Duloxetine

Dosage Forms Available

• Duloxetine is available for use via oral route in the form of tablets and capsules.

Age and Dose Restrictions

• This medicine is meant for adults.

Contraindications

• Duloxetine is contraindicated in patients with known allergies to duloxetine and in patients with severe liver and kidney disease, who are taking fluvoxamine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Other Medications to Avoid

• Duloxetine may interact with other medications, including antiplatelet medications like clopidogrel, blood thinners such as warfarin, NSAIDs like ibuprofen, certain quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, and MAO inhibitors like linezolid.

Overdose and Missed Dose

• An overdose of this medicine may cause symptoms like sleepiness, coma, serotonin syndrome, fits, vomiting and fast heart rate. Contact your doctor if you take more than you should. 
• If you forget to take this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. But avoid repeating the dose.

Management of Side Effects

• Most side effects are temporary and generally harmless and resolve when discontinuing this medicine. However, if you experience any severe side effects or worsening of any of the symptoms, please consult your doctor.

Use in Driving and Operating Machinery

• This medication may impair your ability to drive or operate machinery. Avoid heavy work while you are on it.

Use in Pregnancy and Lactation

• Take this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding only if prescribed by your doctor.

Caution in Other Conditions

• Patients who have kidney or liver problems, a history of bleeding disorders, eye disorders, have had seizures, suffer from bipolar disorder, and are at risk of low sodium levels should exercise caution when taking this medicine.

Special Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations

• Consume nutritious foods that might elevate your mood in general. Eliminating junk food is the simplest approach to achieve this. Avoid foods heavy in saturated fats and incorporate foods strong in omega-3s and omega-6s, such as fish, nuts, fresh produce, and olive oil, into your diet.
• Amino acids are the building blocks of the neurotransmitters that are in charge of maintaining mental wellness. Eat more foods high in amino acids because they are known to have a positive impact on mental wellness.
• Since exercise increases the body's production of antidepressants, which help to reduce depression, it is the finest approach to relax the body.
• If you are overweight, try to regulate your weight according to your body mass index since losing weight can greatly enhance your health and sense of self. Meditation can effectively release stress and relax the body. 
• Exercises involving deep breathing can help reduce stress and enhance sleep. Make sure you get 7 to 8 hours of good sleep each night because the brain does not relax when you lie awake in bed.