Cymbalta improves SDS score in GAD patients

US drug major Eli Lilly says that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) patients on its antidepressant Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) experienced improved ability to perform everyday activities at home, work and in social situations versus a sugar pill, according to data from two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, in San Diego.

In one of the two studies, patients on 60mg and 120mg once-daily Cymbalta saw statistically-significant placebo-adjusted improvements, defined as mean change on the Sheehan Disability Scale, 7.76 and 7.04 vs 3.83, respectively. In the second study, those on 60mg-120mg once-daily Cymbalta experienced statistically-significant placebo-adjusted improvements of 5.78 vs 3.11. In the pooled analysis, Cymbalta-treated patients saw a 48% improvement in global functioning from alleviation of psychic anxiety, 9% from reduction painful physical symptoms and 7% from lessened somatic anxiety associated with GAD.