Connect
Brand Name Cymbalta by Eli Lilly is being discontinued!
I am seriously overwhelmed and scared. I just found out online that Cymbalta (brand name from Eli Lilly) is being discontinued worldwide. I called Eli Lilly customer service and they stated that it is discontinued. Whatever allotment is left with be distributed and that is it. I have tried the generic versions of Cymbalta along with other medications, such as Fetzima, Zoloft, Trintellix, Pristiq, Wellbutrin…none of them helped at all. I actually went into withdrawal in 2014 and 2016 when my health insurance wouldn’t cover the brand name Cymbalta, while having to take the generic duloxetine. It does not work the same, especially if you’ve been on the brand name first. I’ve contacted the FDA many times, and they could care less. There’s many articles out there that stated how many people have had issues with the generic version of Cymbalta. I currently Called the FDA to see if they could reach out to Eli Lilly for those of us who currently take Cymbalta. I have been on it now for almost 18 years, even emailing the CEO with no response from the company. Obviously they don’t care. They made their money over the last 20 off of the medication and now they have new medication to make more money off of. I literally have been getting severe panic attacks over this and I know when I’m not on the brand name, I will end up in the hospital or dead, and nobody is listening! What more can I do to change this? I feel like I’m planning my own funeral in my head, and none of these corporate people that make these decision could care less. The only med that works for me is being discontinued and I feel like my days are numbered. Never been this scared in my life.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.
Connect
I did well on Cymbalta at first, but when they increased my dose I had a nasty rash. Eventually a sympathetic psychiatrist indulged me and we read the literature together, revealing that a single ingredient was in only the 60 mg caps. I asked for 2 x 30 mg and carried on for years, having more meds added periodically. In time the intensity of my episodes declined and the downsides of medicating outweighed the benefits so I spent a couple of years weaning off everything. Doctors still think I'm depressive, but it's so mild compared to my youth I just decline treatment and carry on. They don't regard me as a success story, though, and I wonder if it's because I'm not ringing their cash registers as often.
Does anyone know if they have taken the cancer causing ingredient out?
Hello, I went through the same issue in the past with (the brand version of) Cymbalta. I’ve been on it since 2009, and it works amazingly well for me. I’ve tried other things and with not nearly as much success. My co-pays kept getting higher for the brand name, and finally my insurance refused to pay for it since the generics were available. I ended up paying over $200 a month just to keep the brand name, until I couldn’t do it anymore. I did find the Breckenridge generic and that works almost as well for me. I use Walmart Pharmacy, and they are amazing at allowing me to special order that particular generic. Just like you I’ve tried other ones and it’s like not even taking an antidepressant.
When all this happened, I did a deep dive into understanding how generics work and basically my psychiatrist said there is like a 20% window of efficacy that the generic has to reach, but there can be other additives that totally change how it works in your body.
I know Breckenridge is having some supply issues right now because of problems earlier in the year with a recall. I am definitely praying that they will resume production in 2026. Maybe give them a try and see if it works for you. And hang in there; don’t give up; advocate for yourself like your life depends on it.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
6 Reactions@jille1443
I’ve been on cymbalta for about 20 years .
Because of Lily’s discontinuing, I’m going
to discuss with my psychiatrist,
replacing it with
a newer type of antidepressant.
What new antidepressants do people take now like Cymbalta? Thanks very much.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 Reactions@zrose0001 I'd be curious to know also. The generic duloxetene that works best for me (Breckenridge manufacturers) was the one that had the recalls last year and paused manufacturing this past month. So, availability has been an issue twice in the last year. If they will continue to make it, I will keep taking it, but if they discontinue it altogether, I may consider something else. Thanks in advance.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI’ll keep you informed how it works out.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsI was on Cymbalta 60 mg for about 7 years or so, for back pain. It was effective in reducing pain from sciatica and foraminal stenosis (and incidentally for "a sense of calm" - I'm not on it for depression, but noticed I felt mentally better, calmer on the drug). When Lily stopped producing the drug Cymbalta, I tried three or four Duloxetine 60mg generics. The one that really seemed the same as Cymbalta was made by Sandoz, a Swiss drug maker that has a Canadian plant in Quebec, Canada. It felt and affected me very similarly to the original Cymbalta from Lily. I really couldn't tell the difference. This was a relief for me as one or two of the other generics I tried had some negatives in terms of side effects, such as a bit of nausea in one case, in another the release of the tiny timed pellets of Duloxetine jolted me with a bad taste late in the 24 hour release period, and one other which made feel a little jittery. I was relieved when I tried the Sandoz generic. Apparently Sandoz does not have rights in the U.S. to sell their generics, too bad. My pharmacy was able to get me those three or four generic brands for me to try, as they understand that different manufacturers of generics do not use the same ingredients in the capsule, other than Duloxetine which is always the same. Those other ingredients can be good for some people, not so much for others. It's a trial and error process. The other generic that a close friend of mine likes and takes, and couldn't tell the difference between the Cymbalta and the generic was TEVA, which has manufacturing plants in Canada. It is also available in the U.S. Here are the other generic makers of Duloxetine in the U.S. from an AI search:
Ajanta Pharma
Alkem Labs
Apotex
Breckenridge
Camber Pharmaceuticals
Citron Pharma
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Lupin Ltd.
Solco Healthcare US
Sun Pharma Global FZE
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA
Torrent Pharmaceuticals
Zydus
I suggest you ask your pharmacy if they can get you a packet of a few of these generic Duloxetine makers drug for testing. You will know within a week whether or not the drug will be suitable. In fact, you will likely know within a few days. Don't give up easily, the likelihood is high that'll you will find a version of Duloxetine that will be as good as Cymbalta. I really worried about that too, and it was just a matter and testing what was on the market. Your pharmacy is there to make it happen for you. All the best!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@jonesycanuck Thank you so much!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jonesycanuck hi honey,
Thanks so much for your complete information, so appreciated. I’ll follow your recommendations.
Sincerely
Norene
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@zrose0001
Don’t know how the word honey appeared, meant Jonesy