Duloxetine Hydrochloride: A Novel Drug for the Treatment of Depression

Duloxetine hydrochloride is referred as a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, two key neurotransmitters involved in the etiology of depression and in neural control of the lower urinary tract. Duloxetine (cymbalta, an Eli Lilly product, USA) was initially approved in 2004 for the treatment of major depressive disorder and subsequently approved for the indication of pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in 2004, generalized anxiety disorder and maintenance treatment of major depression in 2007 and fibromyalgia in 2008. Besides that Duloxetine reduces anxiety symptoms associated with Depression. It is considered to be a relatively non-selective inhibitor and has considerably less affinity for the dopamine transporter and for other transporters such as histaminic, adrenergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, opioid, and other receptors. Duloxetine hydrochloride is an acid labile drug and hence needs to be protected from acidic environment. This article reviews about the literature on Duloxetine with regard to its pharmacodyanamics, pharmacokinetics, various marketed formulatons available, clinical efficacy (clinical trials and patents) and tolerability. Keywords : Duloxetine HCl, Depression, Treatment, ADME