Common questions about duloxetine

Duloxetine is a type of antidepressant known as a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

SNRIs are thought to work by increasing the amount of mood-enhancing chemicals serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain.

You may see an improvement after 2 to 4 weeks. Improvements for nerve pain may take longer.

Do not stop taking duloxetine after a week or two just because you feel it's not helping your symptoms. Give the medicine at least 6 weeks to work.

Antidepressants like duloxetine help to gradually lift your mood so you feel better.

You may notice that you sleep better and get on with people more easily because you're less anxious. You'll hopefully be more relaxed about things that used to worry you.

Do not expect to feel better overnight, though. Some people feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before they begin to feel better.

If you're taking it for nerve pain or urinary incontinence, you may also notice some of these feelings.

Duloxetine is safe to take for a long time. There are not any long-term side effects.

If you have been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off duloxetine.

Your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you've been taking duloxetine for a long time.

This is to help prevent any extra side effects you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine. These include:

• dizziness
• feeling sick
• numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• trouble sleeping
• feeling agitated or anxious
• headaches
• shaking

Duloxetine is not any better or worse than other antidepressants.

Sometimes people respond better to one treatment than to another.

If you're not feeling any better after 6 weeks, talk to your doctor.

Taking antidepressants, including duloxetine, is just one of many ways to treat depression and anxiety.

Other treatments that may help include:

• talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy
• exercise programmes
• help to get a good night's sleep

Choosing a treatment that's most suitable for you depends on:

• how long you've had depression
• your symptoms
• whether you've had any previous periods of depression
• whether previous treatment has worked
• how likely you are to stick with your treatment
• the potential side effects
• your preferences and priorities

There are also other ways to treat nerve pain and urinary incontinence.

If duloxetine is not working for you, speak to your doctor. There may be other treatments you can try.

Duloxetine does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined contraceptive pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.

However, if duloxetine makes you sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Some people cannot concentrate properly while they're taking duloxetine.

When you first start taking it, it's a good idea to stop driving and cycling, and avoid using machines or tools, for the first few days until you know how duloxetine makes you feel.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking duloxetine. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

Yes, you can drink alcohol, but it may make you feel sleepy or tired.

During the first few days of taking duloxetine, it might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

You can eat and drink normally while taking duloxetine.

Duloxetine can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight.

If you start to have problems with your weight while taking duloxetine, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Cannabis can affect the levels of duloxetine in your body and make you more likely to get side effects.

It can be dangerous to take duloxetine with:

• stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine
• hallucinogens like LSD
• novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone