What Is Duloxetine (Cymbalta)?

Duloxetine seems to be a part of the medication class known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs). It may be sold as Cymbalta. This medication should be able to help balance brain chemicals. However, it appears to be associated with several significant side effects. Thus, patients may need extra monitoring when they are taking it.

Duloxetine may be prescribed as a medication for depression. It may also be used as a treatment for anxiety disorder. Additionally, it appears that it is one of the only medications that are approved fibromyalgia treatments. Many patients may also take this medication per their doctor's directions as a pain treatment. It may even act as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy. However, before taking it, patients may want to understand how this medication should work first.

How It Should Work

This medication should help balance the chemicals in the patient's brain. However, the research does not seem to have focused on the medication's precise effects on the brain. It appears as if doctors have observed the effects that the medication has on symptoms instead. The best guess on how this medication should work is that it can change how serotonin and norepinephrine, two brain chemicals, interact with the central nervous system.

Serotonin should help with how patients perceive their pain, how their digestive system should work, and regulate some of their emotions. Norepinephrine should help some of these functions as well, such as how they see their pain, emotions, and mood. However, it also appears that this chemical can affect the 'fight-or-flight' instinct. This instinct seems to be triggered fairly often in anxiety and depression patients, even if they may not actually be in danger.

Continue reading to learn about the possible uses for this medication next.