Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Dryness in mouth, Sleepiness, Dizziness.

Expert advice for Duloxetine
You may have to wait for 2 to 4 weeks to get the full effect. If your doctor asks you to stop Duloxetine, you should not discontinue it abruptly. Many patients tolerate decreasing 50% dose every 3 days however if the withdrawal symptoms emerge during tapering it would require more gradual tapering over few weeks. Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with any heart problems (heart attack, heart failure, slow or irregular heart rate). Inform your doctor if you have ever been diagnosed with kidney or liver problems. It can cause a sensation of restlessness or an inability to sit or stand still. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. You should tell your doctor if this happens to you. It may be more effective in some patients with depression who fails to respond to selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRI) e.g. Fluoxetine. Monitor blood pressure (BP) frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Duloxetine a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)?
No. Duloxetine is not a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It belongs to the anti-depressant class of drugs, more specifically SNRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor). It works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers (serotonin and noradrenaline) in the nervous system.

Q. Is Duloxetine a steroid?
No. Duloxetine is not a steroid. It belongs to the anti-depressant class of drugs, more specifically SNRI (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor). It works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers (serotonin and noradrenaline) in the nervous system.

Q. Is Duloxetine a blood thinner?
No. Duloxetine is not a blood thinner. Blood thinners prevent the formation of harmful blood clots.

Q. Is Duloxetine a stimulant?
No. Duloxetine is not a stimulant. Stimulants are the medicines which activate the central nervous system.

Q. Is Duloxetine a pain killer?
No. Duloxetine is not a classical painkiller e.g. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).Duloxetine is used for the treatment of chronic pain conditions like neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy or fibromyalgia.

Q. Is Duloxetine a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA)?
No. Duloxetine is not a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). It belongs to a class of anti-depressants called SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors).

Q. Is Duloxetine a benzodiazepine?
No. Duloxetine is not a benzodiazepine. It belongs to a class of anti-depressants called SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). Benzodiazepines belong to the sedative-hypnotic class of drugs and include agents like diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam etc.

Q. Is Duloxetine a narcotic?
No. Duloxetine is not a narcotic. It means it does not have habit-forming potential. Narcotics are the substance which can cause addiction and dependence.

Q. Is Duloxetine a psychotropic?
Yes. A psychotropic is a medicine that affects mind, emotions, and behaviour. Duloxetine, being an anti-depressant agent reduces the symptoms of depression and is a psychotropic agent.

Q. Can I take Duloxetine if I have Hepatitis C virus infection?
Duloxetine should be used with caution in patients with Hepatitis C virus infection. Cases of liver injury, including severe elevations of liver enzymes (>10-times upper limit of normal), hepatitis, and jaundice have been reported with Duloxetine. Taking Duloxetine increases the risk of liver toxicity and fatty liver in Hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

Q. What is the peak plasma concentration [Cmax] of Duloxetine?
The maximum plasma concentration [Cmax] of Duloxetine is 6 hours post oral dose. Food taken with Duloxetine may delay the time to reach the peak plasma concentration from 6 to 10 hours. This may marginally decrease the extent of absorption (approximately 11%).

Q. Can I take Duloxetine with Vitamin D?
Yes. Duloxetinecan be taken with vitamin D. It does not have any known interaction with Vitamin D.

Q. What is half life of Duloxetine?
The elimination half-life of Duloxetine ranges from 8 to 17 hours (mean 12 hours).

Q. Which is better in depression, Duloxetine or fluoxetine?
Fluoxetine has not been found to be different in either tolerability or efficacy when compared with Duloxetine in major depression. Duloxetine is good for treating depression, anxiety and may help with chronic pain.

Q. Which is better Duloxetine vs sertraline?
Duloxetine and sertraline are found to be equally effective in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Certain symptoms like agitation and anxiety are reduced better by sertraline. Duloxetine has been found to be better than sertraline for neuropathic pain.

Q. Which is better for chronic pain, Duloxetine or pregabalin?
In patients with fibromyalgia Duloxetine is found to be better than pregabalin in reducing depressed mood. Pregabalin is better in reducing fatigue. Duloxetine and pregabalin generally provide equally comparable pain relieving efficacy in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).

