Medications and Drugs

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Brand Names: Cymbalta

Generic Name: duloxetine (Pronunciation: du LOX e teen)

• What is duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• What are the possible side effects of duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• What is the most important information I should know about duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• How should I take duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Cymbalta)?
• What happens if I overdose (Cymbalta)?
• What should I avoid while taking duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• What other drugs will affect duloxetine (Cymbalta)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is duloxetine (Cymbalta)?

Duloxetine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). Duloxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression.

Duloxetine is used to treat major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder.

Duloxetine is also used to treat fibromyalgia (a chronic pain disorder), or chronic muscle or joint pain (such as low back pain and osteoarthritis pain).

Duloxetine is also used to treat pain caused by nerve damage in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy).

Duloxetine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Cymbalta 20 mg

green, imprinted with 20 mg, LILLY 3235

Cymbalta 30 mg

blue/white, imprinted with Lilly 3240, 30 mg

Cymbalta 60 mg

blue/white, imprinted with Lilly 3240, 30 mg, Lilly 3237, 60 mg

What are the possible side effects of duloxetine (Cymbalta)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• nausea, pain in your upper stomach, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
• feeling like you might pass out;
• agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes;
• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• painful or difficult urination;
• headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops; or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

• dry mouth;
• drowsiness;
• tired feeling;
• mild nausea or loss of appetite; or
• constipation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about duloxetine (Cymbalta)?

Do not use duloxetine together with thioridazine (Mellaril), or an MAO inhibitor such as furazolidone (Furoxone), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). A dangerous drug interaction could occur, leading to serious side effects.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It may increase your risk of liver damage.

Duloxetine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

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