FDA approved

Generic for Cymbalta®Duloxetine

Starting at $49/mo

Getting psychiatric care for anxiety and depression has never been simpler. Consult with a licensed healthcare provider to determine whether a medication like duloxetine could be right for you.

Details

icon

Prescribed by a healthcare provider experienced in treating anxiety & depression, if appropriate

icon

Unlimited provider messaging

icon

Unlimited dosage adjustments

What is duloxetine?

Duloxetine is an antidepressant, specifically an SNRI (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). Duloxetine was first approved by the FDA in 2004 and sold under the brand names Cymbalta and others. Duloxetine was first approved by the FDA in 2004 and sold under the brand names Cymbalta® and others.

Duloxetine uses

Duloxetine is FDA approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). It is also indicated for certain other conditions related to nerve pain including diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain. Treatment for nerve pain is not available through our platform. Those seeking care for nerve pain should consider seeing a medical provider outside our platform to evaluate potential options for treatment.

How duloxetine works

Duloxetine is an SNRI and works by discouraging nerves in the brain (neurons) from absorbing two substances, serotonin and norepinephrine, thereby increasing their levels in the brain. This can have beneficial effects on psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression.

* Only available if prescribed after an online consultation with a healthcare provider.

* Controlled substances such as Xanax and Adderall are not available through our platform.

* This page has been medically reviewed by Sylvia Valadez, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC.

Important Safety Information

Select your plan

try it out

Generic for Cymbalta®

How to get duloxetine online with Hims

1. Simple consultation

Complete an online mental health assessment and intake form, then connect with a healthcare provider through our platform.

2. Free delivery

Get duloxetine shipped to you for free, if prescribed.

3. Ongoing support

Enjoy secure, ongoing support 100% online—including refills and unlimited dosage adjustments.

Duloxetine 101

What’s an SNRI?

Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) zero in on mood-affecting chemicals in the brain and help to regulate their levels to improve your symptoms. Nice, right?

The science of duloxetine

Your brain naturally produces chemicals that make you feel good, like serotonin and norepinephrine. Duloxetine keeps neurons from reabsorbing these chemicals so that you have more of them available in your brain. Long story short? This can help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Featured reviews

Real results from guys like you

Kyle

“I truly felt like Hims took my symptoms and how I felt into careful consideration. Now, I know I can reach out to my practitioner at any time on my phone and can make adjustments as needed.”

 

Verified review

Sam

“I was able to secure an online appointment way faster than I had imagined and was back on my regular medication schedule within maybe a week or so of that consultation.”

 

Verified review

Nick

“I found support that I rarely experienced in a traditional clinical setting. They made me feel like there was no reason not to get help. No judgment. No unnecessary tests. Just support and solutions.”
 

Verified review

Jeff

“The process could not have been easier! I submitted a form and within the day I was chatting with a provider. I never felt judged.”
 

Verified review

Justin

“It has given me the treatment I needed without the hassle and perceived stigmas. I can’t thank Hims enough.”
 

Verified review

These customers’ results have not been independently verified. Individual results will vary. Customers were given free product.

Felt better

Over 75% of Hims customers who checked in with their provider reported improvements in their mental health symptoms.*

* Results vary. Data were self-reported between 11/26/2021 and 08/01/2022 by Hims customers who 1) signed up between 11/04/2021 and 05/04/2022; 2) were prescribed antidepressant medication by a provider after their first consultation on the Hims platform; and 3) had an active subscription for such antidepressant medication through the Hims platform within 90 days after signing up.


You’re in good hands

Before they're accepted to the pool of professionals we work with, all healthcare providers undergo a rigorous vetting process. They have years of experience and they’re ready to help with whatever you’re going through.

Frequently asked questions about duloxetine

How does duloxetine (generic for Cymbalta) make you feel?

When taken as prescribed, duloxetine has been shown to treat symptoms of anxiety and depression. Notably, studies show duloxetine has an analgesic effect on painful physical symptoms of MDD, and this effect is partially independent of improvement in MDD.

How long does it take for duloxetine (generic for Cymbalta) to work?

Duloxetine was shown to be effective as a treatment for anxiety and depression in clinical trials lasting 8-10 weeks. Consult with your healthcare provider if you do not think your condition is getting better.

Does duloxetine (generic for Cymbalta) cause weight gain?

According to one study in JAMA Psychiatry, duloxetine was associated with a slight increase in weight after initial prescription. However, this increase was approximately 1% of body weight over 12 months, which was less than other antidepressant medication options.

Does duloxetine (generic for Cymbalta) help with anxiety?

Duloxetine is FDA-approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder. However, duloxetine is not for people who experience occasional anxiety caused by normal life events.

How can I buy duloxetine online?

Start a consultation with a psychiatrist or other qualified psychiatry provider online through our platform. If prescribed duloxetine, genuine duloxetine hcl will be shipped to you discreetly. You’ll have ongoing check-ins with a health care provider to evaluate whether your treatment plan is working.

What are the side effects of duloxetine?

While the risk of side effects that are serious is low, you should seek medical advice or medical help if you experience any of the following side effects:
  • suicidal thoughts
  • easy bruising or uncontrolled bleeding
  • mania
  • blurred vision
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • excessive headaches
  • vomiting or coughing up blood
  • serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • lightheadedness, loss of coordination, or low blood pressure
  • difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest
Discuss any side effects you experience with your provider.

