In addition to depression, doctors can prescribe Cymbalta to treat anxiety that lasts for at least six months, pain from diabetic nerve damage, fibromyalgia, and long-term muscle or bone pain.
Cymbalta is in a class of medications called serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
It works by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which help regulate mood and may block pain signals traveling through the brain.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved duloxetine in 2004 under the brand name Cymbalta for the Lilly drug company.
In 2013, the FDA announced that it had approved generic versions of duloxetine for several drug companies.
Cymbalta could also help ease pain associated with osteoarthritis, according to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice in 2012.
The researchers noted that use of Cymbalta could result in fewer side effects than the drugs traditionally used for the condition, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, which can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding, and opioids like morphine, which often lead to constipation.
They concluded that doctors may consider adding antidepressants, such as Cymbalta to the treatment regimens for patients with osteoarthritis.
