Cymbalta (Duloxetine) For Back Pain

Cymbalta, the trade name for duloxetine, is an antidepressant medication that is widely used in the management of anxiety and clinical depression. However, its applications do not end there and off late, Cymbalta has been used in the management of musculoskeletal pain, particularly back pain. In this article, we shall take a brief look at this drug and the applications of Cymbalta for pain management.

Cymbalta for pain relief

Recently, the US FDA approved the use of Cymbalta in the management of musculoskeletal pain. Musculoskeletal pain can be of numerous different types and the most common one that affects individuals is back pain. Back pain is seen in people of different ages and can be due to a previous history of injury or trauma and osteoarthritis. Back pain can be acute or chronic and can be due to problems with the spine or problems with the nerves that emerge from the spine.

It may come as a surprise that Cymbalta is useful for pain relief, given that it is primarily used in the treatment of depression. However, studies have demonstrated its great effectiveness in managing low back pain and the currently recommended dose is a 60 mg tablet once-a-day.

The exact mechanism of pain relief obtained through Cymbalta is unclear but it appears it may be due to its underlying serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition. This pathway is involved in pain and blocking this can help relieve pain. This mechanism of action makes Cymbalta for chronic pain relief an ideal solution.

The use of Cymbalta for back pain is not just limited to skeletal disorders but can also be useful in the management of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a clinical condition characterised by aches and pains all over the body due to problems with the muscle. The exact mechanism of action of Cymbalta in managing this form of back pain is yet again not clearly understood that appears to be similar to what has been previously described above.

When taking Cymbalta, the side-effect profile must be borne in mind. Side-effects are minimal and can include nausea, lack of sleep, constipation, dizziness and dry mouth. Serious side-effects are not very common but must be kept an eye out for. They can include damage to the liver, skin rash and swelling in the face (likely due to an allergic reaction), depression and suicidal ideation. Less than 1 in a 100 patients who take Cymbalta actually develops the side-effects.

Cymbalta though effective as a single therapy in managing musculoskeletal pain may be able to treat to different clinical conditions with the same dose. For example, patients suffering from depression and muscular skeletal pain can benefit from single drug therapy rather than taking multiple treatments.

Cymbalta i.e. duloxetine is an antidepressant agent that has powerful analgesic properties. Cymbalta for nerve pain and back pain is an excellent choice in the event that other regular painkillers do not work. Side-effects must be borne in mind the drug is often prescribed by a registered medical practitioners only if the benefits outweigh the risks.