They can offer personalized guidance based on your health status and medication regimen, helping you make informed decisions. It is primarily prescribed to treat major depressive disorder, although it can also be prescribed to treat generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Cymbalta is a brand name for duloxetine, classified as a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI). Remember, informed decision-making and open communication with healthcare providers are key to ensuring safe and effective treatment outcomes. In conclusion, while Cymbalta can be a valuable tool in managing depression and other mental health conditions, it must be used responsibly.
- This is because the drug commonly causes reduced appetite and nausea.
- The safety and effectiveness of CYMBALTA have been established for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in patients 7 to 17 years of age and for treatment of juvenile fibromyalgia syndrome in patients 13 to 17 years of age.
- But to help you remember your dose, try taking it at the same time every day.
- The maximum dose of Cymbalta will depend on the condition you’re using the drug to treat.
- The AUCs of the major circulating metabolites, 4-hydroxy duloxetine glucuronide and 5-hydroxy, 6-methoxy duloxetine sulfate, largely excreted in urine, were approximately 7- to 9-fold higher and would be expected to increase further with multiple dosing.
- Controlled substances are medications that could cause either physical or mental dependence.
- There was considerable variation in risk of suicidality among drugs, but a tendency toward an increase in the younger patients for almost all drugs studied.
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Discuss potential management strategies to support patients in making informed decisions about treatment. CYMBALTA is in a class of drugs known to affect urethral resistance.
This information helps healthcare providers assess the appropriateness of prescribing Cymbalta and provides guidance on alcohol consumption. Factors such as pre-existing liver conditions, alcohol use disorders, and other medications being taken must be taken into account. When alcohol and Cymbalta are mixed, the effects on the body and mind can be amplified, potentially causing harm.
Studies FM-1 and FM-2 compared CYMBALTA 60 mg once daily or 120 mg daily (given in divided doses in Study FM-1 and as a single daily dose in Study FM-2) with placebo. Both trials compared CYMBALTA 60 mg once daily or 60 mg twice daily with placebo. Further dosage increases in 30 mg increments up to 120 mg once daily were allowed based on investigator judgment of clinical response and tolerability. The mean dosage for patients completing the 10-week acute treatment phase was 51 mg. In Study GAD-4, 887 patients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for GAD received CYMBALTA 60 mg to 120 mg once daily during an initial 26-week open-label treatment phase. The mean dosage for completers at endpoint in these trials was 104.8 mg/day.
15 Concomitant Medications
Drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake inhibition, including CYMBALTA, may increase the risk of bleeding events. In an analysis of patients from all placebo-controlled trials, patients treated with CYMBALTA reported a higher rate of falls compared to patients treated with placebo. Syncope and orthostatic hypotension tend to occur within the first week of therapy but can occur at any time during CYMBALTA treatment, particularly after dose increases. CYMBALTA increased the risk of elevation of serum transaminase levels in development program clinical trials. However, there is substantial evidence from placebo-controlled maintenance trials in adults with depression that the use of antidepressants can delay the recurrence of depression.
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include numbness, pain, tingling, or weakness in the hands or feet. Over time, having increased glucose levels can Reasons to stay sober cause nerve damage. Cymbalta is FDA-approved to treat pain from diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage). Clinical trials have shown Cymbalta to be effective for treating GAD.
Many drugs, including Cymbalta, can cause an allergic reaction. They may also change your Cymbalta dose or having you try a different medication instead. Mild side effects of Cymbalta tend to lessen in a couple of days or a few weeks. If you do develop serious side effects while taking Cymbalta, it’s important to call your medical professional immediately.
Avoid use in patients with chronic liver disease or cirrhosis see Dosage and Administration (2.7), Warnings and Precautions (5.2), and Use in Specific Populations (8.9). CYMBALTA has not been systematically evaluated in patients with a recent history of myocardial infarction or unstable coronary artery disease. Caution is advised in using CYMBALTA in patients with conditions that may slow gastric emptying (e.g., some diabetics). Clinical experience with CYMBALTA in patients with concomitant systemic illnesses is limited. Signs and symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, confusion, weakness, and unsteadiness, which may lead to falls.
Tips for managing side effects
There is a median 2 hour lag until absorption begins (Tlag), with maximal plasma concentrations (Cmax) of duloxetine occurring 6 hours post dose. CYMBALTA is in a class of drugs known to affect urethral resistance see Warnings and Precautions (5.15). Preclinical studies have shown that duloxetine is a potent inhibitor of neuronal serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and a less potent inhibitor of dopamine reuptake.
