Cymbalta Withdrawal Lawsuit
Active Mass Tort Lawsuits
No Longer Seeking Plaintiffs for Cymbalta – Below Is The Complaint Users Had With The Medication
Eli Lilly pharmaceuticals introduced Cymbalta to treat depression and anxiety. While the results may have pleased many people by alleviating their symptoms when the time came to stop taking the medication, the withdrawal side effects quickly negated any positive benefits of the drug.
Studies show that over 50% of Cymbalta users have experienced withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing use. The labelling for Cymbalta states that only 1% to 2% of patients may experience withdrawal symptoms. There is a class action lawsuit investigation underway concerning Cymbalta’s withdrawal symptoms. A Cymbalta lawsuit could lead to changes in how the drug is marketed, offer some compensation for those who have experienced withdrawal symptoms and maybe even change whether the drug is allowed to be prescribed in the future.
Cymbalta Withdrawal Side Effects
There is a laundry list of side effects causing significant problems for people who stop taking Cymbalta Duloxetine If you are preparing to stop Cymbalta or have recently stopped Cymbalta, you may experience what is now known as Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome.
When a drug has so many withdrawal side effects that withdrawal becomes known as a syndrome, it’s fair to expect that there will be lawsuits; especially when the company did not inform consumers of this possibility when they introduced the drug. This is one of the main complaints of patients who have experienced Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms; they were not told ahead of time about these life-changing side effects.
Some of the side effects of Cymbalta withdrawal that fall under the umbrella of Cymbalta discontinuation syndrome include:
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness, light-headedness, vertigo
- Headaches
- Hot and cold flashes
- Mood swings
- Nightmares
- Brain “zaps” (electric shock sensations in the brain)
- Paresthesia
- Tremors, shaking hands
- Visual disturbances including blurriness, black spots, double vision
Cymbalta Side Effects: Patients Were Left in the Dark
According to almost two dozen Cymbalta lawsuits filed in August 2014, patients allege that the manufacturer left important information about the withdrawal risks off the label and marketing materials for the drug.
The plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit investigation claim that if Eli Lilly had disclosed the risks of Cymbalta withdrawal on the product and in marketing materials, the drug would not have been sold or prescribed and the pharmaceutical company would have suffered.
Between 2004 and 2011, the company sold around $18 billion of this dangerous drug. Were you the victim of this unfair and unlawful marketing practice that has led to many patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms far worse than the original condition that was treated with Cymbalta caused?
Lifelong Dependency?
Patients who have suffered from diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression or other forms of chronic pain have looked at Cymbalta as a lifesaver. There is no denying the effectiveness of this medication.
However, many patients have tried to stop taking Cymbalta and now claim that Eli Lilly is responsible for various personal injury claims, false advertising and product liability.
Rather than suffering through the terrible Cymbalta withdrawal, some Cymbalta users continue to take the medication and become dependent on the drug. When the choice is a lifelong use of a medication that works for the reasons it is taken or painful, costly withdrawal symptoms, many people would prefer to stay on the medicine. This puts even more money into the drug manufacturer’s pocket.
The long-term effects of the drug on the human body should also be called into question at this point. How many patients have chosen a drug addiction rather than withdrawal symptoms?
Cymbalta Discontinuation Syndrome
Based on medical research, about 1 in 5 patients who take antidepressant medications for more than six weeks will experience withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly quit taking the drug. This is typically a short-term experience and may include flu-like symptoms, irregular sleep and mood swings. Usually, these symptoms are mild and resolve without treatment within a week or two.
Cymbalta users have experienced much more severe withdrawal symptoms and have described it as being a “horrific” experience, “a nightmare,” and similar to “going through hell.” The mislabeling and minimized risk statements on the Cymbalta packaging and marketing materials are what consumers are complaining about. It is one thing to know that medication will cause specific side effects and make an informed decision to use it anyway.
It’s quite another to be told that you probably won’t have these problems because less than 2% of people have an issue. Then, discover that you can’t stop taking a medication without facing months of debilitating withdrawal symptoms.
Quitting Should Be a Viable Option
As with any medication, a patient should have the option to stop taking it. Cymbalta users know they can stop taking it, but they were not informed of how difficult, painful and long-lasting the withdrawal side effects would be.
Claims against the manufacturer of Cymbalta say that the drugmaker has not done enough to make consumers aware of the potential dangers of this medicine. The withdrawal syndrome can cause lost work, high medical bills and a lower quality of life for several months.