Cymbalta

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Children, teenagers, and young adults should not usually take duloxetine. However, if your doctor prescribes duloxetine for your child to treat depression, caution must be used. Studies have shown occurrences of children, teenagers, and young adults thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this medicine. More study is needed to be sure duloxetine is safe and effective in children, teenagers, and young adults.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of duloxetine in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults, which may require caution in patients receiving duloxetine.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Clorgyline
• Isocarboxazid
• Lazabemide
• Moclobemide
• Phenelzine
• Rasagiline
• Selegiline
• Thioridazine
• Tranylcypromine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bipolar disorder (mood disorder with alternating episodes of mania and depression) or risk of—May make condition worse. Your doctor will check you for this condition.

• Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)—May increase your blood sugar.

• Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood)—May make this condition worse.

• Kidney disease, severe, or
• Liver disease, severe—Higher blood levels of duloxetine may occur, increasing the chance of side effects.

• Mania (history of)—The condition may be activated.

• Narrow-angle glaucoma—May increase your chance of getting blurred vision.

• Seizures (history of)—The risk of seizures may be increased.