How Long Does It Take For Duloxetine HCl To Work? (+3)

By Ivan Kahwa

Page last updated: 02/02/2024 | Next review date: 02/02/2026

Author bio

Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.

Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:

Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Professional Experience:

Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.

With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.

Education:

2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.

Publications:

▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7

▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60

▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.

https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683

▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.

https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004

▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2

▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.

https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600

Published book Chapter

▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4

Submitted manuscripts Under Review:

▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience

▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine

▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Submitted book chapters under review

1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.

2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press

You can view my works on the following professional sites:

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437

Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159

Ivan Kahwa

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In this article, we will discuss how long it takes for Duloxetine HCl to start working. We will also discuss some research studies, and what to do if you do not get the desired effects.

How long does it take for Duloxetine HCl to work?

Duloxetine usually takes about 2-4 weeks to start working for depression and related symptoms. However, you may find your sleep quality, appetite and energy levels getting better within a week or two (1).

The early positive signs usually indicate that Duloxetine HCl is working and it will manage symptoms associated with your depression effectively. Antidepressants alter the level of excitatory neurotransmitters in your and this process can take time.

Not only this but your body takes time to adjust to this change and to actually start responding to it. However, people respond differently to medications, especially those meds which can alter brain chemistry. So some people may begin to feel the beneficial effects of Duloxetine HCl earlier than others.

However, Duloxetine HCl takes around 8-12 weeks to show its full effects. If it does not help you achieve your desired therapeutic response, your doctor may adjust the dose and taper you off this medication.

What does research suggest?

There are several research studies indicating the start of effectiveness of Duloxetine within 2-4 weeks.

One study indicated that out of 1279 patients, 808 patients took Duloxetine for at least a year. Different scales measure depression improvement throughout the study. At week 2 about 40.4 % of patients saw improvement in their illness severity and 59.2% felt better according to their self-assessment (2).

By the third week, these numbers increased to 70% and 78.3%. Remission rates also increased over time: 50.8% at week 6, 75% at week 28 and 8.8% at week 52 (2).

It is important to note that individual responses to meds vary, always reach out to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and treatment plans.

Why does Duloxetine HCl take a long time to work?

Duloxetine is a serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) that slowly increases the amount of the neurotransmitters (serotonin and noradrenaline) in your brain which is responsible for modulating mood, cognition, reward, learning and memory and various other physiological processes.

Depression and other mental illnesses usually progress slowly and you can’t expect your antidepressant to treat it overnight. You need to be consistent in taking your antidepressant for a month or two to be certain whether or not the medication manages your symptoms adequately.

However, once Duloxetine HCl kicks in, it can manage the emotional symptoms of depression like hopelessness, sadness, crying etc and can manage symptoms associated with other conditions it is approved to treat (1).

It can also help with anxiety and depression associated with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathy (3).

Factors affecting the time taken by Duloxetine HCl to work

Some contributing factors may affect the time taken by Duloxetine HCl to start working, including (3):

Dosage and treatment duration

The dosage prescribed and the duration of treatment can influence how quickly Duloxetine begins to have an effect. Higher doses may lead to a faster onset of action, but this also increases the risk of side effects.

Individual body chemistry

Each person’s body processes medications differently. Some individuals may metabolise Duloxetine more quickly or slowly, affecting how soon it reaches therapeutic levels in the body.

Conditions for which Duloxetine is prescribed

The condition being treated plays a role in how quickly Duloxetine works such as it might take longer to notice improvements in chronic conditions like generalized anxiety disorder or fibromyalgia as compared to acute conditions like certain types of pain.

Other substances or medications

Drug interactions can affect how quickly Duloxetine starts working. certain medications or substances can either enhance or inhibit its effects, affecting its onset of action.

Compliance with the treatment plan

Adhering to the prescribed dosage and schedule is crucial. Missing doses or not taking the medication as directed can delay the onset of action or affect its effectiveness.

What if Duloxetine does not start to work in 2-4 weeks?

If you don’t feel any improvement in your symptoms, you should remain patient and observe your overall condition before switching to a different antidepressant.

Antidepressant is a trial-based therapy, as it involves trying different medications because not all of them are well-tolerated by everyone. However, if there is still no improvement after 3 months, you should inform your doctor.

There are plenty of antidepressants that can easily replace Duloxetine. However, it is best to give your body time to adjust to the medication, if it does not cause unbearable side effects.

Mild early side effects are common with almost every other antidepressant such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sweating etc, and you should not let them discourage you. Most of these side effects begin to subside within a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication (4).

If Duloxetine fails to manage your symptoms after 2-3 months or causes side effects that make it extremely difficult for you to continue this medication your doctor may switch you to a different antidepressant after safely tapering off the previous one.

Always remember not to stop the antidepressants on your own as they can cause horrible withdrawal symptoms (5).

In my view, Duloxetine HCl can take a few weeks to work. You may experience some early side effects during the first few weeks, but they soon disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. If for some reason, Duloxetine fails to manage your symptoms, there are other meds you can try.

Determining the best antidepressant is a trial-and-error process and you may need to try several antidepressants to find the one that suits you and your symptoms best. Just make sure you always follow your doctor’s guidance to ensure safe and effective use of the medication.