Cymbalta

This leaflet answers some common questions about CYMBALTA. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking CYMBALTA against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

CYMBALTA is used to treat major depressive disorder (depression), Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (nerve pain caused by diabetes) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder (excessive worry).

CYMBALTA belongs to a group of medicines called Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). SNRIs are believed to work by their action on serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. Serotonin and noradrenaline are the chemical messengers responsible for controlling the psychological and painful physical symptoms of depression.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

CYMBALTA is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.

Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

This could increase the chance of you having liver problems during treatment with CYMBALTA.

If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.

If you have high blood pressure or heart problems your doctor may monitor your blood pressure.

CYMBALTA should only be used in pregnancy if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Your doctor can discuss with you the risks and benefits involved.

When taken in the last 3 months of pregnancy, CYMBALTA may affect your newborn baby. They may experience symptoms such as irritability, constant crying, feeding difficulties, vomiting, fluctuating temperature, seizures, tremors, jitteriness, bluish appearance (cyanosis), breathing interruptions, wheezing or shallow breathing, low blood sugar, muscle stiffness, muscle weakness, or overresponsive reflexes, These symptoms are uncommon and may be due to the effect of CYMBALTA or the discontinuation of CYMBALTA. These symptoms usually begin immediately after the baby is born, or within a few days of birth, and should only last for a short time. If this happens to your baby, you should contact your doctor and/or midwife immediately.

Taking CYMBALTA during pregnancy may increase the risk of pre-term birth. If you take CYMBALTA near the end of your pregnancy, there may be an increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after birth. Tell your doctor or midwife if you are taking CYMBALTA so that they can advise you.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding while on CYMBALTA is not recommended.

Drinking too much alcohol could increase the chance of you having liver problems during treatment with CYMBALTA.

Some medicines and CYMBALTA may interfere with each other. These include:

These medicines may be affected by CYMBALTA or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.

Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

The usual recommended dose of CYMBALTA in Major Depressive Disorder or Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain is one 60 mg capsule taken once daily.

The recommended dose of CYMBALTA in Generalised Anxiety Disorder is between 30 mg and 120 mg, taken once daily.

Your doctor may start you on a lower dose to help reduce side effects.

If you have severe kidney disease, the recommended starting dose of CYMBALTA is one 30 mg capsule taken once daily.

CYMBALTA may be taken with or without meals.

Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.

The length of treatment with CYMBALTA will depend on how quickly your symptoms improve. Most medicines of this type take time to work so don't be discouraged if you do not feel better right away.

Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of an overdose may include drowsiness, convulsions, and vomiting. Symptoms may also include some or all of the following: feeling confused, feeling restless, sweating, shaking, shivering, hallucinations, muscle jerks, fast heart beat.

Your doctor may do some tests from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects.

Occasionally, the symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first one or two months of treatment, until the full antidepressant effect of the medicine becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur in young adults under 25 years of age.

Suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes may also worsen when the dose of CYMBALTA is increased or decreased.

Your doctor may do some blood tests to check your liver or tell you to stop taking your medicine. Signs of liver problems include:

These may be signs of serious liver damage.

If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects like dizziness, nausea, headache, tingling or numbness, fatigue, vomiting, irritability, nightmares, difficulty sleeping, diarrhoea, anxiety, excessive sweating, drowsiness, imbalance, and muscle pain. If possible, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount you take each day before stopping the medicine completely.

CYMBALTA may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. It may also impair your judgment, affect your thinking or motor skills.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol during treatment with CYMBALTA can cause severe liver injury.

Drinking alcohol with this medicine may also cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

This medicine helps many people with depression, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

The following side effects are the more common side effects of CYMBALTA and are often mild and short-lived.

These are the more common side effects of your medicine.

You may need urgent medical attention.

Other changes you may not be aware of:

These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.

If you take the capsules out of the pack they may not keep as well.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

CYMBALTA 30 mg capsules have an opaque white body and opaque blue cap imprinted with "9543" and "30 mg" using green ink and are available in packs of 7 (starter packs) and 28.

CYMBALTA 60 mg capsules have an opaque green body and opaque blue cap imprinted with "9542" and "60 mg" using white ink and are available in packs of 7 (starter packs) and 28.

This medicine does not contain lactose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Eli Lilly Australia Pty Ltd

112 Wharf Road

WEST RYDE NSW 2114

 

^®= Registered Trademark

30 mg capsules: AUST R 120382

60 mg capsules: AUST R 120389

 

This leaflet was prepared in October 2022.

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