DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE! We do not employ doctors or licensed medical professionals, so we do not provide medical advice. Nothing presented here is a substitute for the advice of a DOCTOR or other licensed health care provider. Never stop, start or add medications or supplements to your health or mental health care regime without first checking for interactions or other problems, and thoroughly researching the substance. Before you employ any information here, consult your health care professional. No information here is the result of valid clinical trials.

Pregnancy and Cymbalta

Disclaimer, warnings and suggestions

  • CHW does not give medical advice.  We give suggestions based on members’ experiences and the ideas of various specialists.  We are always here to support you but we cannot make decisions for you.
  • Pregnancy is not a good time to start experimenting with medication.  The pregnant woman goes through so many changes to her body and emotions.
  • It is always a good idea to do a search in CHW to see what other people have experienced, but what they have experienced doesn’t necessarily relate to what will happen to you.
  • It is NEVER a good time to go cold turkey or reduce Cymbalta very quickly.  The risks are documented here:
  • However, it is necessary to consider what steps to take during pregnancy when taking any medication at all.
  • It is essential to tell your doctor exactly what drugs and supplements you are on and do your own interaction check as well: https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html
  • Members are always responsible for making their own decisions relating to taking medication.  We encourage you to self-advocate with your doctors at all times. There are suggestions here:

How to taper when pregnant

“It depends a lot on the dose and duration of exposure. If both are low, then a rapid taper is preferred and better tolerated in pregnancy than at non-pregnant times. (I surmise because of the cortisol component).

If, however, there is a long history of use, then a slower taper is recommended because the stress to physiology can be very extreme.”

Dr. K. Brogan

Moderators will do their best to help you interpret this in your own individual situation.


From personal experience

My daughter was on 30mg all through and now has a very chatty 2 year old. If you decide to stay on this drug throughout your pregnancy, print out a list of all drugs that interact. I am glad I did when we went to see the anaesthetist as there were some drugs that could be given if needed that interacted.  

Also, I cannot stress enough: it is really important that they know you are taking this drug – make them listen.

I was worried sick, which is why I am a member of Cymbalta Hurts Worse and heard from a lot of mums when I asked about it.

The Drs wanted to change to another drug, but after researching, my daughter refused. I was relieved she stayed on Cymbalta, although the baby can get withdrawals. They will have to watch the baby. My grandson was ok, no reactions at all, but I do feel that may not be the case for everyone.  A.T.


Cymbalta Package Insert

  • Advise women to notify their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during treatment with CYMBALTA.
  • Advise pregnant women or patients who intend to become pregnant that CYMBALTA use during the month before delivery may lead to an increased risk for postpartum haemorrhage and may increase the risk of neonatal complications requiring prolonged hospitalization, respiratory support, and tube feeding.
  • Advise pregnant women that there is a risk of relapse with discontinuation of antidepressants.
  • Advise patients that there is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to duloxetine during pregnancy [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].
  • Lactation ― Advise breastfeeding women using CYMBALTA to monitor infants for sedation, poor feeding and poor weight gain and to seek medical care if they notice these signs [see Use in Specific Populations (8.2)].
  • Interference with Psychomotor Performance – CYMBALTA may be associated with sedation and dizziness.

In summary, this tells us:

  • you should talk to your doctor
  • taking Cymbalta in the 9th month may give you and your baby serious problems at and after the birth
  • not taking Cymbalta may bring back depression, if that was why you were taking it
  • you can (and should?) sign the exposure registry
  • there may be effects on a baby that is breast-fed
  • you may suffer lack of concentration, dizziness, lack of control of muscles
  • you should not drive or similar until you know how you are responding.

Links

Since CHW is against taking any psychotropic drugs, we are wary of suggesting the following links, but they do seem to be helpful.

  • This link raises questions over the use of antidepressants during pregnancy.

https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/12/antidepressants-pregnancy-says-safe/?fbclid=IwAR3rJ-4DrwRwLhWDTJ8vG4DaGGrXZkjzktuUrNPsmcnueVELfeBrKbrHrlQ

  • This is a link to information for mothers-to-be taking Duloxetine, which is the same medication as Cymbalta.

https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/duloxetine/

  • This will take you to the National Pregnancy Registry.

https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants/

  • This final link explains clearly what happens to your body during pregnancy and how this might change the effects of any medication.

https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/medication/medication-and-pregnancy-5270

It also takes us to a mass of statistical data. Unless you have the time, mental ability and knowledge of statistics to understand it, don’t even attempt to read it.

The conclusion points out that there is no real evidence to suggest that using Duloxetine leads to any more problems in pregnancy than not using it.

It acknowledges there is insufficient data but this is increasing steadily, as people complete the information on such sites as the pregnancy register mentioned above.