Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an antidepressant drug that can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, headache, and anxiety, if you suddenly stop taking it. Your doctor will slowly reduce your dosage to help manage withdrawal symptoms.

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Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that may cause withdrawal symptoms if its dosage is lowered too quickly or if treatment is stopped suddenly. In this article, we discuss what to expect with Cymbalta withdrawal and ways to manage possible symptoms.

Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults

This drug has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Short studies have shown that antidepressants, such as Cymbalta, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children and young adults ages 18 to 24 years.

During your Cymbalta treatment, you should watch closely for any new or sudden changes in your behavior, feelings, moods, or thoughts. Also ask your family members, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to look for changes in your behavior or moods.

If you have thoughts of suicide during Cymbalta treatment, call 911 or your local emergency number. In the United States, you can also call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. You can also refer to this suicide prevention support article.

Talk with your doctor to learn more about this warning.

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Withdrawal is a group of symptoms that can develop when you suddenly stop taking a medication. It can also happen if you reduce your dosage too quickly or switch to another medication too fast. Withdrawal from antidepressants, such as Cymbalta, is sometimes called discontinuation syndrome.

Due to the way Cymbalta works on your central nervous system, your body can become used to the drug. So if you suddenly stop taking it, you may start to experience uncomfortable side effects.

Keep in mind that you should not stop taking the drug without first talking with your doctor. This is even if you feel better after starting Cymbalta or if you experience side effects that become bothersome. Your doctor will want to slowly taper your dosage of Cymbalta before you completely stop taking the drug. (To learn more, see the “Managing withdrawal symptoms” section.)

Withdrawal with Cymbalta can begin within a day or two of stopping the drug or lowering your dosage. This is because Cymbalta has a half-life of 12 hours. So it takes 12 hours for your body to get rid of half a dose of the drug.

If you suddenly stop taking Cymbalta, even after just a month of taking the drug, you may develop withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may last from a few days to several weeks or months. This may depend on how long you’ve been taking Cymbalta and your dosage.

Withdrawal can also happen if you miss or forget to take a dose. If you miss a dose of Cymbalta, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it’s almost time for your next dose, you can skip the missed dose and continue your usual dosing schedule. Do not take multiple doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose. If you’ve forgotten to take Cymbalta for a longer amount of time, such as 3 days, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to continue your treatment.

If you’d like to stop taking Cymbalta, talk with your doctor first. They’ll advise how to do so safely.

The following withdrawal symptoms occurred in clinical trials of Cymbalta. These occurred when treatment was suddenly stopped or the dosage was reduced too quickly:

It’s possible for Cymbalta to cause other withdrawal symptoms that have been reported with other antidepressants. They include:

If your doctor recommends you stop Cymbalta treatment, they’ll slowly lower your dosage and monitor for withdrawal symptoms. You and a close friend or family member can also watch for these symptoms. If your symptoms seem severe or life threatening, seek emergency medical help by calling 911 or your local emergency number.

Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta.

To help prevent withdrawal from Cymbalta, your doctor will taper (slowly decrease) your dose of the drug over time. For example, if you usually take the drug twice per day, your doctor may have you start taking it once per day. They’ll taper your Cymbalta dosage based on your original treatment plan and how long you’ve been taking the drug.

If you still experience withdrawal symptoms, your doctor may prescribe the previous dose you were taking and then reduce your dosage even slower than before.

Other ways to manage withdrawal symptoms

There are other ways that may help manage withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta. These include natural remedies, such as exercising, getting quality sleep, and staying hydrated. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, can also help manage discontinuation of antidepressants.

Before taking any supplements or other drugs with Cymbalta, be sure to tell your doctor. They’ll want to make sure there aren’t any interactions between Cymbalta and these products.

Cymbalta withdrawal can occur if you lower your dosage too quickly or stop taking it suddenly. If you’d like to stop taking Cymbalta, be sure to talk with your doctor first. To help avoid withdrawal symptoms, they’ll help determine the best taper schedule based on your needs.