{"id":60989,"date":"2023-10-30T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T13:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60989"},"modified":"2026-04-09T18:17:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T22:17:29","slug":"cymbalta-constipation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/cymbalta-constipation\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Cymbalta cause constipation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Constipation is uncomfortable \u2014 sometimes even painful. It is also a very common condition. About 16% of people in the United States live with chronic constipation. Constipation has many causes, ranging from lifestyle factors to underlying medical conditions. Constipation is also a common side effect of many medications\u2014including antidepressants like <\/span>Cymbalta<\/span><\/a>. Other common <\/span>Cymbalta<\/span><\/a> side effects include nausea, drowsiness, and dry mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cymbalta (<\/span>duloxetine HCl<\/span><\/a>) is a delayed-release <\/span>serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor<\/span><\/a> (SNRI) used to treat mental health conditions such as major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. It is also prescribed to treat some chronic nerve or musculoskeletal pain disorders such as fibromyalgia or diabetic neuropathy. Duloxetine works by increasing both serotonin and norepinephrine levels, differentiating it from selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like <\/span>Prozac<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>fluoxetine<\/span><\/a>) and <\/span>Paxil<\/span><\/a> (paroxetine), which only increase serotonin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n<\/span>RELATED: <\/b>Foods and drugs to avoid while taking Cymbalta<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Does Cymbalta cause constipation?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Constipation is a common side effect of Cymbalta. In placebo-controlled clinical trials, about 10% of patients taking Cymbalta reported this reaction to the medication. Other common adverse effects included nausea, headache, dry mouth, and decreased appetite (which could lead to weight loss).<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, Cymbalta is not the only medication that causes constipation. <\/span>Many antidepressants<\/span><\/a>, especially tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil (<\/span>amitriptyline<\/span><\/a>), are linked with constipation. Paxil (paroxetine), an SSRI antidepressant, <\/span>has been associated<\/span><\/a> with the highest risk of constipation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Relationship between Cymbalta and constipation<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many antidepressants have \u201canticholinergic properties,\u201d says<\/span> Jodie Pepin<\/span><\/a>, Pharm.D., the clinical pharmacy program director at <\/span>Harbor Health<\/span><\/a>. This means they block a neurotransmitter called <\/span>acetylcholine<\/span><\/a>, which plays a role in the body\u2019s digestive fluid production and process of moving food through your intestines. Although Cymbalta has a minimal range of anticholinergic side effects, it may cause sluggish intestinal movement and dry stool, which may lead to constipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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