Is Cymbalta an option for you?

Health Articles | June 6, 2008

Cymbalta ( Duloxetine) is a selective SNRI (selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). It is a systemic drug therapy which affects the body as a whole.

It is a drug which primarily targets major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), pain related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Cymbalta affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression. It works by making more of the chemicals in the brain (or tricking the brain into believing there are more of the chemicals) that help to regulate things like mood and anxiety.

Symptoms may include major changes in appetite or sleep habits; lack of interest in social or work life; feelings of sadness, guilt, or worthlessness; fatigue; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; and suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide. Selective seretonin reuptake inhibitors (such as paxil and prozac) are used in long-term treatment of anxiety, so it's assumable that cymbalta (as an SNRI), too, could be.

Cymbalta is thought to work by correcting an imbalance of two brain chemicals known to influence mood—serotonin and norepinephrine. It belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRI's are typically used more as anti-depressants, though, than mood stabalizers (the difference is anti-deps bring you up, mood stabalizers can bring you up or knock you down). It may take several weeks before the drug begins to work. Continue taking Cymbalta even if you begin to feel better. Do not stop taking this drug without your doctor's approval. Abruptly stopping treatment may cause severe side effects.

Precautions while taking Cymbalta

Some medical conditions require careful monitoring during treatment with Cymbalta. Be sure to tell the doctor if you have diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, or a seizure disorder.
Like other antidepressants, Cymbalta can cause drowsiness and affect judgment or motor skills. Use caution when driving, operating dangerous machinery, etc.
Do not take Cymbalta together with thioridazine (Mellaril), or a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect).
If Cymbalta is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Cymbalta with the any of the drugs.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive.

Varients of Cymbalta

Each capsule contains enteric-coated pellets of 22.4, 33.7, or 67.3 mg of duloxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 20, 30, or 60 mg of duloxetine, respectively. These enteric-coated pellets are designed to prevent degradation of the drug in the acidic environment of the stomach. The efficacy of Cymbalta has been established in 8- and 9-week placebo-controlled trials of outpatients who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder.

Article Tags: Reuptake Inhibitors

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Bio - Sander Bel writes articles for cymbalta. He also writes for anxiety and antidepressant.