Patients using the anti-depressant drug Cymbalta have reported suffering a number of physical and emotional side effects after attempting to stop using the drug. The drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, has come under fire for failing to disclose the risks of Cymbalta withdrawal and promoting use of the drug while downplaying its side effects.

What is Cymbalta?

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is manufactured by Eli Lilly and was approved by the FDA in 2004 for the treatment of depression. It is in a class of drugs known as SNRIs, or “serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors,” which block neurotransmitters in the brain that affect mood and emotions.

While Cymbalta is marketed primarily as a treatment for depression, it is also prescribed to treat anxiety, fibromyalgia, neuropathic, and even muscular or skeletal pain.

Cymbalta Withdrawal

Clinical trials and medical studies show that when patients stop taking Cymbalta, they may experience sudden and severe withdrawal symptoms. Many Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits claim that Eli Lilly conducted internal clinical tests and allegedly determined that the risk of Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms was between 44-50 percent, with up to 30 percent of patients experiencing “moderate to severe” symptoms.

The results of these clinical trials were submitted to the FDA in 2004 when the company was attempting to receive drug approval; however, these results were not made clear via drug labels or warnings in marketing campaigns. In addition, Eli Lilly has been accused of selectively publishing studies and clinical test results to present a favorable impression that Cymbalta users were at a very low risk for withdrawal symptoms.

Cymbalta withdrawal, clinically known as Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome, describes the side effects that can occur when a patient stops taking Cymbalta. Potentially serious Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms include:

• Seizures
• Blurry vision
• Vertigo — a feeling of spinning or loss of balance
• Dizziness (which may include severe vertigo)
• Nausea, vomiting
• Headaches
• Paresthesia (or “tingling” sensations, including sensations in the brain many patients refer to as “brain zaps”)
• Abnormal sweating
• Suicidal ideation
• Nightmares
• Hallucinations
• Personality changes
• Changes in weight and/or appetite

In many cases, these and other Cymbalta side effects are so severe that patients must continue taking Cymbalta simply to ease the withdrawal symptoms. It is a vicious cycle that can leave a patient dependent on the drug.

The FDA has acknowledged “a serious breakdown at both the FDA and the manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, in providing adequate warnings and instructions about how to manage [the side effects],” indicating that Lilly may have been aware of the severity of the risks and downplayed Cymbalta side effects in its marketing campaigns and warning labels.

Cymbalta Lawsuits

Many Cymbalta users who have attempted to discontinue their use of Cymbalta and subsequently experienced unforeseen and severe withdrawal symptoms have filed Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits. These Cymbalta lawsuits allege that Eli Lilly failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about the nature of Cymbalta withdrawal. While there is some mention of Cymbalta withdrawal on package labels, the rates of Cymbalta withdrawal appear to be much higher than the rates indicated by Eli Lilly.