Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

What the word means

Duloxetine is the drug. Cymbalta is the brand.

It’s an SNRI, acting on serotonin and norepinephrine. What makes it stand out is its second life outside psychiatry. It’s approved for several chronic pain conditions, including diabetic nerve pain and fibromyalgia, which means plenty of people are taking it without any psychiatric diagnosis at all.

That’s worth knowing if you’ve been prescribed it by a non-psychiatrist and were surprised to find it described as an antidepressant. Both uses are real, and the medication is the same either way.

Where to read the full guide

The word is here. The guide is there.

Read the full duloxetine guide at PsychiatryRx, which covers uses, side effects, timelines, and stopping safely.

Related terms you’ll see next

• SNRI
• Venlafaxine
• Antidepressant
• Discontinuation syndrome

When to seek professional care

Don’t stop this one abruptly, since discontinuation symptoms are common when it’s dropped quickly. Tell your prescriber about new agitation, worsening mood, or thoughts of self-harm after starting or changing the dose. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, get help right away by calling 911, or call or text 988 in the US to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Duloxetine (Cymbalta):</strong> Duloxetine is an SNRI antidepressant, sold as Cymbalta. It's used for depression and anxiety, and also for several chronic pain conditions, which is unusual for an antidepressant.</p>
  <p>&mdash; <a href="https://shrinktionary.com/terms/duloxetine/">Shrinktionary</a>, a plain-English mental health dictionary, medically reviewed by a board certified psychiatrist.</p>
</blockquote>