Information For Patients About
Cymbalta® (duloxetine hydrochloride) Delayed-Release Capsules
Please read this information carefully before you
start taking Cymbalta (sim-BALL-tah) and each
time your prescription is refilled in case anything
has changed or new information has become
available. This information is not meant to take
the place of discussions with your healthcare
provider. Talk with your healthcare provider or
pharmacist if there is something you do not
understand or if you want to learn more about
Cymbalta. Always follow your healthcare
provider’s instructions for taking Cymbalta.
What is Cymbalta?
Cymbalta is a prescription medicine that is
approved to treat multiple conditions. Cymbalta
is approved for the treatment of major depressive
disorder (MDD) also called depression,
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and for the
management of fibromyalgia (FM) and diabetic
peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), also called
diabetic nerve pain.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a real disorder that may affect
many areas of a person’s life. It may make it
harder to do daily activities. Fibromyalgia is
characterized by chronic widespread pain and
tenderness and may include other symptoms. The
pain of fibromylagia may be unpredictable. You
may feel pain that can affect different parts of your
body and may be worse on some days than on
others. Fibromyalgia occurs most often in women
but can also affect men.
How is Cymbalta believed to work?
Although the exact way Cymbalta works in people
is unknown, it is believed to be related to an
increase in the activity of serotonin and
norepinephrine, which are two naturally-occurring
substances in the brain and spinal cord.
When will Cymbalta begin to work?
In clinical studies, many people taking Cymbalta
began to feel improvement in their symptoms as
early as 1 to 4 weeks after starting Cymbalta. As
with any treatment, results may vary from person
to person.
Who should NOT take Cymbalta?
You should not take Cymbalta if:
• You are taking a type of antidepressant known
as a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such
as Nardil® (phenelzine sulfate), Parnate®
(tranylcypromine sulfate) or Emsam® (selegiline
transdermal system). Using an MAOI with many
prescription medicines, including Cymbalta, can
cause serious or even life-threatening reactions.
You must wait at least 14 days after you have
stopped taking an MAOI before you take Cymbalta.
You need to wait at least 5 days after you stop
taking Cymbalta before you take an MAOI.
