Cymbalta Quick Facts
Cymbalta is an antidepressant in the SNRI (selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) class.
Other Brand Names: none
Generic Name: Duloxetine
Primary Uses:
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Stress Urinary Incontinence (Europe only)
Other Uses:
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Fibromyalgia
Availability: 20mg, 30mg, 60mg capsules
Contraindications:
- Any known hypersensitivity to Cymbalta
- Concurrent use of MAOI’s
- Uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma
- Concurrent use of other CNS-acting drugs
- Concurrent use of thioridazine
Side Effects:
- Nausea (34.7%)
- Dry Mouth (22.7%)
- Headache (20.0%)
- Dizziness (18.7%)
- Rash (rare)
Black Box Warnings:may increase the risk of suicide in persons younger than 25.
Metabolized: Liver
Excreted: Urine (70%), Feces (20%)
Half-life: 12.1 Hours
Withdrawal Effects:
- Dysphoric mood
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Dizziness
- Brain zaps
- Anxiety
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Mood Swings
- Insomnia
- Hypomania
- Tinnitus
- Seizures
Cymbalta should be tapered slowly to avoid withdrawal effects. Frequency of withdrawal effects are unknown.
Source: Wikipedia
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Hanners Ellicott-Chatham
I am a web developer, and the creator of QueerMentalHealth.org. I run my own IT business. For this reason I have chosen to remain anonymous, so I have chosen the pseudonym "Hanners Ellicott-Chatham", which is a character from one of my favourite web comics, Questionable Content, by Jeph Jacques. I battle with PTSD, being a sexual assault survivor and a survivor of physical and emotional abuse as a child. I recently learned that I have schizoaffective disorder. Finally, I am also a transgendered woman.
Frnakly I think that’s absolutely good stuff.
Ugh, coming off of this stuff now. Went down from 60mg to 30, after about 9 months on it, and I’m already getting some of the withdrawal symptoms. Agitation, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, anxiety and dysphoric mood, so far.
Been off of it for a week now. I’m otherwise fine, but the brain zaps are so friggin’ annoying.