Duloxetine -: a new option for the treatment of depression and painful somatic symptoms

The list of antidepressants goes on forever, their use, however, is limited by adverse events, slow onset of action and poor remission rates. Since the selective serotonin-norephinephrine-reuptake-inhibitor duloxetine (Cymbalta (R)) was approved, a new option for the treatment of patients with depressive episodes is available in this country as well. The drug, suited especially for depressive patients with painful somatic symptoms, was approved in Europe in December 2004. Pain soon subsided and remission rates were high (44% vs. 16% under placebo) when patients were treated with the standard dose of duloxetine (60 mg per day).