The hepatic safety profile of duloxetine: a review

Author: McIntyre Roger S   Panjwani Zilomi D   Nguyen Ha T   Woldeyohannes Hanna O   Alsuwaidan Mohammad   Soczynska Joanna K   Lourenco Maria T   Konarski Jakub Z   Kennedy Sidney H  

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

ISSN: 1742-5255

Source: Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology, Vol.4, Iss.3, 2008-03, pp. : 281-285

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Abstract

Background: Hepatotoxicity related to the use of duloxetine resulted in rewording of the US product insert. Objective: To characterize the hepatic safety profile of duloxetine. Methods: We conducted a PubMed search of all English-language articles published between January 1990 and December 2007 and contacted the manufacturer (Eli Lilly, Inc.). Results: Elevations of alanine aminotransferase to three times the upper limit of normal occurs in 0.9 1.7% of duloxetine-treated patients versus 0.0 0.3% of placebo-treated patients. Hepatocellular, cholestatic and mixed hepatocellular-cholestatic forms of hepatic injury have been described. Conclusion: Duloxetine does not appear to pose a greater hazard for hepatic toxicity when compared to other conventional antidepressants. Systematic monitoring of liver aminotransferases does not appear to be warranted with routine duloxetine use.