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Cymbalta and Weight Loss

Clinical studies of Cymbalta and weight loss have shown that up to 11 percent of people taking the medication reported a loss of appetite, and up to 2 percent of the people reported weight loss. People lost about one to three pounds on average while taking Cymbalta. Although it is not entirely clear as to why Cymbalta causes weight loss, it is believed that other side effects of the medication, such as a loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea, may contribute to the weight loss.

 

An Overview of Cymbalta and Weight Loss

Cymbalta® (duloxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to treat depression, diabetic neuropathy pain, and generalized anxiety disorder. There are a number of possible side effects of Cymbalta, and weight loss appears to be one of them. For some people, this may be a good thing. For a lot of people, though, unintended weight loss can be a problem.
 

How Common Is Weight Loss With Cymbalta?

Clinical studies of Cymbalta have shown that up to 11 percent of people taking Cymbalta reported a loss of appetite, and up to 2 percent of people reported weight loss. On average, people lost about one to three pounds while taking Cymbalta. However, it is possible for people to lose large amounts of weight while taking Cymbalta. Although weight loss may be a desirable side effect for some people, too much weight loss can be a problem.
 

Why Does Cymbalta Cause Weight Loss?

It is not entirely clear why Cymbalta can cause weight loss.
 Cymbalta can often cause loss of appetite, nausea, and diarrhea, which may contribute to weight loss. Often, these side effects go away with time. Let your healthcare provider know if these side effects do not go away over time. Also, because weight gain can be a symptom of depression, treating the depression can lead to weight loss.
 
If you are experiencing too much weight loss with Cymbalta, be sure to let your healthcare provider know.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;