About Duloxetine 20 mg Capsule
Duloxetine 20 mg Capsule contains Duloxetine 20 mg. Duloxetine is a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). It is used to treat depression and anxiety, and certain types of long-lasting pain, such as nerve pain in diabetes and fibromyalgia. It takes a few weeks to work fully and should not be stopped suddenly.
Uses of Duloxetine 20 mg Capsule
- Depression (major depressive disorder)
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Nerve pain caused by diabetes (diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain)
- Fibromyalgia
Benefits
In depression and anxiety
It can improve mood, sleep, energy and interest in daily life, and reduce worry. Improvement usually builds over a few weeks.
In nerve pain and fibromyalgia
It can reduce long-lasting pain by changing how pain signals are handled by the brain and spinal cord.
Side effects
Do not stop it suddenly. Stopping quickly can cause dizziness, nausea, headache, irritability and 'electric shock' feelings. Your doctor will reduce it slowly.
Common
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness
- Constipation
- Reduced appetite
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
Get medical help if you notice
- Thoughts of harming yourself, or worsening depression or anxiety, especially in young people or when starting or changing the dose — contact your doctor straight away
- Agitation, fever, sweating, fast heartbeat, muscle twitching or confusion (possible serotonin syndrome) — seek emergency care
- Yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, itching or pain in the upper right tummy (possible liver damage) — contact your doctor
- Unusual bruising or bleeding — contact your doctor
- Severe skin reaction with blisters or peeling — seek emergency care
- Eye pain with blurred vision, or difficulty passing urine — seek medical help
How to use
Take it exactly as your doctor prescribed. Swallow the capsule whole with water; do not crush, chew or open it. It can be taken with or without food.
How it works
It increases the levels of serotonin and noradrenaline, two natural chemicals in the brain and spinal cord that help control mood and reduce pain signals.
Safety advice
Alcohol Unsafe
Avoid alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking it raises the risk of liver damage and can worsen drowsiness and mood.
Pregnancy Consult your doctor
Use only if your doctor advises it. Use late in pregnancy may affect the newborn and increase bleeding after birth. Do not stop it on your own.
Breastfeeding Consult your doctor
It passes into breast milk. Ask your doctor before breastfeeding.
Driving Caution
It can cause sleepiness or dizziness. Do not drive until you know how it affects you.
Kidney Caution
It should not be used in severe kidney disease. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems.
Liver Unsafe
It should not be used in people with liver disease, as it can harm the liver.
If you miss a dose
If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Do not take two doses together.
Quick tips
- Give it a few weeks to work; do not stop if you do not feel better straight away.
- Do not stop it suddenly — your doctor will reduce it slowly.
- Swallow the capsule whole.
- Your blood pressure may be checked, as it can raise blood pressure.
- Tell your family or carer to watch for changes in mood or behaviour.
Substitutes
Same salts in the same strength from other makers. Only switch brands on your doctor's or pharmacist's advice; our pharmacist checks every order against the prescription.
Same salts, other strengths or forms
Fact box
- Chemical class
- Naphthyloxy-thiophene propylamine derivative
- Therapeutic class
- Neuro-psychiatry / pain
- Action class
- Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI)
- Habit forming
- No
- Prescription
- Required
Interactions with other medicines
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, vitamin and herbal product you take.
| Medicine | What can happen |
|---|---|
| MAO inhibitors (such as linezolid or some antidepressants) | Risk of serotonin syndrome; must not be used together or within a set gap |
| Fluvoxamine and ciprofloxacin | Greatly raise duloxetine levels; avoid together |
| Other medicines that raise serotonin (other antidepressants, tramadol, triptans) | Higher risk of serotonin syndrome |
| NSAIDs, aspirin and blood thinners such as warfarin | Higher risk of bleeding |
| Alcohol | Higher risk of liver damage |
This page is general information to help you understand your medicine. It is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change a medicine on your own.
Written by the Asthra Health Care team from the approved prescribing information (Duloxetine prescribing information (CDSCO-approved labelling); US FDA duloxetine labelling (boxed warning); EMC SmPC: duloxetine). Pharmacist review pending.