Cymbalta - what is it?
Cymbalta, active ingredient duloxetine hydrochloride, is a medication that is available only by prescription for the treatment of conditions such as:
Chronic pain to the musculoskeletal system, such as with back or arthritis pain.
Depression, which is also referred to as clinical or major depression.
Peripheral diabetic neuropathy pain, i.e.: nerve pain in the feet, arms, hands and legs from diabetes.
GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder
Fibromyalgia
Who Manufactures Cymbalta?
Cymbalta is made by a company called Eli Lilly.
How it works
Cymbalta belongs to the class of medications known as "serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors," also called SNRIs. These medications work with the brain chemicals called norepinephrine and serotonin. These are just a couple of the many brain chemicals that help to transmit messages between the nerve cells.
While it's not exactly clear how Cymbalta helps to treat pain, it does appear that this drug works to block the signals of pain that travel in the brain and spinal cord. It is thought that this helps to ease peripheral diabetic neuropathy pain. It has not been established exactly how Cymbalta works to treat pain caused from fibromyalgia.
Potential Side Effects
As is the case with all medications, it is possible to experience side effects when being treated with Cymbalta. Not everyone that is taking this medication will notice side effects as it is generally well tolerated. If you do notice side effects they are usually mild and require little or no treatment. Less commonly reported are side effects that are serious.
Generic Forms of Cymbalta
At this time, there is no generic form of Cymbalta for sale.