September 19, 2014 — Eli Lilly & Co., the manufacturer of Cymbalta (duloxetine), is trying to dismiss lawsuits involving people who accuse the drug-maker of failing to warn about the risk of severe withdrawal.
Attorneys for Eli Lilly asked federal judges in New York to dismiss a lawsuit (PDF) that was filed last year by plaintiff Jesse McDowell.
McDowell says he was prescribed Cymbalta in 2009 for the treatment of anxiety and depression. He says he continued to suffer from anxiety and depression while using Cymbalta. Around March 2012, his doctor recommended slowly tapering off the dose over seven months.
Unfortunately, McDowell developed severe withdrawal symptoms — “brain zaps” that left him confused and disoriented, debilitating headaches, frequent thoughts of suicide, and problems sleeping at night. Some of these symptoms persist, including headaches.
He also suffers from persistent “brain zaps”, a side effect many users of Cymbalta describe as a sudden electric-like shock in the brain that is often accompanied by dizziness and disorientation.
There are at least 28 lawsuits pending against Eli Lilly & Co. around the United States. Plaintiffs are currently seeking to have the litigation consolidated at the federal level in a Multi-District Litigation (MDL), which Eli Lilly opposes.
The lawsuits have all been filed by people who accuse Eli Lilly of misleading patients and doctors about the risk of withdrawal and the severity of symptoms. The Prescribing Information for Cymbalta warns that “greater than or equal to 1%” of patients experience withdrawal.
However, Lilly’s own clinical trials demonstrated that 44-50% of patients experience withdrawal, 10% of cases were severe, 54% of cases did not resolve after 1-2 weeks. Patients in the study discontinued Cymbalta after taking it for just 8 or 9 weeks, but in the real world, many people take Cymbalta for years before trying to stop.
Do I have a Cymbalta Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Cymbalta induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with severe withdrawal, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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