Duloxetine

Duloxetine is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia (a condition in which there are generalized pain and tenderness in the body), neuropathic pain, and stress urinary incontinence.

Duloxetine works by increasing the level of chemical messengers (serotonin and noradrenaline) in the brain that have a calming effect on the brain and relax the nerves, thus treating your illness. It may be taken with or without food. It is advised to take this medicine at a fixed time each day to maintain a consistent level in the blood. If you miss any doses, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. This medication mustn't be stopped suddenly as it may worsen your symptoms.

Some common side effects of this medicine include nausea, headache, and dry mouth. It even causes dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you. However, these side effects are temporary and usually resolve on their own in some time. Please consult your doctor if these do not subside or bother you.

Before taking Duloxetine, inform your doctor if you have any problems with your kidneys, heart, liver, or have a history of seizures (epilepsy or fits). Inform your doctor if you develop any unusual changes in mood or behavior, new or worsening depression, or if you have any suicidal thoughts.

• Treatment of Depression
• Treatment of Anxiety disorder
• Treatment of Diabetic nerve pain
• Treatment of Fibromyalgia
• Treatment of Neuropathic pain
• Treatment of Stress urinary incontinence

Treatment of Depression
Duloxetine increases the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that improve our mood and behavior. This creates a feeling of wellbeing, relieves anxiety, reduces tension, helps you sleep better, and increases your energy levels. It is an effective antidepressant but may cause drowsiness. You need to take it regularly as it is prescribed for it to be most effective and should not stop taking it suddenly, even if you feel better, as it may worsen your condition.

Treatment of Anxiety disorder
Duloxetine stops your brain from releasing the chemicals that make you feel anxious so it can reduce the symptoms of excessive anxiety and worry. It can also reduce feelings of restlessness, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, feeling irritable, and sleep problems that often come with Anxiety Disorder. It will therefore help you go about your daily activities more easily and be more productive. Keep taking this medicine even if you feel well. Stopping suddenly can cause serious problems.

Treatment of Diabetic nerve pain
High levels of blood sugar (glucose) levels in diabetic patients can cause damage to nerves and this can cause pain sensation. Duloxetine helps reduce this damage by affecting chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. By relieving pain, it helps improve your quality of life.

Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Duloxetine may also be used to treat pain in people with fibromyalgia. It reduces pain and also the mood changes, sleep problems, and tiredness that can be caused by the pain. It interferes with pain messages traveling through the brain. Taking this medicine regularly will have an impact on your overall quality of life. Keep taking the medicine until your doctor advises you to stop.

Treatment of Neuropathic pain
Duloxetine is used to treat long-lasting (chronic) pain caused by nerve damage due to diabetes, shingles, or spinal cord injury. It interferes with pain signals that travel through the damaged nerves and the brain. Taking this medicine regularly will improve your physical and social functioning and overall quality of life. It takes a few weeks to work so you need to take it regularly even if you feel it is not doing any good.

Treatment of Stress urinary incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence refers to the loss of urine without conscious intention. It may occur due to a disturbed state of mind and thoughts. Duloxetine helps in increasing the activity of those nerves in the brain that control muscles in our bladder that are responsible for passing urine. This helps in improving bladder control.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Betaxetine

• Nausea
• Headache
• Dryness in mouth
• Sleepiness
• Dizziness

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Duloxetine may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Duloxetine works by increasing the levels of chemical messengers (serotonin and noradrenaline), natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance and stop the movement of pain signals in the brain.

• Duloxetine helps in treating depression and anxiety.

• It may also be used to treat nerve pain from diabetes and some other forms of chronic pain.

• It may take 2 to 4 weeks for Duloxetine to start working. Keep taking it as prescribed.

• It may cause dizziness and sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.

• Avoid consuming alcohol when taking Duloxetine as it may cause excessive drowsiness and increase the risk of liver damage.

• It may cause a sensation of restlessness, especially when you first start taking it. Inform your doctor if this happens to you.

• Talk to your doctor if you notice sudden mood changes or develop suicidal thoughts.

• Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without talking to your doctor.

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