Duloxetine
Duloxetine is an SNRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety and nerve pain, listed here as Cymbalta capsules in 20mg, 30mg, 40mg and 60mg.
A capsule for depression, anxiety and nerve pain
Duloxetine is an SNRI — a serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor. It keeps more of those two chemical messengers available between nerve cells. In depression and generalised anxiety that helps steady mood and take the edge off worry; in nerve pain such as diabetic neuropathy or fibromyalgia it damps the pain signals nerves send upwards. It is also used for stress urinary incontinence in women. The change comes on gradually, not on the first day.
Taking a duloxetine capsule
Capsules are swallowed whole with water. Crushing, chewing or opening one breaks the delayed-release coating that controls where the medicine is absorbed. Duloxetine is taken once or twice a day, with a meal or between meals — the timing against food does not matter, but keeping to the same routine does. Doses usually start low and go up after a week or more. The Cymbalta capsules on this page come in 20mg, 30mg, 40mg and 60mg.
Side effects, common and serious
Most people who get side effects on duloxetine get the milder ones: nausea, headache, dry mouth, dizziness or sleepiness, diarrhoea or constipation, sweating, poor sleep, weight loss, or a lower sex drive. They usually fade inside two weeks, and until they do it is wise to stay off the road and away from machinery.
A few reactions need urgent treatment. One is serotonin syndrome, which looks like a racing heart, sweating, shaking, twitching muscles and confusion. Another is a swollen throat or tongue, an itchy raised rash or trouble breathing, signs of a severe allergic reaction. Less often duloxetine brings unexplained muscle pain or weakness, or tips someone into unusually high, driven mood (mania).
Mixing it with other medicines
An MAOI, an older type of antidepressant, is never combined with duloxetine; at least 14 days are left between the two. Blood thinners and antiplatelet medicines raise the chance of bleeding alongside it. Triptans for migraine, tramadol and some other antidepressants can push serotonin levels too high. Alcohol adds to the drowsiness and dizziness.
Cymbalta capsules here
The shop lists one duloxetine product, Cymbalta, the brand-name delayed-release capsule, in 20mg, 30mg, 40mg and 60mg. Each strength is a separate line in the listing, and the capsules also turn up under the plain Duloxetine name. Same ingredient either way, so choose the strength that matches your dose.
Sources
- Duloxetine: medicine for depression and anxiety - NHS — UK National Health Service
- Antidepressants — rcpsych.ac.uk
Where can I buy Duloxetine in Hong Kong?
Duloxetine can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Cymbalta, also sold as Duloxetine capsules, as capsules in 20mg, 30mg, 40mg and 60mg. A parcel that does not arrive within its delivery window, or arrives damaged, is sent again free, and where that is not possible the order is refunded.
What is the price of Duloxetine?
It depends on the strength and pack size. The duloxetine product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Duloxetine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order duloxetine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for duloxetine?
Cymbalta is a brand name of duloxetine, which is also sold as Duzela and Yentreve. Here, duloxetine can be bought online as generic Cymbalta. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does duloxetine take to work?
Gradually. A week or two in, mood and anxiety may begin to ease; nerve pain generally lags behind by several weeks. The complete effect can take a month or longer, and a missed day here and there delays it more than a slow start does.
Can I drink alcohol with duloxetine?
Duloxetine already makes some people drowsy and dizzy, and alcohol piles more of the same on top. Early weeks carry the biggest risk of a drink landing harder than usual, so that is when to be most careful.
Is duloxetine the same as an SSRI?
No. SSRIs raise serotonin alone, while duloxetine is an SNRI, lifting serotonin and noradrenaline. That second messenger is thought to be why duloxetine eases nerve pain as well as mood and anxiety, rather than being used for low mood only.
Can I stop duloxetine suddenly?
Stopping suddenly can bring withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, tingling, vivid dreams or irritability. Lowering the dose gradually over several weeks or months avoids that, which is why duloxetine is not usually stopped in one go.
What if I forget a capsule?
Take the missed capsule as soon as you think of it, as long as your next dose is not almost due. If it is, leave the missed one and continue as normal. Taking two doses together can be dangerous.