Product liability lawyers are looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Cymbalta lawsuits against the pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co. Consumers who were misled about the risks of withdrawal and suffered severe withdrawal symptoms associated with taking Cymbalta may have a claim.

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta
, generically known as duloxetine, is a popular antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety. Cymbalta can also be used to treat fibromyalgia (chronic pain disorder) and nerve damage associated with diabetes. Cymbalta is a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI). The medication helps to stabilize chemicals in the brain that can become unbalanced, which in turns causes depression.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome

It is fairly well established within the medical community that SSNRI medications can cause severe withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly. These symptoms can result in antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, also known as antidepressant withdrawal.

According to studies, 1 out of every 5 people suffer from antidepressant withdrawal when they stop taking the medication suddenly. Symptoms are generally mild and usually appear as flu-like symptoms, as well as disturbances in sleep, senses, movement, and mood. Other withdrawal symptoms include severe nausea, nightmares, hot and cold flashes, and dizziness. In mild cases antidepressant withdrawal usually resolves itself within one or two weeks. Although the drug’s label indicates that withdrawal symptoms occur in 1-2 percent of users, according to scientific studies, 50-78 percent of Cymbalta users suffer from serious antidepressant withdrawal symptoms once they have stopped taking the medication.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuits

While many patients can expect to experience antidepressant withdrawal symptoms, medical professionals and the general public were never properly warned of the severity of symptoms often experienced when stopping Cymbalta. In 2000 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported on the severity of Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms, indicating they can extend for weeks or possibly even months.

Several Cymbalta lawsuits have been filed across the nation, along with a Cymbalta class action lawsuit. These Cymbalta lawsuits claim that Eli Lilly participated in misleading advertising tactics to promote sales while minimizing the adverse effects associated with the medication. The Cymbalta lawsuits also claim that the drug manufacturer did not properly develop a safety protocol for taking the medication. The class action lawsuit initiated against Eli Lilly claims that the drug manufacturer hid the true side effects of the medication because disclosing the risks would have negatively affected sales.

Victims of Cymbalta withdrawal have the option of bringing a lawsuit individually or as a member in a class action lawsuit. Each form of litigation has its own benefits and the decision about which type of lawsuit to bring should be made on a case-by-case basis with the assistance of a legal professional.

Awards and settlements from these lawsuits will help victims pay past and future medical bills. Damages received will also serve as a small step in compensating victims for the pain and suffering they were forced to endure due to the undisclosed side effects. Lawsuits against large pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly help hold the drug companies accountable for their actions.