Duloxetine Hcl
Brand names: Cymbalta, Drizalma Sprinkle, Duloxetine Hcl
Part of: Antidepressants
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 12,156,598
- Medicare drug cost
- $289.5M
- Average cost per prescription
- $23.81
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 228,519
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Duloxetine is indicated for the treatment of: Major depressive disorder in adults Generalized anxiety disorder in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults Fibromyalgia in adults Chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults Additional pediatric use information is approved for Eli Lilly and Company, Inc.’s CYMBALTA (duloxetine) delayed-release capsules. However, due to Eli Lilly and Company Inc.’s marketing exclusivity rights, this drug product is not labeled with that pediatric information.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated December 2024). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies. These studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior with antidepressant use in patients over age 24; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressant use in patients aged 65 and older. In patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy, monitor closely for worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Advise families and caregivers of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber.
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Family Medicine 27.1%
- Internal Medicine 19.6%
- Nurse Practitioners 17.3%
- Psychiatry 8.9%
- Physician Assistants 6.5%
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners 6.4%
- Neurology 3.0%
- Rheumatology 2.3%
- Pain Medicine 2.2%
- Geriatric Medicine 1.5%
- General Practice 0.9%
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) 0.9%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 27% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Wisconsin +47%
- South Dakota +46%
- District of Columbia +44%
- North Dakota +43%
- Washington +43%
- Mississippi (smallest change) +15%
- Connecticut (smallest change) +16%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 3 makers on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Advanced Rx of Tennessee, LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mg | blue capsule, 18 mm | DULOX 30MG |
Advanced Rx Pharmacy of Tennessee, LLC
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mg | blue capsule, 16 mm | DLX30 AP |
Carilion Materials Management
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mg | green capsule, 15 mm | LILLY 3235 20 MG |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
Drug makers reported $7,950 in payments to clinicians that named this drug in 2025 (meals, speaking, consulting and similar).
- Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc. $7,881
- Eli Lilly and Company $69
Source: CMS Open Payments, general payments (not research), program year 2025. A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing. Payments by doctor
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
17 recalls since 2020
- Jun 2026 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above FDA recommended interim limit - May 2026 · Asclemed USA Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations; presence of Nitrosamine Drug Substance Related Impurity (NDSRI), N-nitroso-duloxetine, above the FDA acceptable intake limit. - Apr 2026 · Ajanta Pharma Ltd. · Class II
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-nitroso-Duloxetine impurity above FDA recommended limit of 0.83 ppm, identified at the 12-month and 18-month long-term stability intervals. - Apr 2026 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations; presence of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above the FDA recommended limit - Nov 2025 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations; presence of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above the FDA recommended limit - Oct 2025 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations: N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above the safety assessment limit of 12.5ppm. - Aug 2025 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP deviations: N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above the proposed interim limit. - Jul 2025 · Breckenridge Pharmaceutical, Inc. · Class II
CGMP Deviations: Presence of N-nitroso-duloxetine impurity above FDA recommended interim limit.
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.