Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewHow It WorksHow Cymbalta Is TakenWhat to ExpectSide EffectsInteractions and PrecautionsTalk With Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
How It Works
How Cymbalta Is Taken
What to Expect
Side Effects
Interactions and Precautions
Talk With Your Healthcare Provider
Nerve pain — a side effect ofHIV medicationsand the infection itself — can be treated with duloxetine (Cymbalta), a common antidepressant. This offers a great benefit to people infected withHIV, as both nerve pain, orperipheral neuropathy, and depression are common ailments.
In addition, people with HIV have the burden of taking lots of medications — now their pain and low mood can potentially be treated with just one drug, a huge bonus.
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Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is an antidepressant that the FDA also approves to treat a type of peripheral neuropathy and other types of pain.This is of great benefit to people with HIV who frequently suffer from both depression and pain conditions.
To understand how Cymbalta works, you must first understand the physiology of depression. Two naturally occurring chemicals in the brain regulate mood and mood stability. Thesetwo chemicalsare serotoninand norepinephrine.Simply put, it is felt that these neurotransmitters can become imbalanced in depression.
The same two chemicals responsible for mood regulation also influencepain perception. Just as an imbalance causes depression, an imbalance of these chemicals is involved in the physiology of pain. When Cymbalta re-establishs chemical balance, the symptoms of pain may be relieved, as well.
Cymbalta is available in 20mg, 30mg, and 60mg capsules.The dose is generally 60mg once daily, but some people may require less than 60mg each day and some more. As is the case with any medication, the prescribed dose should be the lowest dose at which there is an optimal therapeutic effect.
One benefit of Cymbalta is that it can be taken as one capsule once daily, which makes adherence much easier. This is in contrast to other medications commonly used to treat peripheral neuropathy that require multiple doses a day.
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.
Like most medications, there are side effects associated with Cymbalta. Many side effects — if they do occur — will resolve after the body becomes adjusted to the medication, usually in a couple of weeks.In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects include but are not limited to the below:
Drug Interactions and Precautions
Important Note!Inform your practitioner of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking before starting Cymbalta to avoid dangerous drug interactions.
If you suffer from HIV-related pain and/or a low mood, please see your healthcare provider for an evaluation. Cymbalta may or may not be the appropriate medication for you.
6 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.
Robinson-Papp J, Schütz SG.HIV-related neuropathy: current perspectives.HIV. September 2013:243. doi:10.2147/HIV.S36674U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA-approved drugs CYMBALTA.Harvard Health.Serotonin: The natural mood booster.Liu Y, Zhao J, Guo W.Emotional roles of mono-aminergic neurotransmitters in major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.Front Psychol. 2018;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02201National Library of Medicine DailyMed.CYMBALTA- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.
Robinson-Papp J, Schütz SG.HIV-related neuropathy: current perspectives.HIV. September 2013:243. doi:10.2147/HIV.S36674
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA-approved drugs CYMBALTA.
Harvard Health.Serotonin: The natural mood booster.
Liu Y, Zhao J, Guo W.Emotional roles of mono-aminergic neurotransmitters in major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders.Front Psychol. 2018;0. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02201
National Library of Medicine DailyMed.CYMBALTA- duloxetine hydrochloride capsule, delayed release.
Food and Drug Administration.What to Know and Do About Possible Nitrosamines in Your Medication.
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