Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome — Adverse Withdrawal Symptoms

Numerous patients who were prescribed Cymbalta and suffered withdrawl symptoms while trying to stop Cymbalta, and who believe they and their doctors were misled by the manufacturer of Cymbalta have filed person injury lawsuits against the manufacturer, Eli Lilly & Co., for alleged negligence. Also known as duloxetine, it’s used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. According to the plaintiffs, Eli Lilly failed to provide proper warning of the risk of severe withdrawal side effects associated with Cymbalta.  Patients are being diagnosed with  “Cymbalta withdrawl syndrome”  or “Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome” with symptoms of:  Electrical shock sensations in the brain (“brain zaps”), Suicidal Ideations, Paresthesias (electric shock sensations in body, skin, numbness & tingling), extreme mood swings, blurry or tunnel vision, symptoms of SSRI withdrawl. Specifically, the drug’s warning label failed to reflect the severe withdrawl symptoms associated with attempts to discontinue the drug and/or even missed doses as shown in their own clinical and scientific studies funded by the firm itself.

What is Cymbalta?

Duloxetine hydrochloride, marketed by Eli Lilly as Cymbalta, is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).  SNRI antidepressants are believed to function by increasing levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin & norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft.  This class of antidepressant drugs used to treat general anxiety disorder (GAD),   major depressive disorder (MDD) and other mood disorders. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, the drug has pain relief properties and can also be used to help treat osteoarthritis pain, fibromyalgia, and diabetic neuropathy. Cymbalta is available in 20mg, 30mg, 60 mg tablets.

Known withdrawal side effects include electrical shock sensations in the brain (“brain zaps”), suicidal ideations, Paresthesias (electric shock sensations in body, skin, numbness & tingling), blurry or tunnel vision, symptoms of SSRI withdrawl, headaches, insomnia, excessive sweating, abdominal pain, sexual dysfunction, diarrhea, decreased appetite, constipation, sleepiness, and fatigue. Cymbalta has also been associated with hallucinations and mental agitations, which can result in mood changes.

Cymbalta’s label includes a black box warning for increased suicide risks among children, adolescents, and young adults. The label also warns against discontinuing the drug without seeking the advice of a healthcare professional, stating that adverse withdrawal symptoms affect “a rate greater than or equal to 1.” The manufacturers suggest a gradual reduction in use, rather than a complete and sudden cessation, and include a recommendation for monitoring the patient for suicidality and unusual changes in behavior.

The prescription drug is recommended as a first line treatment option for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and fibromyalgia, as well as a Grade B treatment for diabetic neuropathy. However, a June 2014 article published in Prescrire International, a French medical journal, found that Cymbalta’s benefits are no greater than alternative antidepressants and that the risks are actually greater than those of competitors (“Towards Better Patient Care: Drugs to Avoid in 2014,” Prescrire Int 2014; 23 (150): pp. 161–165). The journal went on to recommend against duloxetine’s general use.

Patients Accuse Eli Lilly of Inadequate Warning

As of early September 2014, there were at least 28 lawsuits filed against Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Cymbalta, which accused the company of failing to adequately warn patients and doctors about the true risk of withdrawal symptoms associated with the drug. While the Cymbalta drug label states that the risk of withdrawal effects is “greater than or equal to 1%,” a study funded by Eli Lilly found that up 51 percent of patients experience discontinuation problems; 17 percent of cases were severe. More than one in two patients could not resolve the withdrawal symptoms by the end of the two week study period (David G. Perahia, et. al., “Symptoms Following Abrupt Discontinuation of Duloxetine Treatment in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder,” Journal of Affective Disorders 2005; 89 (1–3): pp. 207–212).

The plaintiffs allege that Eli Lilly misled patients and doctors into believing that the risk of discontinuation symptoms is in the range of one percent and that these effects are short-term. Furthermore, according to the lawsuits, the company failed to incorporate information from its own 2005 study, which reported a higher rate of withdrawl symptoms than what’s suggested on Cymbalta’s label.  Eli Lilly’s own studies and the published medical literature notes that an estimated 44% to 78% of people who stop taking Cymbalta will suffer from severe withdrawl reactions.  The data on the label did not reflect this information and it failed to make doctors and patients aware of research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Instead, the label refers to “spontaneous reports of adverse events,” and further suggests that these adverse events are “generally self-limiting.”

How Experienced Kansas Nurse Attorney Liz Dudley’s National Litigation Practice Can Help You

If you or a loved one has experienced the adverse withdrawal symptoms associated with Cymbalta, we encourage you to immediately protect your rights and to seek compensation for injuries sustained.  Nurse-Attorney Dudley is experienced and knowledgeable in the field of pharmaceutical and personal injury litigation, represents clients nationwide in a variety of pharmaceutical and device litigations and assists her clients in finding medical experts who can help them recover from the injuries caused by defective drugs and devices.  Nurse-attorney Elizabeth Dudley, who is centrally located in Kansas, can help you navigate through your claim against Eli Lilly. To schedule your complimentary case review, please contact our law office or fill out the contact form to your right.

DISCLAIMER:  Before stopping any medication you must first consult with your physician.  Suddenly stopping a drug like Cymbalta can lead to a wide variety of disabling and serious reactions.  In fact, some patients cannot stop taking it due to the disabling symptoms.  If you want to stop taking Cymbalta, please consult with your prescribing physician and/or psychiatrist immediately.  This webpage is designed to provide information about potential and ongoing litigation against the manufacturer of Cymbalta, Eli Lilly and Co., and we are not providing any medical advice.