Duloxetine as a Treatment for Mood Disorders and Chronic Pain in Varied Patient Populations

Course overview

Duloxetine is an antidepressant that acts as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. It is approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder, chronic musculoskeletal pain, diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. Individuals diagnosed with chronic liver disease should avoid duloxetine treatment due to the risk of liver damage. Other warnings pertaining to the risk of suicidal thoughts in youth, pregnancy, and comorbid conditions need to be raised with patients prior to initiating treatment. An emphasis is placed on differential diagnosis and the options for treating varied patient groups with duloxetine. When deciding the dosing regimen for duloxetine during early initiation of treatment and when evaluating patient progress, consideration should be given to the patient's age, comorbidities, and quality of life goals, in addition to any possible drug-drug interactions.