Duloxetine hydrochloride, available as the brand Cymbalta, is a prescription medication used for treating depression, anxiety and certain painful physical conditions. A serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, or SNRI, Cymbalta increases levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals help maintain mental balance and inhibit pain signals in the brain. Cymbalta use is sometimes associated with weight loss, but withdrawal from Cymbalta generally is not.
Cymbalta Side Effects
Up to 2 percent of participants in some studies with Cymbalta reported weight loss, according to eMedTV. The average weight loss was small, ranging from 1 to 3 lbs. Cymbalta does not appear to directly cause weight loss, but it does have side effects that may lead to weight loss, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Cymbalta also can cause side effects of constipation, heartburn, stomach pain, dizziness and headaches.
SNRI Withdrawal
Like other SNRI medications, Cymbalta causes withdrawal symptoms in some people who stop taking the drug abruptly. The group of symptoms is known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. The effects are generally milder and also less likely to occur if you decrease the dosage slowly over several weeks or months.
Withdrawal Symptoms
In clinical studies with Cymbalta, withdrawal symptoms were relatively uncommon. The most likely effect was dizziness, occurring in up to 12 percent of participants in some trials. Weight loss was not reported as a withdrawal symptom, but as with Cymbalta usage, withdrawal side effects of nausea and vomiting were reported. Other Cymbalta withdrawal effects may include headaches, tingling or burning sensations, irritability and nightmares.
Considerations
If Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms do occur, they may not begin until a week after you stop the medication, and they typically last from a few days to a few weeks. Most people who experience these effects have only mild or moderate symptoms, but some patients develop more severe withdrawal effects. If you have significant problems withdrawing from Cymbalta, consult your doctor, who may have you start taking the medicine again and taper off more slowly.
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