In 2004 Eli Lilly & Co. found FDA approval for their new drug, Cymbalta. This drug was immediately successful in helping to treat depression, and it shot to popularity. However, as millions of people are being prescribed the drug every year, more and more are coming forward with serious side effects that they were never fully warned about. This has led to a number of Cymbalta lawsuits .

Cymbalta and Suicidal Thoughts

Although the drug is designed to alleviate depression, and the suicidal thoughts that often accompany it, there are some people that find they become more suicidal when taking the drug. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are especially elevated for teens and children taking the drug. A 2004 lawsuit against Eli Lilly claimed the company failed to properly warn about the dangers of taking the drug, and subsequently the plaintiffs lost their 16 year old son to suicide. This claim prompted the FDA to require a Black Box Warning be put on the labels of all antidepressants cautioning about the heightened risk of suicide.

Cymbalta and Withdrawal Symptoms

For those who started taking Cymbalta, and then became worried about the dangerous side effects, their troubles are not over. A study was performed that gave patients Cymbalta for 8 – 9 weeks, and then suddenly stopped giving them the medication. As many as 50% suffered from withdrawal symptoms, 10% suffered from severe symptoms. These symptoms were still present after 2 weeks of being off the drug. The reported withdrawal symptoms included:

– Personality Changes
– Dizziness
– Changes in Appetite and Weight
– Headache
– Nausea
– Vomiting
– Hallucinations
– Nightmares
– Suicidal Thoughts
– Paresthesia
– Excessive Sweating
– Irritability
– Crying

Cymbalta Leads to Liver Problems

If the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and the fact that quitting the drug can make worse symptoms appear are not enough, there is also the risk of severe liver damage. Patients who already have liver problems, or those who use alcohol regularly, may end up suffering from hepatitis or cholestatic jaundice. The symptoms include:

– Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
– Dark Urine
– Tenderness in the Abdomen
– Weakness
– Flu-like symptoms
– Nausea

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Cymbalta can help a lot of people. However, there are some who suffer greatly because Eli Lilly & Co. failed to warn about all of the side effects. In fact, during clinical trials, there were 5 reported suicides by those taking Cymbalta; yet the public was still not warned about the risk. If you have taken this drug, and you have suffered from any of these severe side effects, contact a personal injury attorney right away to discuss whether or not you can take part in a lawsuit.