Duloxetine: pharmacologic characteristics and clinical use
Tomasz Sobów

Duloxetine is a drug from the group of selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, with a more balanced profile of pharmacological action on the serotonin transporter and the norepinephrine transporter compared to a commonly used venlafaxine. Its efficacy in the treatment of depressive episodes as well as in the prevention of depression relapse has been well documented in clinical trials. Duloxetine seems to be a particularly interesting therapeutic option for patients with depression and accompanying pain and/or anxiety symptoms. Moreover, its efficacy has been also assessed in elderly population. Apart from depression, duloxetine may also be used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and beyond psychiatry – in the treatment of some pain disorders, painful diabetic neuropathy in particular. Although other indications have also been examined (including fibromyalgia, chronic low back pain, chronic pain related to osteoarthritis and stress incontinence), they have not been registered in Poland. The use of duloxetine does not require any special safety measures, with the exception of patients with alcohol-related liver disease (or any other hepatic damage), patients treated for arterial hypertension and those treated with drugs affecting haemostasis.