What You Need to Know About Cymbalta

Cymbalta’s generic name is Duloxetine, and this drug is mainly used for treating anxiety and depression. However, it is also often prescribed for treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage closely related to diabetes. Cymbalta is also used for treating many other types of chronic pains in the bones and muscles.

Using Cymbalta requires a doctor’s prescription. In addition, it’s advisable to follow the provided dosage and usage instructions. Like any other drug, Cymbalta can also cause various side effects, and in this article, you'll learn about the benefits and dangers of using Cymbalta.

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta belongs to serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) class of drugs. It’s believed that this medicine works by increasing the activity of brain chemicals known as norepinephrine and serotonin. 

The drug helps norepinephrine and serotonin restore their natural balance in the brain. Your brain then signals your body to reduce the pain sensation. Generic Cymbalta is also used for recharging energy levels, improving appetite, mood, and sleep, making you feel less nervous. Cymbalta works by successfully restoring the balance of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. 

What is Cymbalta Used For?

Cymbalta is commonly used for treating anxiety and depression. Initially, this drug was approved as an antidepressant, but later discoveries confirmed that Cymbalta also provides pain relief. This drug successfully targets different neurochemicals that regulate pain and overall mood.

Cymbalta medicine can improve patients moods, energy levels, appetite, and sleep, while it can also make you feel less nervous. This drug also decreases pain due to certain chronic medical conditions.

The FDA has extended the list of Cymbalta uses and re-approved this drug for the treatment of: 

• chronic musculoskeletal pain
• fibromyalgia
• diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• major depressive disorder
• generalized anxiety disorder

No one knows for sure why antidepressants help a human body feel relief from pain, but scientists believe that these neurochemicals regulate both mood and pain at the same time.

Even if patients take this drug to treat pain, they shouldn’t stop with Cymbalta therapy suddenly. Stopping with therapy suddenly can result in severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. A secure method of stopping with Cymbalta therapy is to do it under strict and close supervision of medical professionals.

Benefits of Cymbalta

Duloxetine is generic Cymbalta drug and it is the most popular one. As a result, you've probably heard about it before. This medicine is known for significantly relieving pain. The majority of fibromyalgia patients reported that they felt significant pain relief after one week of use. The pain relief can be even more significant in patients suffering from depression. 

Other known benefits of Cymbalta include: 

• Less pain means you’ll smoothly go back to your everyday routine
• Better sleep provides you with a much better quality of life
• Having a more refreshing sleep will quickly heal muscle tissue
• Although pain relief proved to work for at least three months, it must be based on each patient’s response 

Dosage Information

Although Cymbalta’s generic name is Duloxetine, there are other brands as well, and you should always read the leaflet instructions before starting your therapy. Sometimes different drug manufacturers may use different ingredients that can cause further problems to your health.

The dose of this drug is different for each patient. Always follow your doctor's directions. Even though you can find dosage information on the drug’s label, note that this information includes only average doses.  

The amount of Cymbalta that you take depends solely on the strength of the drug. The frequency of daily doses and the allowed time between each dose depend on the medical condition you’re trying to treat. Cymbalta is also available in capsules with extended-release effect.

Missing a single dose of Cymbalta isn’t a big deal, but make sure to take it as soon as you remember. In case the time is close to another dose, don’t take the missed one and continue with the previously set schedule. Avoid doubling your dose to make up for the missed one since overdosing can cause severe side effects.

Side Effects of Cymbalta

 Common Cymbalta side effects include:

• low sodium levels in the blood
• dry mouth and headaches
• diabetes patients may have irregular glucose levels
• extreme skin reactions
• insomnia or sleepiness
• fatigue and dizziness
• nausea, diarrhea or constipation
• increased appetite

More severe side effects and Duloxetine warnings mention the possibility of:

• Cutaneous vasculitis and colitis
• possible occurrence of orthostatic hypotension
• sexual dysfunctionality in both females and males

 Additionally, reproduction studies performed on animals indicate that Duloxetine possibly has severe side effects on fetus development in the womb and even after birth.

Make sure to learn as much as you can about Cymbalta before you begin your therapy and consult your doctor about any issues you might have about this medicine. We at Countrywide Testing offer our clients an extensive selection of drug test kits. Contact us now, and ask us everything you want to know about our drug testing kits, and we’ll do everything to provide you with the answers you seek.