Can you crush or split duloxetine?
The answer belongs to the form, not the drug name. An extended-release tablet meters the dose out over hours; crushing it delivers the whole day at once. Match the product below to the one on your box — if yours is not listed, read its own label.
What each label says
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Swallow whole; do not crush, chew, or open capsule.”
On the label for Duloxetine Delayed-Release · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Administer Duloxetine delayed-release capsules orally (with or without meals) and swallow whole.”
On the label for Duloxetine Delayed-Release · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Administer duloxetine delayed-release capsule orally (with or without meals) and swallow whole.”
On the label for DULOXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Swallow whole; do not crush, or chew, or open capsule.”
On the label for Duloxetine · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Administer duloxetine delayed-release capsules orally (with or without meals) and swallow whole.”
On the label for Duloxetine · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Duloxetine Delayed-release Capsules should be swallowed whole and should not be chewed or crushed, nor should the capsule be opened and its contents sprinkled on food or mixed with liquids.”
On the label for DULOXETINE DELAYED-RELEASE · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Medication Administration Duloxetine Delayed-release Capsules should be swallowed whole and should not be chewed or crushed, nor should the capsule be opened and its contents be sprinkled on food or mixed with liquids.”
On the label for DULOXETINE DELAYED-RELEASE · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Administer CYMBALTA orally (with or without meals) and swallow whole.”
On the label for Cymbalta · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Swallow whole; do not crush, or chew, do not open capsule.”
On the label for Duloxetine · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Swallow duloxetine delayed-release capsules whole; do not crush or chew, do not open capsule.”
On the label for Duloxetine · DailyMed
Swallow whole — the label says not to crush or chew it
“Duloxetine delayed-release capsules should be swallowed whole and should not be chewed or crushed, nor should the capsule be opened and its contents be sprinkled on food or mixed with liquids.”
On the label for Duloxetine · DailyMed
Frequently asked questions
Can you crush duloxetine?
It depends on which duloxetine product you have, which is why this page quotes each label separately rather than answering for the drug name. At least one form is labelled to be swallowed whole — crushing an extended-release tablet releases the whole day's dose at once, which is the reason those instructions exist.
Why does it depend on the form and not the drug?
Because the restriction is built into the tablet, not the molecule. Extended-release and enteric-coated tablets carry a coating or matrix that meters the dose out over hours; crushing destroys it and delivers everything immediately. The same drug in an immediate-release tablet often has no such restriction, which is why a list of drug names cannot answer this question and a quoted label can.
What if I can't swallow the tablet?
Ask the prescriber or pharmacist rather than crushing it anyway — most drugs that cannot be crushed exist in another form (liquid, dispersible tablet, patch, or an immediate-release version taken more often) and switching is usually straightforward. Some labels explicitly describe an alternative, and where they do it is quoted above.
More on duloxetine
Quoted from FDA labels for reference, not medical advice. Never crush or split a tablet against its label to make it easier to take — ask the prescriber or pharmacist, because an alternative form usually exists.