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duloxetine vs lorazepam

Side-by-side comparison of duloxetine and lorazepam. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.5 Lorazepam Under steady-state conditions for duloxetine (60 mg Q 12 hours) and lorazepam (2 mg Q 12 hours), the pharmacokinetics of duloxetine were not affected by co-administration.

Recommendation: No special dose adjustments are typically needed when taking these two medicines at the same time.

Drug Class
duloxetine Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI)
lorazepam Benzodiazepine
Type
duloxetine Prescription
lorazepam Prescription
Summary
duloxetine

Duloxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and anxiety. It can also help with certain types of pain.

lorazepam

Lorazepam is a medicine that can help with anxiety. It belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines, which slow down activity in the brain.

What It Treats
duloxetine

Duloxetine can treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults and children (7 years and older). It can also treat diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic muscle or bone pain in adults. In children, it can treat fibromyalgia (13 years and older).

lorazepam

Lorazepam is used to manage anxiety disorders. It can also provide short-term relief from anxiety symptoms or anxiety linked to depression. However, it is not for the stress of everyday life. Talk to your doctor regularly to see if you still need this medicine.

How It Works
duloxetine

Duloxetine is a type of drug called an SNRI. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. These chemicals can help improve mood and reduce pain.

lorazepam

Lorazepam works by affecting certain chemicals in your brain. It enhances the effects of a natural brain chemical called GABA. This helps to calm your nerves and reduce anxiety.

Common Side Effects
duloxetine
  • Nausea
  • Dry mouth
  • Sleepiness
  • Constipation
  • Decreased appetite
lorazepam
  • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
  • Dizziness
FAERS Reports
duloxetine
  • Tiredness 4,788
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 4,783
  • Aches or soreness 3,698
  • Head pain 3,653
  • Loose stools 3,262
lorazepam
  • Tiredness 13,458
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 13,333
  • Loose stools 10,352
  • Difficulty breathing 9,234
  • Feeling worried or nervous 8,840
Serious Warnings
duloxetine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.

lorazepam

Taking lorazepam with opioid medicines can cause very serious problems, including slowed or shallow breathing, coma, and death. Only take them together if there are no other options. Lorazepam can be habit-forming, leading to abuse, misuse, and addiction, which can result in overdose or death. Using lorazepam for a long time can cause you to become dependent on it. Stopping it suddenly can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor will slowly lower your dose to prevent withdrawal.

Pregnancy
duloxetine

Using duloxetine in the last month of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking duloxetine during pregnancy. Women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to experience a relapse of depression.

lorazepam

Lorazepam may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding while taking this medicine. It can pass into breast milk and affect the baby.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This duloxetine vs lorazepam Comparison

duloxetine is classified in the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) drug class, while lorazepam sits within the Benzodiazepine class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, duloxetine has 20,184 submissions while lorazepam has 55,217. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these two drugs do not have a significant effect on how the body handles or processes each other.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between duloxetine and lorazepam - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.