Well-tolerated when compared to other serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors used to treat depression and anxiety, Cymbalta also does not pose the risk of cardiovascular side effects as others may, according to Dr. Stephen M. Stahl and colleagues in the September 2005 review published in "CNS Spectrums." Health care providers prescribe Cymbalta for the treatment of depression, anxiety and chronic pain due to diabetic neuropathy or fibromyalgia. The prescriber of Cymbalta will slowly decrease the dose to avoid abrupt withdrawal.
Dizziness
The National Institutes of Health defines dizziness as a sensation of unsteadiness accompanied by a feeling of movement within the head. Health care providers do not abruptly discontinue Cymbalta considering the potential for withdrawal symptoms, according to Trevor R. Norman, Ph.D. and Dr. James S. Olver in a 2010 issue of "Drug Design, Development and Therapy." Norman and Olver also report in a 2008 expert opinion paper published in "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment" that dizziness occurred with the discontinuation of Cymbalta in 8.3 percent of the cases studied.
Anxiety
The National Institutes of Health defines anxiety as an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs such as sweating, tension, and increased pulse. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, approved Cymbalta for the treatment of anxiety. Successful treatment of anxiety with Cymbalta indicates that there is at least some risk that the anxiety will return if the drug is discontinued. In the "Drug Design, Development and Therapy" article, Norman and Olver report that 4.3 percent of the cases studied experienced anxiety with discontinuation of Cymbalta.
Nausea
The National Institutes of Health defines nausea as a stomach distress with distaste for food and an urge to vomit. Norman and Olver state in the "Drug Design, Development and Therapy" article that 4.2 percent of the cases studied reported nausea with discontinuation of Cymbalta.
Headache
The National Institutes of Health defines headache as pain in the head. In the "Drug Design, Development and Therapy" article, Norman and Olver state that 3.1 percent of those studied complained of a headache with discontinuation of long-term Cymbalta treatment. Health care providers taper, or wean, Cymbalta based on length of treatment, but also consider the dose even though in the "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment" article, Norman and Olver state that the withdrawal symptoms are not dose dependent.
Insomnia
Norman and Olver state in the "Drug Design, Development and Therapy" article that insomnia occurred with the discontinuation of Cymbalta in 2.9 percent of the cases studied. In the "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment" article, Norman and Olver state that insomnia is more frequent with Cymbalta when compared to placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. The National Institutes of Health defines insomnia as prolonged and usually abnormal inability to obtain adequate sleep.
References
- "CNS Spectrum"; SNRIs: Their Pharmacology, CLinical Efficacy, and Tolerability in Comparison With Other Classes of Antidepressants; Stephen M. Stahl; Sept 2005
- "Drug Design, Development and Therapy"; Continuation Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: Is There a Case For Duloxetine?; Trevor R. Norman; 2010
- "Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment" Duloxetine in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder; Trevor R. Norman; 2008
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