| Medication type | Antidepressant |
| Generic Name of Medication | Duloxetine-HCL |
| How to use this medication | Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well. Take with or without food. Do not stop taking this drug all of a sudden without calling your doctor. You may have a greater risk of side effects. If you need to stop this drug, you will want to slowly stop it as ordered by your doctor. Swallow whole. Do not chew, open, or crush. |
| How to store this medication | Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. |
| How to dispose of this medication | Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area. |
| Potential Side Effects | Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs of low sodium levels like headache, trouble focusing, memory problems, feeling confused, weakness, seizures, or change in balance.
Signs of bleeding like throwing up or coughing up blood; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; blood in the urine; black, red, or tarry stools; bleeding from the gums; abnormal vaginal bleeding; bruises without a cause or that get bigger; or bleeding you cannot stop.
Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
Seizures.
Trouble passing urine.
Sex problems have happened with drugs like this one. This includes lowered interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, ejaculation problems, or trouble getting or keeping an erection.
Liver problems have happened with this drug. Rarely, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
A severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause severe health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death.
Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes. |
| What to tell your doctor before taking this medication | If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease.
If you are taking any of these drugs: Ciprofloxacin or fluvoxamine.
If you are taking any of these drugs: Linezolid or methylene blue.
If you have taken certain drugs for depression or Parkinson's disease in the last 14 days. This includes isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, selegiline, or rasagiline. Very high blood pressure may happen. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems.
Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor. |
| Be sure to tell all your health providers | Yes. Especially when doing lab tests. |
