Eli Lilly & Co. was headed to court this week following allegations that the company failed to warn Cymbalta users that the popular antidepressant leads to severe withdrawal symptoms.
Around 250 people are suing Lilly over Cymbalta, one of which is Claudia Herrera. According to R. Brent Wisner, her lawyer, the company is facing three more trials in August involving claims similar to those his client has made in court. Herrera started taking the antidepressant in 2006 to treat her anxiety. She was gradually weaned off Cymbalta in 2012. However, despite the tapered doses, she suffered spasms, anxiety, electric-like "zaps" and had suicidal thoughts.
Plaintiffs claim that Lilly downplayed warnings for the antidepressant to make it more marketable. According to the Cymbalta label, at least a percent of those who discontinue taking the drug may experience insomnia, irritability and nausea. Additionally, other symptoms have been reported, like seizures and sensory disturbance.
However, those suing the company argue that withdrawal symptoms are more common than thought, citing an analysis published in 2005 in the Journal of Affective Disorders that showed over 44 percent of patients using Cymbalta suffered at least one withdrawal symptom when they stopped taking the antidepressant.
"The success or failure of these cases will give us a good sense of how they are playing to these juries," said Wisner, adding that the plaintiffs, including Herrera, intend to move forward with the litigation.
Other lawsuits involving Cymbalta have been unsuccessful in the past. Last year, a judge in New York, in a case similar to Herrera's, granted Lilly a win, while a California federal judge denied two motions from plaintiffs calling for class certification on claims concerning consumer protection related to marketing employed by Lilly for Cymbalta.
According to a spokesperson for Lilly, the company will be vigorously defending itself against Herrera's allegations.
Cymbalta belongs to an antidepressant class called serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. It received approval in 2004 from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as major depressive disorder treatment, which was later expanded to address fibromyalgia and generalized anxiety disorder.
In 2013, Lilly enjoyed $3.9 billion in sales for Cymbalta. The company has lost patent protection since then, posting sales amounting to $561 million in the first half of 2015.
Photo: Tori Rector | Flickr
