Significance

• Between 9 and 19 percent patients of who take Cymbalta discontinue use of the drug, according to clinical trials by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
  
  

Types of Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Cymbalta include nausea, headache, dry mouth, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, drowsiness, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite and increased sweating.
  
  

Drug Interactions

• Drugs such as the heartburn medication cimetidine, quinolone antibiotics, the antidepressant fluvoxamine, MAOI antidepressants, the mood stabilizer lithium and the herb St. John's Wort all pose a risk for increased side effects from Cymbalta. When combined with blood thinning drugs such as warfarin, Cymbalta poses a risk for prolonged or uncontrollable bleeding, according to the FDA.
  
  

Risks

• Cymbalta poses a risk for increased depression accompanied by suicidal thoughts or actions during the first few weeks of treatment, warns the FDA. Additional risks of Cymbalta include liver disease, fainting, hyperthermia, hallucinations, coma and seizures.
  
  

Considerations

• Because its effects upon fetal development are unknown, doctors rarely prescribe Cymbalta for use in pregnant women. If you have a history of bipolar disorder, kidney or liver disease, glaucoma, diabetes, hypertension, mania, seizures or urinary retention, it may not be safe for you to take Cymbalta, warns the Mayo Clinic.