Cymbalta Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Major Depressive Disorder

A mood disorder, depression manifests in feelings of tiredness, apathy, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. People with depression often have trouble carrying out everyday activities, and treatment is a long-term process, involving medications and psychotherapy.

General Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by incessant worry about everyday events. Symptoms include tension, worry for no discernable reason, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping. Anxiety can take over a person’s life, preventing them from carrying out routine tasks.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder in which pain signals are processed and amplified by the brain. Patients feel tiredness and pain throughout the body. The exact cause of this chronic condition is not yet clear, yet it is thought that genetics, certain illnesses, and previous physical or emotional trauma play a role.

Nerve Damage Caused by Diabetic Neuropathy

High blood sugar levels can damage nerve fibers, making this a particular concern for diabetics. Most often, nerves in the extremities are the worst affected. Patients develop symptoms like pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms and legs.

Marketed Internationally as Yentreve

In some countries Cymbalta is sold under the brand name Yentreve.

Cymbalta Active Ingredient

Generic Cymbalta  Alternative: Duloxetine Hydrochloride

Cymbalta contains the active ingredient duloxetine hydrochloride, which belongs to a class of drugs known as serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It helps to restore the balance of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.

General Drug Information

What is Cymbalta and What Is It Used For?

Cymbalta is prescribed to patients who have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety. It can improve mood, sleep, and appetite, and decrease nervousness. This helps patients enjoy a better quality of life.

Cymbalta also helps manage pain associated with a number of medical conditions. It is often prescribed to alleviate nerve pain in diabetics. Patients with chronic back pain, arthritis, and fibromyalgia can also benefit from taking Cymbalta.

Usage and Application

Cymbalta should be taken exactly as prescribed by a doctor. The dosage depends on the patient’s condition, age, and response to treatment.

Most patients are prescribed one or two daily oral doses. The capsule should be swallowed whole and should not be crushed or chewed – doing so cases the drug to release its active substance all at once, increasing the risk of negative side effects.

To reduce the risk of side effects, some patients are asked to start the medication at a lower dose, increasing it gradually. It is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully.

It is necessary to use Cymbalta routinely in order to experience its full benefit. To prevent forgetting, patients are advised to take this medication at the same time each day.

Patients should continue taking Cymbalta even if they feel well. Stopping this medication must happen only under the guidance of the treating physician. Some conditions may worsen in the event this medication is stopped suddenly.

Patients may also experience a host of negative symptoms: dizziness, confusion, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, mood swings, sleep changes, and brief feelings similar to electric shock. To avoid the risk of such symptoms, many patients are instructed to decrease this medication gradually before completely stopping it.

Patients should notify their doctor in the event their condition worsens or there are any new negative symptoms.

Considerations Before Taking Cymbalta

Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss the possibility of allergic reactions to Cymbalta.

It is vital to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially related to bleeding problems, high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease, seizures, and stomach problems (like the slow emptying of the stomach). Patients should mention any personal or family history of angle-closure glaucoma, suicide attempts, and psychiatric disorders like manic-depressive disorder. Alcohol use should also be discussed.

Cymbalta may cause dizziness or drowsiness. While taking this medication, patients should not drive, use machinery, or perform other tasks requiring alertness until the effects of the medication are known. Avoid alcoholic beverages and discuss marijuana use with your doctor.

Diabetic patients may find that Cymbalta affects their blood sugar. Patients should check blood sugar levels regularly and share the results with their doctor. It may be necessary to modify a patient’s diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet.

Patients preparing for surgery or certain dental procedures should inform their doctor or dentist about all medicines, supplements, and herbal products they are taking.

Older adults are likely to be more sensitive to certain negative side effects of this medication, especially dizziness, lightheadedness, and loss of coordination. This can increase the risk of falling. Older patients are also more likely to experience bleeding as well as a type of salt imbalance, called hyponatremia (a particular risk for those taking diuretic pills).

Children may be more sensitive to side effects, such as loss of appetite and weight loss. Parents should monitor the weight and height of children taking this medication.

