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This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. This content does not have an English version. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat diabetic neuropathy diabetic nerve pain include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat fibromyalgia include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain pain in the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and tendons include:.
On its own, Cymbalta has caused liver damage and liver failure. In rare cases, this liver damage was fatal. Therefore, drinking heavily during your Cymbalta treatment could raise your risk for liver damage even more.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before you start taking Cymbalta. Depending on the amount of alcohol you consume, they may decide to have you try a different medication for your condition. Cymbalta belongs to a drug class called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors SNRIs. Cymbalta begins working as soon as you take your dose. It takes about 3 days for levels of the drug to become stable in your body.
For example, in clinical trials , some adults with pain caused by diabetic neuropathy nerve damage , as well as some adults with fibromyalgia, noticed improvement within 1 week of starting the drug. However, the National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that full improvement of depression symptoms may take up to 8 weeks.
If you have questions about how Cymbalta works, or how long it takes to work, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Cymbalta can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements.
Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below are lists of medications that can interact with Cymbalta. Before taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor and pharmacist.
Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Cymbalta can increase serotonin levels in your body. Using Cymbalta with other drugs that also increase serotonin may raise your risk for serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome is a rare but potentially life threatening condition. Taking multiple medications that increase serotonin levels could cause serotonin to build up to dangerous levels in your blood. Before taking Cymbalta, be sure to tell your doctor if you take any of the medications listed above.
They may want to monitor you for any signs of serotonin syndrome. Or they may have you take a different drug to treat your condition. Taking Cymbalta with these drugs may increase Cymbalta levels in your body. Slowing down this process could raise your risk for side effects from Cymbalta. Certain drugs have stronger effects on these enzymes. Examples of strong CYP1A2 inhibitors include:. Examples of CYP2D6 inhibitors include:.
Before you take Cymbalta, be sure to tell your doctor if you take any of these medications. They can determine which drug is the best fit for you. This means it can affect the levels of other drugs that are also broken down by this enzyme.
However, some medications can cause side effects if their levels in your body are changed slightly. Examples of these drugs include:. Before taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor about all the medications you take.
They can determine whether Cymbalta can be taken with your other medications. Drugs that affect serotonin levels, such as Cymbalta, may increase your risk for bleeding. Before taking Cymbalta, tell your doctor if you take any of the medications listed above. This monitoring may include ordering blood tests. Or they may decide to use a different medication to treat your condition. This is an herb that can be used to treat depression. Cymbalta can raise your serotonin levels. Because St.
If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Cymbalta, talk with your doctor. Clinical studies of the drug have shown that taking it the month before delivery may increase the risk of severe bleeding immediately afterward postpartum hemorrhage.
The manufacturer of Cymbalta maintains a pregnancy registry. The registry tracks the results of pregnant people taking the drug.
You can join this registry online or by calling You should also tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug. You can take Cymbalta at any time of the day. However, you should try to take it around the same time every day. This helps make sure you have a consistent amount of the drug in your body. The best time for you to take Cymbalta may depend on what you use the drug for and how often you take it each day. Your doctor can help you decide the best time for you to take Cymbalta.
Doing so may affect how well your body absorbs the drug. This could raise your risk for side effects or make the drug less effective. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool.
But if your symptoms are severe, call or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room right away. As with all medications, the cost of Cymbalta can vary. To find current prices for Cymbalta in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Before approving coverage for Cymbalta, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization.
This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered. If you need financial support to pay for Cymbalta, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.
Cymbalta is available in a generic form called duloxetine. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. To find out how the cost of duloxetine compares to the cost of Cymbalta, visit GoodRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other. If you have questions about using other drugs with Cymbalta, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
They can review your medications and discuss treatment options with you. Cymbalta may cause harm to a fetus. However, more research is needed in this area. However, there have been a few reports of drowsiness, poor feeding , and trouble gaining weight in infants exposed to breast milk containing duloxetine. Duloxetine is the active drug in Cymbalta. If you choose to breastfeed while taking Cymbalta, you should watch for any trouble feeding or drowsiness in your child.
Together, you can weigh the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking the drug and discuss your other treatment and feeding options. This drug has a boxed warning. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. Clinical studies have shown antidepressants such as Cymbalta increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 24 years or younger.
In people ages 65 and older, antidepressants can actually reduce this risk. Before taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor about your health history. Cymbalta may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. These include:. When you get Cymbalta from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the bottle.
This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. The expiration date helps guarantee that the medication is effective during this time. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it.
How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where you store the medication. Avoid storing this medication in areas where it could get damp or wet, such as bathrooms. This helps prevent others, including children and pets, from taking the drug by accident.
It also helps keep the drug from harming the environment. This article provides several useful tips on medication disposal. You can also ask your pharmacist for information on how to dispose of your medication.
Cymbalta capsules are available in three strengths: 20 milligrams mg , 30 mg, and 60 mg. It can be taken with or without food. The exact mechanism by which Cymbalta treats MDD, GAD, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain is not known. Cymbalta is classified as a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor SNRI. The active drug ingredient in Cymbalta, duloxetine, inhibits neuronal serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake.
To a lesser extent, duloxetine also inhibits dopamine reuptake. The effect of this on drug interactions is unknown. Food delays the time it takes for duloxetine to reach peak concentration, from 6 hours to 10 hours.
However, this has no overall effect on maximum concentrations. Do not start Cymbalta in patients treated with MAOIs , including linezolid and intravenous methylene blue. This can increase the risk of serotonin syndrome. Cymbalta is contraindicated for 14 days after stopping an MAOI intended to treat a psychiatric disorder. Counsel Cymbalta users that treatment should not be stopped without talking with their prescriber. Cymbalta should be gradually tapered to avoid discontinuation syndrome.
If someone experiences withdrawal symptoms during their Cymbalta taper, consider returning to the previously prescribed dose.
Once withdrawal symptoms subside, the taper can be continued at a more gradual rate. Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date.
However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional.
You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries. Use Cymbalta Duloxetine exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Taking duloxetine in higher doses or more often than prescribed will not make it more effective, and may increase side effects. Your symptoms may not improve for up to 4 weeks. You may have unpleasant symptoms if you stop using duloxetine suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine. Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Overdose symptoms may include vomiting, dizziness or drowsiness, seizures, fast heartbeats, fainting, or coma. It could take duloxetine two to four weeks to work. Once your symptoms improve, your doctor may recommend that you take it for another six months to a year longer, depending on your condition. Health Topics. Health Tools. Cymbalta Duloxetine. Generic Name: Duloxetine. Reviewed: November 16,
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