A Cymbalta class action was filed against Eli Lilly and Company for causing alleged Cymbalta withdrawal side effects in users and for failing to provide adequate instructions as to how to stop using Cymbalta.

The lawsuit has 30 plaintiffs, all of whom allegedly experienced Cymbalta withdrawal syndrome or Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome.

While it is common for people to experience some difficulty when trying to stop using anti-depressants, Cymbalta withdrawal side effects caused the medical community to give Cymbalta withdrawal its own category. Many have filed Cymbalta lawsuits or joined a Cymbalta class action lawsuit as a result.

Cymbalta was approved to treat Major Depressive Disorder in 2004 and was later approved to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder and fibromyalgia as well. Cymbalta has been an extremely profitable drug for Lilly and has worked to fill the financial gap Lilly had once Prozac’s patent expired.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome

Cymbalta withdrawal side effects are allegedly caused by the short half-life of the drug. The half-life of a drug is how long it takes for the concentration of the drug to be reduced by half, according to the Cymbalta class action lawsuit.

Other anti-depressants have short lives of several days, but Cymbalta has the half-life of 12 hours. This means a Cymbalta user may experience Cymbalta withdrawal side effects one day after not taking the drug, even if they just forgot to take their medication one day.

Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome side effects may include, “dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances, anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional liability, insomnia, hypomania, tinnitus, and seizures,” according to the Cymbalta class action lawsuit. Some users experienced severe cases of these Cymbalta withdrawal side effects.

According to the Cymbalta class action lawsuit, Lilly was aware of the short half-life and of the risks of Cymbalta withdrawal side effects and failed to warn users. While they advertised that Cymbalta withdrawal was rare, studies, including studies performed by Lilly, have strongly suggested that the risk is significantly higher.

Not only did Lilly allegedly fail to warn users, but it provided no way of tapering off of the medication. Cymbalta can be taken at 20, 30, and 60 mg doses. The instructions clearly state that the medication should be swallowed whole and not cut in half.

This means that a Cymbalta user cannot slowly taper off of the medication. In order to stop using Cymbalta, they would have to stop all drug use, but due to the short half-life, they have a strong chance of experiencing Cymbalta withdrawal syndrome as a result.

The Cymbalta class action lawsuits states, “Users become prisoners to Cymbalta, and Lilly financially benefits by having a legion of physically dependent, long-term users of Cymbalta.”

Cymbalta plaintiffs seek compensation for the physical, emotional, and psychological injuries allegedly caused by Cymbalta withdrawal side effects as well as compensation for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, and loss of consortium when applicable. Each of the plaintiffs in the Cymbalta class action lawsuit gave their own facts and history concerning Cymbalta use.

This Cymbalta Class Action Lawsuit is Case No. 2:14-cv-03004, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Sacramento Division.