Commonly Asked Questions
Cymbalta is FDA-approved for fibromyalgia
Cymbalta is approved by the FDA for the management of fibromyalgia.more
- How does Cymbalta work?
- When will Cymbalta begin to work?
- Who should NOT take Cymbalta?
- What other important information should I discuss with my healthcare provider?
- How should I take Cymbalta?
- What are the possible side effects of Cymbalta?
- What happens when I stop taking Cymbalta?
- Can children take Cymbalta?
- What information is available regarding suicidality and antidepressants?
- Given the FDA evaluation regarding suicidality and antidepressants,
is Cymbalta safe for me to use?
1. How does Cymbalta work?
Although the way Cymbalta works in people is not fully known, medical experts believe it increases the activity of two naturally occurring substances in the brain called serotonin and norepinephrine. These substances aid communication in many areas of the brain and spinal cord that affect emotion. Research also suggests that these substances are part of the body's natural pain suppressing system.
2. When will Cymbalta begin to work?
For mood symptoms in depression, patients may notice improvements in 1 to 4 weeks. Full antidepressant response may take 4 to 6 weeks. Patients may see improvement as early as 2 weeks in their anxious symptoms of GAD. In DNP and fibromyalgia trials, some patients experienced pain relief as early as 1 week. Results may vary from person to person.
3. Who should NOT take Cymbalta?
You should not take Cymbalta if:
- You have recently taken a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
- You have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma (an eye disease)
- You are taking Mellaril® (thioridazine)
4. What other important information should I discuss with my healthcare provider?
Talk with your healthcare provider:
- about all of your medical conditions, including kidney problems, glaucoma, or diabetes
- if, while taking Cymbalta, you have itching, right upper belly pain, dark urine, yellow skin/eyes, or unexplained flu-like symptoms which may be signs of liver problems. Severe liver problems, sometimes fatal, have been reported
- about your alcohol consumption
- if you are taking nonprescription or prescription medicines, including those for migraine, to avoid a potentially life-threatening condition
- if you are taking NSAID pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners. Use with Cymbalta may increase bleeding risk
- before stopping Cymbalta or changing your dose
- if you are pregnant or nursing
Dizziness or fainting may occur upon standing, especially when first starting Cymbalta or when increasing the dose. Your healthcare provider may periodically check your blood pressure while you are taking Cymbalta.
If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider before taking Cymbalta.
Learn more about Cymbalta by reading the full Prescribing Information.
5. How should I take Cymbalta?
Take Cymbalta exactly as directed by your healthcare provider.
Cymbalta should be taken by mouth. Do not open, break, or chew the capsule; it must be swallowed whole.
Cymbalta can be taken with or without food.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your regularly scheduled dose. Do not take more than the daily amount of Cymbalta that has been prescribed for you.
Remember to refill your prescription before you run out of Cymbalta. Talk with your healthcare provider before stopping Cymbalta or changing your dose.
6. What are the possible side effects of Cymbalta?
In clinical studies, the most common side effect of Cymbalta in all clinical studies combined was nausea. Most people were not bothered enough by nausea to stop taking Cymbalta.
Other common side effects included dry mouth, sleepiness, constipation, decreased appetite, and increased sweating.
This is not a complete list of side effects. You can also read the full Prescribing Information for more details on side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have questions or develop any side effects.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
7. What happens when I stop taking Cymbalta?
Cymbalta should not be stopped without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping Cymbalta may result in side effects that may include dizziness, nausea, headache, or other potential side effects. Your healthcare provider may wish to decrease the dose slowly to help avoid these kinds of side effects.
8. Can children take Cymbalta?
Cymbalta is not approved for use in children under 18.
9. What information is available regarding suicidality and antidepressants?
The FDA issued an alert as part of its ongoing evaluation about antidepressants and suicide. In 2007, the FDA recommended that all antidepressants update their Boxed Warning around increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and teens to include the young adult population as well. Cymbalta is not approved for use in patients under age 18. The FDA is currently evaluating the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in adults treated with these medications. Eli Lilly and Company fully supports the FDA's efforts to share timely, accurate, and meaningful safety information with patients.
However, all patients being treated with any type of antidepressant should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for new or worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior, or thoughts of suicide, especially within the first few months of antidepressant treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
10. Given the FDA evaluation regarding suicidality and antidepressants, is Cymbalta safe for me to use?
Your healthcare provider is the best source for questions or concerns. If you are currently taking Cymbalta, do not stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.
