Cymbalta is one of the most commonly prescribed medications used to treat depression, anxiety, and fibromyalgia; however, up to 78 percent of consumers report experiencing severe and debilitating withdrawal symptoms when they discontinue use.

Cymbalta users claim they were unaware that there would be withdrawal side effects, as the warning label did not adequately inform them or their prescribing doctors. Many Cymbalta lawsuits allege Cymbalta’s maker, Eli Lilly, intentionally hid these antidepressant withdrawal side effects from consumers by omitting it from the warning label.

Some of the most common Cymbalta withdrawal side effects reported by patients include:

• Brain zaps (electric-like shock sensations in the brain)
• Mood swings
• Tremors
• Dizziness
• Nightmares
• Paresthesia (sensation of tingling, tickling, prickling, pricking, or burning of a person’s skin)
• Hot and cold flashes
• Severe nausea
• Vomiting

Cymbalta users have also reported that these withdrawal symptoms can take months to stop after discontinuing use of the medication.

Cymbalta Withdrawal Syndrome

Cymbalta was FDA approved in 2004 to treat depression, general anxiety disorder (GAD), and nerve and musculoskeletal pain. Eli Lilly claims the medication works by increasing levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine to help regulate mood. The drug makers also allege that Cymbalta can be used as a nerve and musculoskeletal pain reliever because the medication can stop pain signals from traveling through the brain.

Cymbalta quickly became a leader in the antidepressant market, generating $18 billion in sales between 2004 and 2011. Despite its popularity, consumers who have experienced Cymbalta withdrawal syndrome claim they should have been adequately warned.

According to Eli Lilly, Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms only occur in 1 percent of patients and only if a patient stops taking the drug abruptly. Yet, even the FDA found that this is not the case.

In 2009, an FDA advisory committee released a report that Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome, the term coined for Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms, is more common and more serious than Eli Lilly admits.

The FDA report also noted that Cymbalta manufacturers have not developed a clinically proven protocol for safely discontinuing use of the medication and patients agree. Eli Lilly recommends that consumers taper off slowly, but does not offer a smaller dose of Cymbalta. This means patients are forced to stop taking Cymbalta altogether or open up the capsules and count the beads to create a smaller dose on their own.

Cymbalta Lawsuits

Numerous Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits have been filed throughout the U.S. Plaintiffs allege Eli Lilly failed to warn consumers of the high likelihood of developing Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome.

In general, Cymbalta lawsuits claim the manufacturer knew of the risks but left the critical information off of their warning label in an effort to boost sales. They further allege that since Cymbalta is prescribed to be taken daily and its half-life is less than a day, it’s possible to experience Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms without discontinuing the medication. And there’s an even greater chance of suffering from the withdrawal symptoms if patients skip a single dose.

Plaintiffs claim that both patients and medical physicians should be warned of all Cymbalta side effects, including the high risk of Cymbalta withdrawal, so they can make an informed decision before taking the medication.

Consumers who choose to file a Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuit seek financial compensation from Eli Lilly for negligence, false advertising, and unfair business practices.