What is Duloxetine?
Duloxetine is a drug that is used to treat depression. Antidepressant duloxetine is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI). Duloxetine affects brain chemicals that could be out of control in depressed people. Adults with a major depressive disorder are treated with duloxetine.
Duloxetine uses
Duloxetine is an antidepressant and anxiety medication. It's also used to treat nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy) in diabetics and chronic pain caused by medical conditions like arthritis or chronic back pain. Duloxetine can help you feel better, sleep better, eat more, have more energy, and be less nervous. It can also help with pain caused by medical conditions. Duloxetine is a reuptake inhibitor for serotonin and norepinephrine (SNRI). This medicine works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in the brain.
How to use Duloxetine Vial
Before you start taking duloxetine, read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Instructions for Use written by your pharmacist, as well as each time you get a refill. Inquire with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any concerns.
Take this medicine by mouth, typically 1 or 2 times a day, with or without food, as instructed by your doctor. You may either swallow the capsule whole or open it and sprinkle the contents on a tablespoon of applesauce. Immediately swallow the drug/food mixture. The mixture should not be crushed or chewed. Do not make the mixture ahead of time and save it for later.
The dosage is completely determined by your age, medical condition, and treatment response. Your doctor may advise you to begin taking this medication at a low dose and gradually raise it to reduce the risk of side effects. Carefully follow the doctor's orders. To get the most satisfaction from this drug, take it on a daily basis. Take it at the same time(s) every day to help you recall.
Even if you feel fine, keep taking this drug. Do not quit taking this drug without consulting your doctor. When this medication is abruptly stopped, some conditions can worsen. You can also experience symptoms including dizziness, nausea, mood swings, headache, diarrhoea, sleep disturbances, and brief electric shock-like sensations.
Your doctor may gradually reduce your dose to prevent these symptoms while you are stopping treatment with this medication. Any new or deteriorating symptoms should be reported right away.
Duloxetine Side Effects
Some of the common side effects of Duloxetine are:
- Fast heartbeat
- Hallucinations
- Loss of coordination
- Severe dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Twitching muscles
- Unexplained
- Allergic reactions
- Rash
- Lightheadedness
- Itching
- Swelling
- Dizziness
- Trouble breathing
- Skin blisters
- Mouth sores
- Muscle cramps
- Weakness
- Shaking (tremor)
- Difficulty urinating
- Liver problems
- Stomach abdominal pain
- Yellowing of eyes/skin, dark urine
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Tiredness
- Drowsiness
- Increased sweating
Precautions
If you are allergic to duloxetine or have some other reactions, notify your doctor or pharmacist before taking it. Inactive ingredients can be present in this product, causing allergic reactions or other issues.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history, especially if you have a personal or family history of psychiatric disorders (such as bipolar/manic-depressive disorder), a personal or family history of suicide attempts, bleeding problems, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, seizure disorder, or stomach problems.
This medication can cause dizziness or drowsiness. You can get dizzy or sleepy if you consume alcohol or marijuana (cannabis). Do not drive, operate machinery, or engage in any other activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can do so safely. Alcoholic drinks should be avoided. If you use marijuana, talk to your doctor (cannabis).
Duloxetine can affect your blood sugar if you have diabetes. Check your blood sugar as directed and inform your doctor of the results. Your diabetes medicine, exercise regimen, or diet may need to be adjusted by your doctor.
The drug's side effects, particularly bleeding, dizziness, lightheadedness, and lack of coordination, may be more severe in older adults. In addition, older adults are more likely to develop a form of mineral imbalance (hyponatremia), particularly if they are also taking water tablets (diuretics) with this medication. Falls can be exacerbated by dizziness, lightheadedness, or a lack of balance.
Children might be more vulnerable to the drug's side effects, especially appetite loss and weight loss. In children who are taking this medication, keep track of their weight and height.
This drug should only be taken during pregnancy if absolutely necessary. The mother could be at an elevated risk of bleeding at birth if this drug is taken during the last 30 days of pregnancy. This drug has the potential to hurt an unborn child. Babies born to mothers who used this medication during the last three months of pregnancy may experience withdrawal symptoms such as difficulty eating or breathing, seizures, muscle weakness, or excessive crying. Notify your doctor right away if you find any of these signs in your newborn.
Do not quit taking this drug until the doctor tells you to. Untreated mental/mood disorders (such as depression, anxiety) can be dangerous. If you're considering a baby, are pregnant, or suspect you may be, talk to your doctor right away about the advantages and risks of taking this drug during pregnancy.
This medication will pass into breast milk and have unfavorable effects on a nursing baby. Before breastfeeding, talk to your doctor.
Note
Do not share this medication with anyone else even if they have the same symptoms.Lab and medical tests such as blood pressure, liver function should be done while you are taking this medication. Consult your doctor for more details and information.
- Appendicitis
- Sudden change in bowel habits
- Bleeding from the rectum
- Intestinal blockage
Interactions
Other medications can interact with the removal of duloxetine from your body, causing duloxetine to function differently. Cimetidine, fluvoxamine, and certain quinolone antibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin and enoxacin) are examples.
Other drugs' removal from the body can be slowed by this drug, which can influence how they work. Antiarrhythmics (such as propafenone, flecainide, and quinidine), antipsychotics (such as thioridazine), and tricyclic antidepressants (such as desipramine and imipramine) are among the medications affected.
All of your medications (such as allergy or cough-and-cold remedies) should be checked for ingredients that cause drowsiness. Inquire with your pharmacist about the proper use of those drugs.
When combined with this drug, aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding. If your doctor has prescribed low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (typically in doses of 81-325 milligrams a day), you should stick to it unless your doctor tells you differently.
Other drugs that can cause bleeding or bruising can interact with this medication (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, blood thinners such as warfarin).
Missed Dose
If you forgot to take any dose, take it as soon as you recall it. But if it is near the time of the next dose, skip the forgotten dose. Take your next dosage at regular intervals of time. Do not double the dose.
Overdose
If you or someone has taken too much of this medicine and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, seek emergency medical help or call a poison control center right away. Symptoms of overdose may include severe drowsiness, fainting, seizures, fast heartbeat.
Storage
Store at room temperature far away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom as well. Keep all medications away from small kids.Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it gets expired or no longer in use. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.
Duloxetine vs Fluoxetine
| Molecular Formula, C18H19NOS | Formula: C17H18F3NO |
| Molar mass: 297.4146 g/mol | Molar mass: 309.33 g/mol |
| brand name Cymbalta | brand names Prozac and Sarafem |
| used to treat the major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain | Severe depressive disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, bulimia nervosa, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder are all treated with it. |
| Drug class: Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor | It is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class |
