Cymbalta is the brand name for the drug duloxetine sold by Eli Lilly.
The medication Cymbalta has been used by millions of patients in the United States over the past decade. Unfortunately, thousands have reported severe withdrawal side effects that weren’t disclosed by the manufacturer.
Cymbalta is the brand name for the drug duloxetine sold by Eli Lilly. It is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), which works by slowing the absorption of serotonin and norepinephrine (NE) in the central nervous system, and promoting the production of dopamine.
The drug is commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety and pain due to nerve damage, fibromyalgia or musculoskeletal issues. However, Cymbalta has been linked to side effects and severe withdrawal symptoms for many of those who attempt to discontinue its use. A number of federal lawsuits are also pending against the manufacturer by affected patients.
Patients of Cymbalta have experienced severe withdrawal side effects when discontinuing use of the drug. Patients have reported vision problems, brain zaps, loss of balance, headache and many other withdrawal type side effects.
Legal experts believe that, due to the widespread use of Cymbalta and the occurrence rate of discontinuation side effects, thousands of patients who experienced severe complications may eventually come forward to join the litigation.
For the latest and most up to date information on Cymbalta side effects and the Cymbalta litigation, please visit our news section. We are constantly updating this section as new details about the litigation and court decisions develop.
Cymbalta was initially discovered by researchers working for Eli Lilly in 1986 and tested thereafter in clinical trials at varying dosages. The FDA first denied approval in 2003 due to manufacturing violations and concerns over liver toxicity.
In 2004, Cymbalta was approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression and nerve damage resulting from diabetes. This came only after Lilly agreed to add warnings to product inserts and prescribing information about potential liver damage.
In 2008, Cymbalta became only the second drug ever to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pain associated with fibromyalgia.
Lastly, the FDA approved Cymbalta to manage chronic musculoskeletal pain associated with the lower back and osteoarthritis in 2010. Eli Lilly sought approval for use of the drug to treat stress urinary incontinence, however, this has been denied by the FDA.
Cymbalta is available in dosages of 20 mg., 30 mg. and 60 mg. that are in the form of capsules. There is no liquid form of the drug.
In recent years, Cymbalta was the number-one selling drug for Eli Lilly. With use by millions of patients each year, it earned approximately $4.8 billion for the company as late as 2012. However, Lilly’s exclusive patent for Cymbalta expired on January 1, 2014. Since then, a number of generic alternatives have entered the market and sales have dropped.
Although all antidepressants have the potential to cause withdrawal symptoms upon discontinued use, reports have shown these to be especially severe for users of Cymbalta. Health experts have warned of the effects of Cymbalta withdrawal and encourage patients to only taper its use under the direction of a doctor. Also, patients who suffered severe effects have filed lawsuits in federal court against Eli Lilly for their failure to properly warn of the risks.
For years, Eli Lilly has refused to compensate those patients who experience severe withdrawal effects from stopping use of Cymbalta. Now, lawyers have filed a growing number of lawsuits on behalf of those injured in federal court.
In August of 2014, lawyers representing patients around the country asked a federal judicial panel to consolidate claims to a special court in California for Cymbalta withdrawal injuries.
The claims allege that the maker of the drug misrepresented the severity of withdrawal side effects, and how long they would last, and that they concealed evidence suggesting otherwise from their own study.
Legal experts believe that, due to the widespread use of Cymbalta and the occurrence rate of discontinuation side effects, thousands of patients who experienced severe complications may eventually come forward to join the litigation.
For more information on the effects of Cymbalta, or to speak with a lawyer that specializes in Cymbalta withdrawal lawsuits, contact us today.
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