Popular antidepressant Cymbalta is currently under investigation for causing a large percentage of its users to suffer from extreme Cymbalta withdrawal side effects called Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome. Studies have suggested that the number of users who experience Cymbalta withdrawal is actually significantly larger than the warning label suggests.

About Cymbalta

Cymbalta was manufactured by Eli Lilly to treat depression and anxiety disorder. It is also commonly prescribed to treat diabetes, fibromyalgia, and other conditions that cause nerve pain. 

Now, when any person stops using antidepressants after using the medication for over six weeks, they may experience side effects discontinuing their depression medication. Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome is the term used for these side effects in the medical community. These side effects may include flu-like symptoms, changes in sleep, senses, or mood, and other issues that often shortly resolve themselves.

However, Cymbalta withdrawal side effects are noticeably worse than other antidepressants. A patients suffering from Cymbalta withdrawal side effects is diagnosed with Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome, setting the drug apart from other antidepressants.

Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome

Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome can allegedly last months or even a year after a patient’s use of the Eli Lilly antidepressant has stopped. Some individuals find Cymbalta withdrawal side effects to be so severe that they are forced to resume using the drug in spite of the fact that they were trying wean themselves off the antidepressant. 

Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome symptoms may include severe side effects such as vomiting, nightmares, and brain zaps (shock-like sensations in the brain).

The Cymbalta warning label suggests that only a small percentage (around 1 percent) of all users actually experience Cymbalta withdrawal. Other studies have suggested that the true number is closer to 41 percent, while about 17 percent of these same patients experiencing the more severe Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome.

Cymbalta withdrawal side effects are believed to be caused by the short half-life of the drug. The half-life is the amount of time it takes for the drug’s concentration in the body to be reduced by half. Some antidepressants have the half-life of multiple days which means a patient does not have to take the drug every day.

The half-life of Cymbalta is less than one day. This means that a patient is required to take the drug every day in order for the treatment to be effective. A patient has a risk of suffering from severe Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome after one day of not taking the medication, which could occur if they were trying to stop drug use or if they simply forgot to take their medication that day.

Furthermore, Eli Lilly made it nearly impossible for users to wean off the drug slowly. The Cymbalta label clearly states that the drug (which is given at 20 mg at its lowest dose) should not be split, open, or sprinkled onto food. This means that patients are still forced to take 20 mg of Cymbalta every day if they want to avoid Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. 

Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuits

Many individuals have chosen to file Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits against Eli Lilly. Allegations include that the drug manufacturer failed to warn against the true risk and severity of Cymbalta withdrawal side effects among other claims of negligence.