Personal injury attorneys are currently looking for people who have suffered from Cymbalta withdrawal side effects, to see if they have a legal claim against the drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly.

So far dozens of Cymbalta lawsuits have been filed, claiming that Eli Lilly violated consumer protection laws by misleading consumers about the risks associated with experiencing withdrawal symptoms once the medication is discontinued.

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta, generically known as duloxetine, is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, often used to treat severe depression, nerve pain associated with diabetes and fibromyalgia (chronic pain), chronic muscle pain associated with osteoarthritis and chronic lower back pain. Cymbalta may also be used to treat general anxiety disorder in adults and children.

Cymbalta Withdrawal

For some Cymbalta users, discontinuing the medication can be much more difficult than they were initially led to believe.

The medical community has known for years that discontinuing certain antidepressant drugs, particularly SSRI and SNRI antidepressants like Cymbalta, can cause their users to suffer withdrawal symptoms.

According to statistics, about one out of every five people taking these antidepressants will suffer from withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped immediately.

Unfortunately for some consumers, Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cymbalta, failed to warn the medical community and the general public just how common and severe Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms could be.

According to a 2009 study released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee, nearly 41 percent of Cymbalta users suffer withdrawals. Cymbalta packaging and drug labels claim that withdrawal symptoms only occur in 1 or 2 percent of cases.

Due to aggressive and allegedly deceptive marketing, Cymbalta has made almost $18 billion in sales between 2004 and 2011.

Symptoms of Withdrawal

Symptoms of Cymbalta withdrawal includes severe nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, mood swings, nightmares, tremors, visual disturbances, and brain zaps (often described as electric-shock-like sensations in the brain).

While generally antidepressant withdrawal symptoms resolve naturally, for many patients Cymbalta side effects are so severe they may last weeks or even months. Many patients choose to continue using Cymbalta rather than suffer the debilitating side effects for such an extended period of time.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuits

Over three dozen Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits have been filed against Eli Lilly. Almost two dozen of them were filed in 2014 alone.

These lawsuits claim that Eli Lilly hid important information about their product in order to acquire a larger profit. Claims against the company include breach of warranty, negligence, fraud and deceit, strict products liability, and a failure to warn the medical community and general public about risks associated with using the medication.

Plaintiffs filing Cymbalta lawsuits will likely be able to choose between filing a claim individually or becoming a member of a class action lawsuit. With individual lawsuits plaintiffs usually have more control over the litigation, but class action lawsuits allow class members to share the expenses of costly lawsuits.

In deciding whether to pursue an individual Cymbalta lawsuit or joining a Cymbalta class action lawsuit, potential plaintiffs should seek the advise of a legal professional.

Awards and settlements from Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits will help victims pay any past and future medical bills and compensate them for any pain and suffering they may have endured.