Q. Which is better Duloxetine or fluoxetine?
Duloxetine has been found to be better for the treatment of chronic pain than Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is good for treating depression and anxiety.

Q. Which is better for depression, Duloxetine or mirtazapine?
Currently, there is not enough information to firmly recommend one antidepressant over another. However, both these drugs have been found to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of depression.

Q. Which is better for depression, Duloxetine or venlafaxine?
Currently, there is not enough information to firmly recommend one antidepressant over another. Many doctors favour Duloxetine over venlafaxine when pain conditions coexist with depression.

Q. Is Duloxetine a barbiturate?
No. Duloxetine is not a barbiturate. Barbiturates belong to the Sedative-Hypnotic class of drugs and are likely to have abuse potential.

Q. When to take Duloxetine?
Duloxetine can cause difficulty in sleep (insomnia). Hence, it is advised to be taken in the morning than at night.

Q. When does Duloxetine start working?
Usually, the action of Duloxetine takes about three to four weeks to appear. Do not discontinue the therapy in between, thinking that it is not effective.

Q. How much dose of Duloxetine can produce overdose?
Overdose can occur at a doses as low as 1000 mg. Signs and symptoms of overdose (duloxetine alone or in combination with other medicinal products) included somnolence, coma, serotonin syndrome, seizures, vomiting and tachycardia.

Q. How does Duloxetine work in urinary incontinence?
Duloxetine is thought to work by interfering with certain chemicals (called serotonin and noradrenaline) that are used within the nerves that send messages to your pelvic floor muscles. This helps the muscles around the bladder outlet to contract more strongly, and this in turn controls the flow of urine and helps to prevent any leakage.

Q. Can I take Duloxetine with amitriptyline?
It is better to avoid Duloxetine and amitriptyline together. It can increase the risk of a serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, with symptoms such as confusion, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Q. Can I take Duloxetine with sertraline?
It is better to avoid Duloxetine and sertraline together. It can increase the risk of a serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, with symptoms such as confusion, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Q. Can I take Duloxetine with tramadol?
Duloxetine and tramadol together can increase the risk of a serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, with symptoms such as confusion, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Please inform your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines before coming to him.

Q. Can I take Duloxetine with bupropion?
Bupropion can cause inhibition of metabolism of Duloxetine in the body, resulting in toxic effects of Duloxetine. The concomitant use of these two drugs can result in seizures. Mention it to your doctor if you are taking any of these medications from before.

Q. Which is better in diabetic neuropathy, duloxetine or pregabalin?
In patients with fibromyalgia, Duloxetine is found to be better than pregabalin in reducing depressed mood. Pregabalin is better in reducing fatigue. Duloxetine and pregabalin generally provide equally comparable pain relieving efficacy in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).

Q. Can Duloxetine get me high?
No. Duloxetine does not cause a high. It does not create a feeling of euphoria and has no recreational potential.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for arthritis?
Duloxetine is not approved for the treatment of arthritis. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve disease, neuropathic pain and overactive urinary bladder.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for sciatica?
No, Duloxetine is not approved for the treatment of sciatica. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve disease, neuropathic pain and overactive urinary bladder.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type anxiety disorder. It is approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Research studies suggest that Duloxetine may provide a significant reduction in symptoms for patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for hot flashes?
No. Duloxetine is not approved for use in hot flashes. It may be used in the treatment of depression in postmenopausal women suffering from menopausal vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) and insomnia.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for headaches?
No, Duloxetine is not approved for use in headaches. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve disease, neuropathic pain and overactive urinary bladder.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for a migraine?
No. Duloxetine is not approved for use in a migraine. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve disease, neuropathic pain and overactive urinary bladder.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for chronic pain?
Duloxetine is approved for the treatment of chronic pain states including neuropathic pain (nerve pain) associated with Diabetes Mellitus and fibromyalgia.

Q. Can I use Duloxetine for nerve pain?
Yes. Duloxetine is approved for use in nerve pain or neuropathic pain conditions, most commonly seen in patients suffering from Diabetes Mellitus.

Q. Can Duloxetine raise blood sugar levels?
No. Duloxetine may affect blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.