The most common adverse reactions (≥5% in CYMBALTA-treated patients and at least twice the incidence of placebo-treated patients) in all pooled pediatric populations (MDD, GAD, and fibromyalgia) were decreased weight, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and diarrhea. CYMBALTA is not approved for the treatment of MDD in pediatric patients see Use in Specific Populations (8.4). In clinical trials of all approved adult populations, 34,756 patients were treated with CYMBALTA. Following is a list of adverse reactions reported by patients treated with CYMBALTA in clinical adult trials.
Serious side effects of Cymbalta
This is especially important in the first few weeks after starting Cymbalta or after your dose alcohol intolerance covid is adjusted. Because of this, if your child is taking Cymbalta, their doctor will monitor your child’s weight and height during Cymbalta treatment. These side effects may lead to weight loss, especially in children. This is because the drug commonly causes reduced appetite and nausea. But in studies of Cymbalta, older adults had similar side effects to those of younger adults.
Dosage for MDD
“Narcotics” is another term for opioids, which are a type of pain reliever. SSRIs, on the other hand, only affect your serotonin levels. It affects your levels of both serotonin and norepinephrine, two chemicals that help nerve cells communicate. If you have additional questions about your risk of withdrawal or dependence with Cymbalta, talk with your doctor.
- Patients who were non-responders at 8 weeks were no more likely to meet response criteria at the end of 60 weeks of treatment if blindly titrated to CYMBALTA 120 mg as compared to those who were blindly continued on CYMBALTA 60 mg.
- Cymbalta is available as a generic drug called duloxetine.
- As a result, this increases the amounts available in the brain.
- This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
- Or they may decide to use a different medication to treat your condition.
Or they may adjust your dosage or discuss other treatment options with you. In studies, this side effect was more commonly reported in people taking the drug for long-term musculoskeletal pain. If you develop any of these symptoms, get emergency medical care right away. The risk of this side effect may be higher what is abuse counselor with alcohol use.
Misusing drugs can lead to greater side effects and the potential for overdose. When prescribed for depression or anxiety, Cymbalta is often administered to a target dose of 60 milligrams (mg) per day. When taken with drugs that also affect serotonin levels, there is a risk of a serious complication known as serotonin syndrome.
After that, your doctor may increase the dose to 60 mg per day. In adults younger than age 65 years, the recommended Cymbalta dosage for treating anxiety is 60 mg once per day. The maximum dosage of Cymbalta for treating depression in adults is 120 mg per day. The recommended starting dosage for treating depression in most adults is 40 to 60 mg daily.
Potential Side Effects and Risks of Mixing
As prescribed by your doctor, take this medication by mouth 1–2 times daily with or without meals. This could make anxiety and depressive symptoms worse. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to use both medications safely.
FAQ about Cymbalta’s side effects
Steady-state plasma concentrations are typically achieved after 3 days of dosing. Duloxetine has an elimination half-life of about 12 hours (range 8 to 17 hours) and its pharmacokinetics are dose proportional over the therapeutic range. These enteric-coated pellets are designed to prevent degradation of the drug in the acidic environment of the stomach. Each capsule contains enteric-coated pellets of 20, 30, or 60 mg of duloxetine (equivalent to 22.4, 33.7, or 67.3 mg of duloxetine hydrochloride, respectively). Due to the large volume of distribution of duloxetine, forced diuresis, dialysis, hemoperfusion, and exchange transfusion are unlikely to be beneficial. Activated charcoal may be useful in limiting absorption of duloxetine from the gastrointestinal tract.
There aren’t known symptoms after missing a dose of Cymbalta. Some people taking serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as Cymbalta may see symptoms ease within 2 weeks. People with MDD have feelings such as sadness, anger, or loss most days that interferes with daily life. To learn more about the drug’s use for certain kinds of pain, we encourage you to keep reading. If you’ve been diagnosed with pain, your medical professional may discuss Cymbalta with you.
Taking Cymbalta with these drugs may increase Cymbalta levels in your body. Taking multiple medications that increase serotonin could cause serotonin to build up to dangerous levels in your blood. Separate clinical trials have shown that these drugs are safe and effective for treating this condition in children. The researchers found the two drugs to be similarly effective for treating depression. This was one of the more common side effects of the drug in clinical trials.