What should I avoid while taking duloxetine?

While taking duloxetine, there are certain things you should avoid to minimize the risk of side effects and potential interactions with other medications or substances. Here are some things to avoid while taking duloxetine:

  1. Alcohol: Drinking alcohol while taking duloxetine can increase the risk of side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired coordination. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking duloxetine, or limit your alcohol intake to small amounts and only with the approval of your healthcare provider.
  2. Other medications: Duloxetine can interact with other medications and supplements, potentially leading to serious side effects. Before taking any new medication or supplement, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure it is safe to take with duloxetine.
  3. Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice can interact with duloxetine and increase the levels of the medication in the blood, potentially leading to side effects. Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking duloxetine.
  4. Operating machinery: Duloxetine can cause dizziness and impair coordination, which can make it unsafe to operate machinery or drive a car. Avoid operating machinery or driving until you know how duloxetine affects you.
  5. Stopping medication suddenly: If you need to stop taking duloxetine, it’s important to do so gradually and under the guidance of your healthcare provider. Stopping duloxetine suddenly can lead to withdrawal symptoms, such as dizziness, nausea, and headache.

If you have any questions or concerns about what you should avoid while taking duloxetine, talk to your healthcare provider. They can provide guidance on how to safely take the medication and minimize the risk of side effects and interactions.


There are various forms of drugs available, such as tablets or liquids, and each may have a separate patient information leaflet (PIL) for different doses. It is important to refer to the PIL for the specific form and dose of the drug that you have been prescribed.

You can search for further information and PILs on websites such as:

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