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All price changes →Loxetine
Rx20 mg • Tablet (Delayed Release)
More from Loxetine
Other strengths and forms by Advanced Chemical Industries PLC.
Indications & Uses
Loxetine is indicated for:
Pharmacology
Duloxetine Hydrochloride is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) that you take by mouth. It also inhibits dopamine reuptake, but less strongly. In vitro, Duloxetine has no significant affinity for dopaminergic, adrenergic, cholinergic, histaminergic, opioid, glutamate and GABA receptors, and it does not inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO).
When taken by mouth, Duloxetine hydrochloride is well absorbed. The body clears it mainly through metabolism in the liver.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Duloxetine in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) starts at 40 mg/day to 60 mg/day. In the acute phase the target is 40 mg/day (20 mg twice daily) to 60 mg/day, which can be taken once daily or as 30 mg twice daily. For maintenance the target is 60 mg/day, and the maximum dose is 120 mg/day.
In Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the starting dose is 60 mg/day. The target is also 60 mg/day, taken once daily, and the maximum is 120 mg/day.
For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain (DPNP), treatment starts at 60 mg/day. The target is 60 mg/day (once daily) and the maximum is 60 mg/day.
Fibromyalgia starts at 30 mg/day. The target is 60 mg/day (once daily), and the maximum is 60 mg/day.
Chronic musculoskeletal pain follows the same pattern. The starting dose is 30 mg/day, the target is 60 mg/day (once daily) and the maximum is 60 mg/day.
Some patients may benefit from starting at 30 mg once daily. There is no evidence that doses greater than 60 mg/day give any additional benefit, and some adverse reactions were seen to be dose-dependent. When duloxetine is to be stopped, a gradual dose reduction is recommended to avoid discontinuation symptoms.
Side Effects
People taking Duloxetine Hydrochloride most often reported nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, somnolence, increased sweating, hyperhidrosis and asthenia. It may slightly increase blood pressure. In patients treated with Duloxetine Hydrochloride, no clinically significant differences were seen in the QT, PR and QRS intervals when compared with patients given placebo.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Anyone taking an antidepressant, whatever the reason it was prescribed, needs to be watched closely for the condition getting worse, for suicidal thoughts and for unusual changes in behaviour. This matters most in the first few months of treatment and whenever the dose is changed. Blood pressure should be checked before Duloxetine Hydrochloride is started and then measured from time to time during treatment. Patients should be told about the risk of bleeding when Duloxetine Hydrochloride is used together with NSAIDs, aspirin or other drugs that affect coagulation. The medicine should be used with caution in patients who have a history of mania, and it should also be prescribed with care in patients who have a history of a seizure disorder.
Contraindications
Duloxetine must not be given to anyone who is known to be hypersensitive to the medicine or to any of its inactive ingredients. It is not approved for treating bipolar depression. Doctors should also avoid prescribing duloxetine to patients who use a substantial amount of alcohol or who show signs of chronic liver disease. In clinical trials, duloxetine was linked with a higher risk of mydriasis (widening of the pupil), so it should be used with caution in patients who have controlled narrow-angle glaucoma.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Pregnancy: Duloxetine is Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, so it should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Labor and Delivery: The effect of Duloxetine on labor and delivery in humans is unknown. It should be used during labor and delivery only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
Lactation: It is unknown whether Duloxetine or its metabolites pass into human milk. Even so, nursing while on Duloxetine is not recommended.
⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Use in Special Populations
Children and adolescents: the safety and efficacy of duloxetine hydrochloride in pediatric patients have not been established.
Overdose
Doctors have limited clinical experience with Loxetine overdose in humans, and there is no specific antidote. In an acute overdose, treatment follows the general measures used for an overdose of any drug. The airway, oxygenation and ventilation should be kept adequate, and the cardiac rhythm and vital signs should be monitored.
Inducing vomiting is not recommended. Gastric lavage with a large-bore orogastric tube, with proper protection of the airway if needed, may be indicated if it is done soon after ingestion or in patients who already have symptoms. Activated charcoal may help limit how much Loxetine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.
⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Storage
Store Duloxetine Hydrochloride below 30°C and away from light. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Drug Interactions
Common questions about Loxetine 20 mg
What is Loxetine 20 mg Tablet (Delayed Release)?
Loxetine 20 mg Tablet (Delayed Release) is a medicine that contains Duloxetine Hydrochloride. It is made by Advanced Chemical Industries PLC. It belongs to the Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) group of medicines.
What is Loxetine used for?
Loxetine is used for: Neuropathic Pain, Pain, Depression, Anxiety.
What are the side effects of Loxetine?
People taking Duloxetine Hydrochloride most often reported nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue, somnolence, increased sweating, hyperhidrosis and asthenia. It may slightly increase blood pressure.
Can I take Loxetine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnancy: Duloxetine is Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, so it should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
What happens if I take too much Loxetine?
Doctors have limited clinical experience with Loxetine overdose in humans, and there is no specific antidote. In an acute overdose, treatment follows the general measures used for an overdose of any drug. In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
How should I store Loxetine?
Store Duloxetine Hydrochloride below 30°C and away from light. Keep it out of the reach of children.
Can I take other medicines with Loxetine?
Some medicines can interact with Duloxetine Hydrochloride, for example: Ciprofloxacin, Cimetidine, Fluvoxamine Maleate. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about every medicine you take.
Is there a cheaper medicine with the same ingredient?
Loxetine is already among the lowest-priced brands of Duloxetine Hydrochloride at this strength.
Do I need a prescription for Loxetine?
Loxetine is a prescription (Rx) medicine. Take it as your doctor advises.