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant – or planning to become pregnant – should discuss the safe use of Cymbalta with their doctors. Untreated problems such as depression and anxiety can be a serious condition, and patients should not stop the medication unless directed by their doctor.

Cymbalta may harm an unborn baby. In rare cases, babies born to mothers using this medication in the last trimester develop withdrawal symptoms such as muscle stiffness, seizures, feeding problems, breathing difficulties, and constant crying. Parents should contact a physician right away if they notice such symptoms in their newborn.

Cymbalta passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on nursing infants. Mothers should consult their doctor before they begin breastfeeding.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Cymbalta should take it as soon as they remember. If this happens near the time for the next dose, patients should skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Patients should not double up on the dose in order to catch up

Other Medications and Cymbalta

Drug interactions may change the way Cymbalta works and may increase the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss all medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking this medication unless their physician advises them to do so.

Medicines, such as Cipro and enoxacin, may affect how Cymbalta works.

Some medications – like the blood thinner Coumadin – may also negatively interact with Cymbalta, increasing the risk of bleeding. This is the case with antiplatelet drugs (such as Plavix) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines like Motrin.

Aspirin is another medication that – when taken together with Cymbalta – increases the risk of bleeding. However, patients who are prescribed low doses of aspirin to prevent heart attack or stroke should continue to take them unless directed otherwise by their doctor.

Taking Cymbalta together with MAO inhibitors may cause a serious and possibly fatal interaction. These medications include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for a period of two weeks before starting Cymbalta, and at least five days after finishing treatment. Patients should ask their doctor when to start or stop taking Cymbalta.

Those who take drugs which increase serotonin levels have a higher risk of developing serotonin syndrome, a serious condition. Examples of such drugs include some antidepressants – fluoxetine, paroxetine, duloxetine, and venlafaxine – and the mood disorder drug tryptophan. Taking recreational drugs like MDMA and ecstasy – as well as the herb St. John’s wort – with Cymbalta also increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.

Patients should inform their doctor if they use other products which cause drowsiness, like sleep and anxiety medication like alprazolam, lorazepam, and zolpidem. Alcohol and marijuana have the same effect, as do opioid pain relievers such as codeine .

Muscle relaxants and antihistamines, like cetirizine and diphenhydramine, may also cause drowsiness. Patients should check the labels of all allergy and cough-and-cold products for ingredients that cause drowsiness, and discuss the safe use of such products with their pharmacist.

Cymbalta affects the removal of some drugs from the body, changing how they work. Examples include antiarrhythmic drugs (propafenone, flecainide, and quinidine), antipsychotics like thioridazine, and tricyclic antidepressants (desipramine and imipramine).

Adverse Reactions

Most patients are able to use Cymbalta safely without serious side effects.

Some patients may experience dry mouth, nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, and increased sweating. Dizziness and lightheadedness are additional side effects and increase the risk of falling. Patients should get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.

Cymbalta may raise blood pressure levels. Patients should monitor blood pressure levels and inform their doctor in the event results are high.

It is important to report promptly serious side effects like confusion, easy bruising and bleeding, decreased libido, and changes in sexual ability. The list includes muscle cramps, weakness, tremors, and difficulty urinating.

Patients should also seek immediate medical attention in the event of symptoms which signify liver problems: stomach pain, persistent nausea, vomiting, dark urine, and yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Patients should monitor for black or bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, and seizures. The treating physician should also be notified in the event of eye pain, swelling or redness, widened pupils, blurred vision, and seeing rainbows around lights at night.

In rare cases, Cymbalta may increase serotonin to dangerous levels, causing a condition known as serotonin syndrome. The risk is higher in people who already take other drugs that increase serotonin levels.

Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include fast heartbeat, loss of coordination, dizziness, and severe vomiting or diarrhea. Additional symptoms that require immediate medical assistance include twitching muscles, unexplained fever, agitation, restlessness, and hallucinations.

Serious allergic reactions to Cymbalta are rare, yet patients should be aware of symptoms including rash, itching and swelling, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing.

How to Store Cymbalta

Cymbalta should be stored at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should not be poured down drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.