There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.
The FDA Drug Labels for escitalopram (PO), duloxetine (PO) do not address this question.
From the Research
Concurrent Use of Escitalopram and Duloxetine
- The provided studies do not directly address the concurrent use of escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) in patients 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, the studies compare the efficacy and safety of escitalopram and duloxetine as separate treatments for major depressive disorder.
- The results suggest that both escitalopram and duloxetine are effective in treating major depressive disorder, but they have different safety and tolerability profiles 1, 2, 4, 5.
- Escitalopram is generally considered to be better tolerated than duloxetine, with fewer discontinuations due to adverse events 2, 4, 5.
- Duloxetine is associated with a higher incidence of certain adverse events, such as nausea, dry mouth, and vomiting, compared to escitalopram 4, 5.
Efficacy Comparison
- The studies suggest that escitalopram and duloxetine have similar efficacy in treating major depressive disorder, with some studies showing a slight advantage for escitalopram 2, 3, 4.
- One study found that escitalopram was more effective than duloxetine in improving sleep quality 4.
- Another study found that duloxetine was non-inferior to escitalopram in terms of onset of antidepressant action 5.
Safety and Tolerability
- The studies suggest that escitalopram is generally better tolerated than duloxetine, with fewer discontinuations due to adverse events 2, 4, 5.
- Duloxetine is associated with a higher incidence of certain adverse events, such as nausea, dry mouth, and vomiting, compared to escitalopram 4, 5.
- One study found that escitalopram was associated with a higher incidence of weight gain compared to duloxetine 4.