Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsKey DifferencesWhich Is More Effective?Side EffectsOther PrecautionsInteractions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Key Differences
Which Is More Effective?
Side Effects
Other Precautions
Interactions
Cymbalta is the brand name for duloxetine, and Effexor XR contains the active drug venlafaxine. These are prescription drugs called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They are used to treat different forms ofdepressionandanxiety.
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Cymbalta vs. Effexor XR: Key Differences
Cymbalta and Effexor XR are selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). They work to increase the amounts of serotonin andnorepinephrinein the brain that helps maintain balance.
The tables below give an insight into the key differences and similarities between Cymbalta and Effexor XR.
Uses
Cymbalta and Effexor XR are FDA-approved for different indications.They are also used off-label (not FDA-approved) for many other conditions.Below is a comparison of their uses.
Effexor XR is not approved for use in children.
Only a few clinical studies directly compare duloxetine and venlafaxine. Each person’s response to each medicine may vary.
According to a systematic review of several studies, both medications are effective for the short-term treatment of major depressive disorder.
Another older study (from 2008) showed that duloxetine and venlafaxine are equally effective and tolerable for treating generalized anxiety disorders.
When prescribing, a healthcare provider considers factors such as age, other medical conditions or drugs you take, and your response to treatment.
Side Effects: Which Is More Tolerable?
2024 RecallsStarting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.
2024 Recalls
Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.
Starting in October 2024, over 200,000 bottles of duloxetine delayed-release capsules were recalled over concerns about the presence of nitrosamines, which can increase the risk of cancer.If you take duloxetine, check your medication packaging to see if it was part of the affected lots or call your pharmacist to find out. You should also contact your prescriber, as abruptly stopping a medication like duloxetinecan be dangerous.
The recalled lots have expiration dates from November 2024 to December 2025. You can check the lot numbers in the FDA enforcement reports released inOctoberandDecember.
Most antidepressants, including Cymbalta and Effexor XR, are generally safe, but all these drugs carry FDA boxed warnings (the strictest warnings for prescription medications).
Cymbalta and Effexor XR may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children and young adults. The risk is higher at the start of therapy or when changing doses. People taking these drugs should be monitored closely for clinical worsening (changes that decline, are not temporary, and go beyond what is natural for the disease) and new signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
These drugs also show some other side effects.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects include:
Severe Side Effects
Some severe side effects of Cymbalta and Effexor XR that may need medical attention include:
Effexor XR may also cause lung problems. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, cough, or chest discomfort. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms.
Other severe side effects related specifically to Cymbalta include liver damage andurinary retention.
Risk of Liver Failure
Severe liver problems,sometimes fatal, have been reported in people treated with Cymbalta.How Cymbalta causes liver injury is not well known.
Check in with your healthcare provider if you have the following symptoms:
Use of Cymbalta with heavy alcohol intake has been associated with severe liver injury.
Serotonin Syndrome
Serotonin syndrome most often occurs due to drug-drug interaction (interactions between drugs) that affect the body’s level of serotonin. The medicines cause too much serotonin release or accumulation in the brain area.
Serotonin syndrome is more likely to occur when you first start taking or increasing the dose of the medicine.
Both Cymbalta and Effexor can cause serotonin syndrome when used with drugs including:
Symptoms occur within minutes to a few hours of taking medicines that can and may include:
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome and their severity may vary in different people.
As an additional precaution, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions before taking Cymbalta and Effexor XR, including:
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, be aware that both drugs may increase the risk of complications in the newborn after birth, particularly if taken during the last months of pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks of taking Cymbalta or Effexor XR during pregnancy.
Never stop taking these drugs without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping suddenly can cause other symptoms. Your healthcare provider will gradually lower the dose before stopping altogether.
Do Any Other Drugs Interact With Cymbalta or Effexor XR?
Drug-drug interactions need to be addressed before taking any prescription drug. Like all medicines, Cymbalta and Effexor XR may interact with some other drugs. Here are a few examples that should not be taken with Cymbalta and Effexor XR:
This may not be a complete list of drugs that interact with these drugs. Discuss with your healthcare prescriber all other drugs that you take before taking Cymbalta and Effexor XR.
Summary
Cymbalta and Effexor XR are antidepressant drugs called SNRIs. Both drugs are used for the treatment of chronic depression and anxiety disorders (for example, general or social).
Cymbalta also treats fibromyalgia and musculoskeletal or diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain). Unlike Effexor XR, it is also approved for use in children. They have similar side effects and drug interactions and are equally effective.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Cymbalta- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.DailyMed.Label: Effexor XR- venlafaxine hydrochloride capsule, extended-releaseMedlinePlus.Venlafaxine.MedlinePlus.Duloxetine.PDR.Cymbalta.PDR.Venlafaxine.Schueler YB, Koesters M, Wieseler B, et al.A systematic review of duloxetine and venlafaxine in major depression, including unpublished data.Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK);2011.Allgulander C, Nutt D, Detke M, et al.A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder.J Psychopharmacol.2008;22(4):417-425. doi.org/10.1177/0269881108091588Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.Duloxetine. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced liver injury.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Cymbalta- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.DailyMed.Label: Effexor XR- venlafaxine hydrochloride capsule, extended-releaseMedlinePlus.Venlafaxine.MedlinePlus.Duloxetine.PDR.Cymbalta.PDR.Venlafaxine.Schueler YB, Koesters M, Wieseler B, et al.A systematic review of duloxetine and venlafaxine in major depression, including unpublished data.Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK);2011.Allgulander C, Nutt D, Detke M, et al.A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder.J Psychopharmacol.2008;22(4):417-425. doi.org/10.1177/0269881108091588Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.Duloxetine. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced liver injury.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Cymbalta- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.DailyMed.Label: Effexor XR- venlafaxine hydrochloride capsule, extended-releaseMedlinePlus.Venlafaxine.MedlinePlus.Duloxetine.PDR.Cymbalta.PDR.Venlafaxine.Schueler YB, Koesters M, Wieseler B, et al.A systematic review of duloxetine and venlafaxine in major depression, including unpublished data.Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK);2011.Allgulander C, Nutt D, Detke M, et al.A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder.J Psychopharmacol.2008;22(4):417-425. doi.org/10.1177/0269881108091588Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.Duloxetine. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced liver injury.
DailyMed.Label: Cymbalta- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.
DailyMed.Label: Effexor XR- venlafaxine hydrochloride capsule, extended-release
MedlinePlus.Venlafaxine.
MedlinePlus.Duloxetine.
PDR.Cymbalta.
PDR.Venlafaxine.
Schueler YB, Koesters M, Wieseler B, et al.A systematic review of duloxetine and venlafaxine in major depression, including unpublished data.Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK);2011.
Allgulander C, Nutt D, Detke M, et al.A non-inferiority comparison of duloxetine and venlafaxine in the treatment of adult patients with generalized anxiety disorder.J Psychopharmacol.2008;22(4):417-425. doi.org/10.1177/0269881108091588
Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.
Duloxetine. In: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; 2012.
MedlinePlus.Drug-induced liver injury.
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