Apo-Duloxetine Special Precautions

Before the patient starts taking this medicine, the doctor must know if: 1. The patient has allergies to: any other medicines; any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
2. The patient has or has had any medical conditions, especially the following: glaucoma (an eye disease where the fluid pressure in the eye may be high); high blood pressure; heart problems; kidney problems; history of fits (seizures); diabetes.
3. The patient, or members of the family, have experienced bipolar disorder, depression or suicide.
4. The patient is currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant.
This medicine should not be taken whilst pregnant until the patient and the doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
5. The patient is currently breast-feeding or plans to breast-feed.
This medicine should not be taken whilst breast-feeding until the patient and the doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
6. The patient is planning to have surgery or an anaesthetic.
7. The patient is currently receiving or is planning to receive dental treatment.
8. The patient drinks alcohol.
People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol should not take duloxetine. Drinking too much alcohol could increase the risk of liver problems during treatment with duloxetine.
9. The patient is taking or is planning to take any other medicines.
This includes vitamins and supplements that are available from the pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Things the patient must do while taking this medicine: The doctor must know if the patient: is about to start on any new medicine; is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant; is breast-feeding or is planning to breast-feed; is about to have any blood tests; is going to have surgery or an anaesthetic or is going into hospital.
Any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating the patient must be told that the patient takes this medicine.
The doctor must be told immediately if the patient has any suicidal thoughts or other mental/mood changes.
Occasionally, the symptoms of depression or other psychiatric conditions may include thoughts of harming oneself or committing suicide. These symptoms may continue or get worse during the first one or two months of treatment, until the full antidepressant effect of the medicine becomes apparent. This is more likely to occur in young adults under 25 years of age.
All mention of suicide or violence must be taken seriously. Contact the doctor or a mental health professional right away or go to the nearest hospital for treatment if the patient or someone the patient knows is showing any of the following warning signs of suicide: worsening of depression; thoughts or talk of death or suicide; thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others; any recent attempts of self-harm; increase in aggressive behaviour, irritability or any other unusual changes in behaviour or mood.
If any of the following is noticed, contact the doctor immediately: itchy skin; dark urine; yellowing of the skin or eyes; tenderness over the liver; symptoms of the 'flu'.
These could be signs of liver damage.
The doctor may occasionally do tests to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent side effects.
Visit the doctor regularly for a check-up.
Things the patient must not do: Do not: Give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar.
Take the medicine to treat any other condition unless the doctor tells to.
Stop taking the medicine, or change the dosage, without first checking with the doctor.
Things to be careful of: The patient must be careful when driving or operating machinery until he/she knows how this medicine affects him/her. It may cause dizziness or drowsiness.
Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
The patient should avoid 'binge drinking' or drinking excessively during treatment with duloxetine as it can cause severe liver injury.
Drinking alcohol with duloxetine may also cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If any of these symptoms is present, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Serotonergic psychiatric drugs should not be started in a patient receiving linezolid. Wait until 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid before starting the serotonergic psychiatric drugs.
Use in children: This medicine should not be used in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years.