Cymbalta is a powerful antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug designed not only to combat the symptoms of depression or anxiety, but to help treat the painful effects of disorders like arthritis and fibromyalgia.

While this drug can be very helpful in the treatment of these issues, discontinuation of Cymbalta has been linked to an increased risk of many side effects, including severe withdrawal symptoms.

Now, Eli Lilly, the maker of Cymbalta, is facing a growing number of Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits from people who allege the drug maker failed to warn about the devastating side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal.

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a type of antidepressant known as an SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). It was developed by Eli Lilly and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2004.

In addition to its use as an anti-anxiety/antidepressant drug, Cymbalta also has mild analgesic properties and is used to treat osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and diabetic neuropathy.

Cymbalta Withdrawal

In clinical trials, researchers estimated that Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms could appear in up to 44-50 percent of people who discontinued Cymbalta, including 10 percent classified as “severe.”

During the trial, patients were randomized to receive Cymbalta or a placebo for eight to nine weeks and then discontinue. About half of patients who had withdrawal symptoms did not get better within two weeks of discontinuing Cymbalta, when researchers stopped monitoring the patients, prompting the FDA to require the following warning on the label for Cymbalta: “Never stop an antidepressant medicine without first talking to a healthcare provider. Stopping an antidepressant medicine suddenly can cause other symptoms.”

However, this warning does not explain how often “other symptoms” occur, how severe they might be, and what a patient should do to minimize the risk of Cymbalta withdrawal.

Patients who discontinue use of antidepressant drugs often experience some degree of withdrawal side effects. However, the complications from Cymbalta withdrawal can be so severe that doctors have assigned them a diagnosis of their own – Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome.

These Cymbalta withdrawal side effects may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Suicidal thoughts
• Anger
• Hallucinations
• Personality changes
• “Brain zaps”
• Tremors
• Dizziness
• Severe vertigo

Studies have shown these effects can last for weeks or months, and can negatively affect a person’s ability to work or maintain relationships. Eli Lilly conducted studies revealing as many as 51 percent of patients taking Cymbalta experienced withdrawal symptoms for several weeks.

However, the company allegedly downplayed the side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal to doctors and told patients only around 1 percent of users suffered problems. The company also failed to give patients a way to slowly taper their use of the drug.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuits

When medications cause unintended side effects, they can affect thousands of people with very similar injuries. The makers of these products are often liable for the damages if they concealed the risks, didn’t properly test their drugs or warn patients of the dangers.

Reports indicate the maker of Cymbalta, Eli Lilly, may have concealed the occurrence rate of Cymbalta withdrawal side effects from patients and doctors, putting thousands of patients at risk. A growing number of patients have filed Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits and may be entitled to compensation.