• Cymbalta

    Research from the CWMH: Duloxetine for Menopausal Symptoms

    A substantial proportion of women transitioning into menopause experience a new onset or recurrence of depressive symptoms.  A new study from the Center for Women’s Mental Health indicates that duloxetine (Cymbalta) is effective for the treatment of depression and may also have a beneficial effect on vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats).

    Duloxetine and Pregnancy: Preliminary Data

    Duloxetine (sold in the United Sates under the brand name of Cymbalta) is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) effective for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).  Although used fairly commonly in women of child-bearing age, information regarding its reproductive safety has been lacking.

    What Would You Do? A Pregnant Women on Duloxetine (Cymbalta)

    Ms. A is a 27-year-old woman who is seven weeks pregnant and is currently taking duloxetine (Cymbalta).  She has a history of recurrent major depressive disorder (MDD) and has had a good response to duloxetine at 60 mg per day.  She has had four previous episodes of major depressive disorder (most untreated) and has been in remission for one year.  Past episodes have lasted up to six months and caused difficulty with functioning at work and in relationships, although she was not diagnosed and treated until one year ago. 

    Duloxetine for the Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms and Mood in Postmenopausal Women

    Depression is common in postmenopausal women suffering from menopausal vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats) and insomnia. While estrogen replacement therapy may alleviate these symptoms and may also have a positive impact on mood, the use of estrogen has declined over recent years. There has been great interest in finding alternative strategies for the management of menopausal symptoms, and recent data suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), venlafaxine, may be effective for the treatment of depression and vasomotor symptoms in peri- and postmenopausal women. In a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Hadine Joffe and her colleagues at the Center of Women’s Mental Health presented data on the use of duloxetine (Cymbalta), a new SNRI, for the treatment of mood, vasomotor symptoms, and insomnia in postmenopausal women.

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