Duloxetine-related acute dysphoria.
Duloxetine is the newest addition to the US antidepressant market. In this case series, we describe what appears to be an unusual adverse reaction to duloxetine: an acute dysphoric response. This response occurred in five patients (four women and one man, all outpatients, ages 37-73 years) and manifested with either the initiation of the medication or during a dosage increase (all doses were 60mg per day or less). Among all patients, this unexpected response promptly subsided with either a dosage reduction or discontinuation of the medication. These observations suggest that a small minority of patients taking duloxetine may develop acute and dysphoric responses to the medication, which may be addressed with either a dosage reduction or discontinuation of duloxetine.
Sansone
Randy A
RA
Dr. R. Sansone is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, and Director of Psychiatry Education at Kettering Medical Center in Kettering, Ohio.
Sansone
Lori A
LA