Cymbalta is widely prescribed to treat depression, anxiety and even pain related to fibromyalgia.

However, recent studies indicate that up to 78 percent of patients experience withdrawal symptoms after discontinued use of the antidepressant, with the withdrawal side effects so severe that it is specifically referred to as Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the medical community as well as patients are not adequately warned about the severity of Cymbalta withdrawal.

The federal agency has issued a mandate to manufacturer Eli Lilly to develop a protocol for consumers to stop taking the medication by providing information on how to taper off.

Cymbalta Withdrawal

Currently there is no easy way for patients to avoid Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome as the manufacturer only provides two doses of the medication, a 30 mg and 60 mg version, making it hard to slowly reduce. Patients often report breaking open the capsules and creating a smaller dose in hope of avoiding Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms.

Although antidepressants in general have been known to have some withdrawal side effects, the severity of Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome is unique as the side effects have been known to last for months after patients stop taking the drug.

Cymbalta users report horrific side effects. Some of these commonly reported Cymbalta withdrawal side effects include:

• Brain zaps (electric like shock sensations in the brain)
• Tremors
• Mood swings
• Dizziness
• Severe nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Paresthesia (sensation of tingling, tickling, prickling, pricking, or burning of a person’s skin)
• Hot and cold flashes
• Nightmares
• Visual disturbances

The main reason patients experience Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome is that patients are left with too little serotonin in their system and without enough serotonin in the nervous system.

Occasionally, physicians will prescribe another medication like Prozac in order to help patients going through Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuits

Since its release on the U.S. market in 2004, manufacturer Eli Lilly has generated more than $18 billion in Cymbalta sales. However, Cymbalta users who feel misled by Eli Lilly have started filing Cymbalta lawsuits for failure to warn of the severity and frequency of withdrawal symptoms.

According to Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits, plaintiffs claim the manufacturer warned that withdrawal symptoms are “rare” when in reality some consumers claim to suffer from side effects after missing a single dose.

In general, plaintiffs also allege that Eli Lilly knew of the high risk of Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome but intentionally left it off the safety information in order to boost sales.

Eli Lilly warned Cymbalta consumers that withdrawal side effects would only occur if patients stopped taking the medication abruptly but even then they claimed the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms only occurred one percent of the time.

Some Cymbalta lawsuits claim that because the drug’s half-life is less than a day and the medication is prescribed to be taken once daily, there’s even a high probability of suffering from withdrawal effects while currently taking the medication.