022 Cymbalta has been a life-saver for me when it comes to anxiety.
5Patient Review
8/24/2022 Though the initial side effects were quite harsh, I found that they subsided after about a week and the benefits of this treatment are truly remarkable. My lower back pain is almost entirely gone at this point!
5Patient Review
10/22/2022 I had been taking 30 mg of this medication once a day for four years with only so-so results. Recently, my doctor increased the dosage to 60 mg per day and I've seen a big difference in how I feel.
3.7Patient Review
11/8/2022 I am on day 7 of the treatment, and I have yet to see any significant results. Some days I feel better than others, but today I am feeling very dizzy and nauseous. I pray that the effects will take place soon.
2Patient Review
10/4/2022 After five days of taking this medication, I saw no benefits and only negative side effects. Terrible diarrhea coupled with muscle pain made it so that I couldn't even walk. This is a definite no for me; antidepressants have been garbage since 1990.
1Patient Review
8/23/2022 As someone with bipolar disorder, this was by far the worst medication I have ever taken. It stopped my period for several months (no, I'm not pregnant), made my skin break out badly, and made my manic episodes much worse. I smashed my phone while on this medication and felt more destructive than I ever have in my life. If you're depressed, this might work for you; but if you have bipolar Disorder, DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION!
1Patient Review
9/2/2022 Not only did this not help with my pain, but it made me so sick to my stomach that I had to stop using it after just five weeks.
1Patient Review
11/9/2022 I would not recommend this medication to anyone. It changed my personality for the worse and I am now struggling to come off of it slowly because of how physically sick and depressed it has made me.
Patient Q&A Section about cymbalta
These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.What is Cymbalta mainly used for?
"Duloxetine is an antidepressant medication that primarily works in the brain. It is approved to help treat major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain."
Answered by AI
Is Cymbalta and Xanax the same thing?
"Xanax is an effective treatment for occasional or short-term anxiety and panic attacks. However, it is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms and can interact with some medicines more than other similar drugs. Cymbalta can help relieve nerve pain from diabetes and other forms of chronic pain."
Answered by AI
What is the most common side effect of Cymbalta?
"The drug's most common side effects are nausea, headache, dry mouth and sleepiness, but it can also cause more serious side effects. Like other antidepressants, Cymbalta may trigger suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and adults under the age of 24."
Answered by AI
What are the serious side effects of Cymbalta?
"If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should see your doctor as soon as possible: pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be indicative of a serious liver issue."
Answered by AI