Cymbalta

All content is checked by medical journalists.

Cymbalta is an antidepressant. The drug helps with depression, generalized anxiety disorders, and pain. Here you will find all the important information about the use, dosage and mode of action of Cymbalta.

This active ingredient is in Cymbalta

The active ingredient in Cymbalta is duloxetine. The active ingredient is a serotonin / norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It binds to the transport proteins of serotonin and noradrenaline and thus inhibits their transport. This increases the level and availability of neurotransmitters, which has a depressive and mood-enhancing effect.

When is Cymbalta used?

Cymbalta is used in adults who have depressive disorders.

Typical areas of application for Cymbalta are:

severe depression
generalized anxiety disorder
Diabetic neuropathic pain

The Cymbalta effect only sets in after about two to four weeks, because the active ingredient slowly reduces the number of receptors that can absorb serotonin and norepinephrine.

What are the side effects of Cymbalta?

Cymbalta side effects are often diverse and mild to moderate in severity.

Headache, nausea, drowsiness and dry mouth are very common when using Cymbalta.

Common Cymbalta side effects are sexual dysfunction, difficulty sleeping, abnormal dreams, dizziness, tremors, or numbness. In addition, blurred vision, tinnitus, rash or muscle pain may occur during use. Increased sweating, increased blood pressure, loss of appetite with weight loss are also possible.

Occasionally, the use of Cymbalta is accompanied by restlessness or thoughts of suicide. Coordination disorders, difficulty urinating, nosebleeds or prolonged menstrual bleeding, vomiting with blood, black stools, or inflammation of the liver are other uncommon side effects.

Serious allergic reactions (shortness of breath, swelling of the tongue, etc.) occur rarely in connection with Cymbalta. Decreased thyroid function with fatigue and weight gain can be other side effects. Serious symptoms such as fainting, seizures, suicidal behavior, mania, hallucinations, glaucoma, liver failure or serotonin syndrome are possible.

If you experience severe or not mentioned side effects, please consult a doctor immediately.

You should bear this in mind when using Cymbalta

The drug must not be taken in the case of:

Allergies to the active ingredient and other ingredients contained in the drug
severe impairment of liver and kidney function
taking MAO inhibitors (antidepressants)
Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure

Caution when taking Cymbalta applies to:

diagnosed mania
epilepsy
Heart disease and high blood pressure
Dilatation of the pupil (mydriasis)
Patients with suicidal ideation
Bleeding tendency

If other medications besides Cymbalta are taken at the same time, the doctor should be informed in order to avoid interactions. Take particular care when taking:

CNS-effective drugs (e.g. alcohol, opioids, antipsychotics, sedatives, etc.)
oral anti-coagulants or platelet aggregation inhibitors (medicines that thin the blood)
Medicines that increase serotonin levels (e.g. Tramadal)
Johannis herbs

All interactions should be clarified in advance with a doctor and pharmacist, because the combination of these drugs can cause severe side effects.

Cymbalta: dosage

Patients with depressive symptoms or pain due to diabetic polyneuropathy take one capsule with 60 mg of active ingredient daily.

For the treatment of generalized anxiety, therapy begins with 30 mg Cymbalta daily and can be increased to 60 mg or a maximum of 120 mg daily as required.

Dose adjustments may need to be made in patients over 65 years of age.

The onset of action becomes noticeable in patients with depression or anxiety disorders after about two weeks. In diabetic patients, the pain is already reduced after a week.

Cymbalta overdose

Symptoms of overdose include drowsiness, vomiting, coma, rapid heartbeat or serotonin syndrome, which can manifest itself as drowsiness, feeling drunk, fever and stiff muscles. In any case, a doctor must be consulted immediately.

Cymbalta: withdraw

The dose for stopping the drug should be gradually reduced over at least two weeks to minimize the risk of side effects.

Cymbalta: pregnancy, breastfeeding and children

Cymbalta should not be used during pregnancy. There is a risk of the blood vessels in the lungs narrowing (PPHN) in newborns. This manifests itself within the first 24 hours of life in the form of breathing difficulties and bluish skin. Especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, the child can suffer from many symptoms after birth, e.g. seizures, vomiting, difficulty ingesting food, drowsiness, nervous tremors, stiff or flaccid muscles.

Since the active ingredient of Cymbalta passes into breast milk, treatment during breastfeeding is not recommended.

Cymbalta is not suitable for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Often there are side effects in the form of suicidal ideation and hostility. An increased level of aggressiveness is also often observed. It is not known whether Cymbalta has negative effects on maturation, growth, or cognitive development. Therefore, minors should only take the drug after the doctor has carefully weighed the benefits and risks. But even in young adults up to 25 years of age, the treatment must be monitored particularly closely by a doctor.

How to get Cymbalta

The drug Cymbalta is available from pharmacies against a prescription and can be purchased as a hard capsule with 30 mg or 60 mg of active ingredient.