Cymbalta Overdose: An Introduction
Cymbalta® (
duloxetine hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine used to treat the following conditions:
As with all medicines, it is possible for a person to overdose on Cymbalta. The effects of a Cymbalta overdose will vary depending on a number of factors, including how much Cymbalta was taken and whether it was taken with any other medicines.
Symptoms of a Cymbalta Overdose
If a person overdoses on Cymbalta, the symptoms can vary.
Cymbalta overdose symptoms can include:
A Cymbalta overdose can also cause a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- A fast heartbeat
- Feeling faint
- Fever
- Sweating
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty walking
- Diarrhea.
Treatment for a Cymbalta Overdose
The treatment for a
Cymbalta overdose will vary. If the Cymbalta overdose was recent, the healthcare provider may use certain medicines or place a tube into the stomach to "pump the stomach." Treatment may also involve supportive care. This type of care consists of treating the symptoms that occur as a result of the overdose. For example, supportive treatment options for a Cymbalta overdose may include:
- Fluids through an intravenous line (IV)
- Medicines to increase blood pressure, control an irregular heart rhythm, or control seizures
- Close monitoring of the heart and lungs
- A breathing tube to help with breathing
- Other treatments based on the complications that occur.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately if you believe that you may have overdosed on Cymbalta.
