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Duloxetine
  • Treatments
  • Depression

Duloxetine

Generic name: duloxetine [ du-LOX-e-teen ]
Brand names: Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Irenka
Dosage form: oral delayed release capsule (20 mg; 30 mg; 40 mg; 60 mg)
Drug class:Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Mar 11, 2022.

What is duloxetine?

Duloxetine is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant (SSNRI). Duloxetine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression.

Duloxetine is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults. It is also used to treat general anxiety disorder in adults and children who are at least 7 years old.

Duloxetine is also used in adults to treat nerve pain caused by diabetes (diabetic neuropathy), or chronic muscle or joint pain (such as low back pain and osteoarthritis pain).

Some brands of duloxetine are also used to treat fibromyalgia (a chronic pain disorder). Drizalma is for treating fibromyalgia only in adults. Cymbalta may be used to treat fibromyalgia in adults and children at least 13 years old.

Warnings

Do not take duloxetine within 5 days before or 14 days after you have used an MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others. A dangerous drug interaction could occur.

People with depression or mental illness may have thoughts about suicide. Some young people may have increased suicidal t...