What it means
It treats depression and generalized anxiety disorder, and pain from diabetic nerve damage, fibromyalgia and long-term muscle and joint pain. Side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness, sweating and a rise in blood pressure; rarely, it harms the liver. Its name is on the ISMP list of names confused with fluoxetine and paroxetine.
For the nurse
The capsule is swallowed whole, not crushed, chewed or opened. Watch for suicidal thoughts in young clients (the boxed warning), check blood pressure, and teach the client to limit alcohol and not to stop the drug suddenly.
At a glance
| Drug class | serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Cymbalta |
| Spanish | duloxetina |
| Also written | Cymbalta |
Easy to confuse with
fluoxetine
An SSRI antidepressant: a drug that raises the level of serotonin available in the brain.
paroxetine
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.
Related terms
norepinephrine
A hormone and nerve messenger that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, also given as an IV drug.
fluoxetine
An SSRI antidepressant: a drug that raises the level of serotonin available in the brain.
paroxetine
An SSRI antidepressant used for depression and several anxiety disorders.
reuptake
The taking back of a chemical messenger into the nerve cell that released it.