What are potential drug interactions with duloxetine?

Duloxetine can interact with a variety of substances, including some common medications as well as supplements. Substances that may interact include but are not limited to: other antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), St. John's Wort, L-tryptophan and more. Risk of serotonin syndrome (toxicity when there is too much serotonin in the system) increases when combined with any substance that increases serotonin.

Who should not take duloxetine?

People who suffer from medical conditions such as uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, kidney disease, liver problems or high blood pressure should not take duloxetine without discussing with their healthcare provider. Additionally, be sure to mention if you have any of the following medical conditions:
  • diabetes
  • hyponatremia
  • mania
  • seizures
  • urinary tract obstruction
Before taking duloxetine, you should also talk to your healthcare professional about any over-the-counter or prescription drugs you are currently taking. Some important medications to mention include antihistamines, blood thinners, MAOIs, amphetamines, aspirin, warfarin, ibuprofen, rasagiline, and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

What should I do if I miss a dose of duloxetine?

If you miss a dose of duloxetine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is near the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose. If you miss more than one dose in a row, be sure to notify your healthcare provider.

Can I drink alcohol with duloxetine?

On their own, both Cymbalta (duloxetine) and alcohol have the potential to cause liver damage or worsened depression. Taken together, the risk for serious side effects may increase. Seek medical advice from your healthcare professional before drinking alcohol while taking duloxetine.

Learn more about duloxetine

Important safety information

Learn more about duloxetine

Important safety information

Important Safety Information

Do not take Duloxetine if you:
  • are allergic to Duloxetine, or any of the ingredients in Duloxetine
  • take any medicines called monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), or if you have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days
  • have a medical history of a liver disease
  • are drinking alcohol
  • are using or abusing recreation drugs or prescription medications
Duloxetine can cause serious side effects. Rarely reported side effects include:
  • liver failure, sometimes fatal
  • orthostatic hypotension,a drop in blood pressure when standing or getting up from sleep
  • increased risk of bleeding
  • increased heart rate
  • irregular menstrual cycle
  • frequency of urination or difficulty urinating
  • angle closure glaucoma (symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around eye)
  • serotonin syndrome (symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death)
  • hypertensive crisis
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (rash)
  • pancreatitis
Before you take Duloxetine, tell your healthcare provider if you:
  • have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
  • have a history of psychiatric or medical problems, including bipolar disorder
  • have taken any medication in the past for your condition, whether effective or not
  • have suffered adverse or side effects from previous medication therapies
  • are receiving any non-medication treatment, such as talk therapy
  • drink alcohol or use/abuse recreational or prescription drugs
  • are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and recreational drugs.
Duloxetine may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect the way Duloxetine works, causing side effects. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take any of the following:
  • any other serotonergic medications, migraine medications (triptans), pain medications, antibiotic linezolid, amphetamines
  • anticoagulant therapy
  • cimetidine (Tagamet®)
  • ciprofloxacin (Cipro®)
During treatment with this medication, the side effects of this medication may go away as your body adjusts to the medication. The most common side effects of Duloxetine: headache, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, increased sweating, feeling nervous, restless, fatigued, sleepy or having trouble sleeping (insomnia). Sexual side effects (such as problems with orgasm or ejaculatory delay) or increased blood pressure. These often do not improve over time.
Duloxetine is a prescription medicine used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), fibromyalgia, and chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Swallow the capsule whole. Do not break, crush or chew it. If you miss a dose of duloxetine take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.
Do not abruptly stop taking Duloxetine even when you feel better. Abruptly stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms including: vomiting, irritability, dizziness, headaches, sensation of tingling skin, or nightmares.
Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia. If these symptoms emerge, they should be reported to the patient’s prescriber or healthcare professional. All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their healthcare provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.
If you no longer need your medication, the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately. You can use the DEA DIVERSION CONTROL DIVISION LOOKUP to find your nearest drug disposal site.
If no drug take back sites, locations, or programs are available in your area, and there are no specific disposal instructions (such as flushing) in the medication guide or package insert, you can follow these simple steps to dispose of most medicines in your trash at home:
  • Mix medicines (liquid or pills; do not crush tablets or capsules) with an unappealing substance such as dirt, cat litter, or used coffee grounds;
  • Place the mixture in a container such as a sealed plastic bag;
  • Throw away the container in your trash at home; and
  • Delete all personal information on the prescription label of empty medicine bottles or medicine packaging, then trash or recycle the empty bottle or packaging.
741-741

If you're in emotional distress, text HOME to 741-741 to connect with a Crisis Text Line counselor immediately.

911

If you’re having a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to your local ER.

Mental health supplements

Activate your best self. For help getting your decompress on and experiencing your best rest try our mental health wellness supplements.

Sleep Tight Gummies

A delicious dose of snooze to help you go from counting sheep to getting Zzzzs

Additional fees may apply


More for your mind

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) 101

When Does Cymbalta Start Working?

* Controlled substances, including amphetamines (such as Adderall) or benzodiazepines (such as Xanax and Valium) are not available through our platform.