Duloxetine (Cymbalta) vs Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Based on "Essential Psychopharmacology"
written by Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD
Escitalopram advantages over Duloxetine
- Generally escitalopram is better tolerated than duloxetine3.
- Escitalopram does not cause high blood pressure or urinary retention.
- Safe for patients with elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma.
- Escitalopram has low potential for drug interactions. Duloxetine can produce significant changes in pharmacokinetics of medications metabolized by cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme2.
Duloxetine advantages over Escitalopram
- Incidence of antidepressant-induced sexual side effects is somewhat lower with duloxetine1. Escitalopram is associated with more frequent sexual problems.
- Duloxetine is useful for patients with concomitant chronic pain syndromes.
Duloxetine | Escitalopram |
Brand names | |
• Cymbalta® | Lexapro® |
Drug class | |
Antidepressant, Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor | Antidepressant, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor |
Mechanism of action | |
• Escitalopram is the most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant. In contrast, duloxetine inhibits both serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. | |
FDA-approved indications | |
• Major depression • Generalized anxiety disorder |
|
• Social anxiety disorder • Chronic musculoskeletal pain • Fibromyalgia • Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain |
|
Contraindications | |
• Use of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors | |
• Hypersensitivity to duloxetine • Uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma (risk of increased intraocular pressure) |
• Hypersensitivity to escitalopram |
Side effects | |
• Nausea • Dry mouth • Somnolence • Constipation • Decreased appetite • Excessive sweating • Urinary retention |
• Nausea • Insomnia • Delayed ejaculation • Increased sweating • Fatigue • Somnolence • Decreased libido |
Duloxetine vs Escitalopram for Depression
Escitalopram may be superior to duloxetine in the treatment of major depression and at least as effective and better tolerated in long-term treatment of major depressive disorder4. Withdrawal due to the side effects occurs more frequently with duloxetine6.
Results of the study comparing escitalopram versus duloxetine in major depressive disorder4 | Duloxetine | Escitalopram |
---|---|---|
Regimen | 60 mg/day for 24 weeks | 20 mg/day for 24 weeks |
Mean change from baseline in total MADRS score at week 8 | -17.4 | -19.5 |
Proportion of responders at week 8 | 58% | 69% |
Mean change from baseline in total MADRS score at week 24 | -21.7 | -23.4 |
Withdrawal rates due to side effects | 17% | 9% |
Adverse events: - insomnia - constipation |
12.6% 8.6% |
4.9% 2.8% |
Results of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with major depressive disorder5 | Duloxetine | Escitalopram |
---|---|---|
Regimen | 120 mg/day for 8 months | 20 mg/day for 8 months |
Probability of remission at 8 months | 70% | 75% |
Sleep improvement | escitalopram had a statistically significant advantage over duloxetine in improving sleep. | |
Rates of discontinuation due to side effects | 12.8% | 12.0% |
Adverse events | tended to emerge early in treatment (e.g., nausea, dry mouth) | tended to emerge later in treatment (e.g., diarrhea, weight increase) |
Mean changes from baseline to study endpoint for: | ||
pulse |
+3.05 beats per minute | -0.89 beats per minute |
systolic blood pressure | +3.73 mmHg | +0.31 mmHg |
diastolic blood pressure | +0.81 | -0.24 |
Change in weight | +0.61 kg | +1.83 kg |
Duloxetine vs Escitalopram for Low back pain
Duloxetine is licensed for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Escitalopram is not indicated for the treatment of chronic pain states.
One study demonstrated that both escitalopram and duloxetine are useful for patients suffering from chronic low back pain 7.
Further reading
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta) Facts
- Bupropion vs Duloxetine
- Duloxetine vs Venlafaxine
- Duloxetine vs Pregabalin
- Escitalopram vs Citalopram
References
- 1. Clayton A, Kornstein S, Prakash A, Mallinckrodt C, Wohlreich M. Changes in sexual functioning associated with duloxetine, escitalopram, and placebo in the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder. J Sex Med. 2007 Jul;4(4 Pt 1):917-29. PubMed
- 2. Preskorn SH, Greenblatt DJ, Flockhart D, Luo Y, Perloff ES, Harmatz JS, Baker B, Klick-Davis A, Desta Z, Burt T. Comparison of duloxetine, escitalopram, and sertraline effects on cytochrome P450 2D6 function in healthy volunteers. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2007 Feb;27(1):28-34.
- 3. Khan A, Bose A, Alexopoulos GS, Gommoll C, Li D, Gandhi C. Double-blind comparison of escitalopram and duloxetine in the acute treatment of major depressive disorder. Clin Drug Investig. 2007;27(7):481-92.
- 4. Wade A, Gembert K, Florea I. A comparative study of the efficacy of acute and continuation treatment with escitalopram versus duloxetine in patients with major depressive disorder. Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Jul;23(7):1605-14. PubMed
- 5. Pigott TA, Prakash A, Arnold LM, Aaronson ST, Mallinckrodt CH, Wohlreich MM. Duloxetine versus escitalopram and placebo: an 8-month, double-blind trial in patients with major depressive disorder. Curr Med Res Opin. 2007 Apr 27. PubMed
- 6. Khan A, Bose A, Alexopoulos GS, Gommoll C, Li D, Gandhi C. Double-blind comparison of escitalopram and duloxetine in the acute treatment of major depressive disorder.Clin Drug Investig. 2007;27(7):481-92. PubMed
- 7. Mazza M, Mazza O, Pazzaglia C, Padua L, Mazza S. Escitalopram 20 mg versus duloxetine 60 mg for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2010 May;11(7):1049-52.
Published: March 31, 2008
Last updated: December 05, 2017