People 24 and younger may experience thoughts of suicide on Cymbalta. According to the FDA, the risk is greatest in those under the age of 18 and elevated in people ages 18 to 24.
This may be because Cymbalta can worse or cause symptoms including anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, hypomania, and mania.
At the same time, suicide risk actually decreases in people 25 and over, particularly among people over the age of 65.
“Any of these drugs may increase suicidal thoughts in periods of time when there’s a big shift—when you’re starting or raising a dose,” says Saltz. “The numbers aren’t big, so we don’t know who will be affected.”