Duloxetine

Duloxetine, sold under the brand name Cymbalta among others, is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) created by Eli Lilly. It is mostly prescribed for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain.

Duloxetine failed to receive US approval for stress urinary incontinence amid concerns over liver toxicity and suicidal events; however, it was approved for this indication in the UK, where it is recommended as an add-on medication in stress urinary incontinence instead of surgery.

Medical uses

The main uses of duloxetine are in major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, urinary incontinence, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia.

Duloxetine is recommended as a first line agent for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathy by the American Society for Clinical Oncology, as a first-line therapy for fibromyalgia in the presence of mood disorders by the German Interdisciplinary Association for Pain therapy, as a Grade B recommendation for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy by the American Association for Neurology and as a level A recommendation in certain neuropathic states by the European Federation of Neurological Societies.