In August of 2004 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl), judging it a safe and effective treatment for major depressive disorder. Cymbalta was later approved to treat the pain of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, making it one of the more versatile antidepressants on the market.
Cymbalta is a balanced and potent reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine. Before it was allowed on the market it was studied in more than 6,000 adults with major depression worldwide. It is estimated that 25-35 percent of patients treated for depression in clinical studies experience relief from all of their disease symptoms. Cymbalta may be more effective for some because it targets more than one neurotransmitter.
An Eli Lilly press release quoted Dr. Stephen Stahl, of the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine this way: "Depression is a whole-body illness, but most modern antidepressants treat the emotional symptoms, such as crying and sadness, better than they treat the physical symptoms of depression," said . "Because of its dual action on serotonin and norepinephrine, Cymbalta offers physicians a new opportunity to help patients with depression, particularly those who experience the common physical symptoms of the disease, such as vague aches and pains."
We know that neurotransmitters help regulate both our emotions and our sensitivity to pain. Some believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters is one of the causes of depression.
Lilly reported that Cymbalta was studied in a dose range of 40-120 mg per day in clinical trials. The recommended daily dose for most adults is 60 mg. Cymbalta also is being studied for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence, which may also respond to treatment with both serotonin and norepinephrine.
As with most medications, side effects can occur. Lilly notes that "Depression, as a disease, can be associated with periods when the symptoms can worsen or thoughts of suicide can emerge. Patients and their families should watch for these as well as for anxiety, agitation, panic, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, restlessness, or overexcitement and hyperactivity. Call the doctor if any of these are severe or occur suddenly. Be especially observant at the initiation of antidepressant drug therapy and whenever there is a change in dose."
Should you take Cymbalta? Discuss it with your doctor if you are feeling depressed and are not taking any medication for it, or if your current medications are not doing everything that you think they should. It's also an option if you have neuropathic (nerve-related) pain such as peripheral neuropathy.
