2 replies to this topic

[pharmarunner]

I wasn't quite sure if I was going to write on this forum due to my background of pharma sales. But, I have never been one to stay quiet so here I am and I am pissed!! :evil: I am 3 days off Cymbalta "cold turkey" - as a rep I can assure you I know that this is ridiculous. I have been traveling for the past year - a break from the Pharmaceutical world. I know I am preaching to the choir when I say this was a wise decision. So needless to say the countries I am in do not recognize medications such as Cymbalta - I guess a blessing in disguise... The part that has not been such a blessing is the withdrawals. I have been experiencing brain shivers (I had experienced these while on the medication as well), dizziness and severe bowel issues. I order Omegabrite so I am excited to be getting that and I have been drinking a ton of H2O. In addition, I have commited myself to more walking and less cabs while I am traveling - it can only help, right?!
Well I sent the following to Eli Lily through the petition - every bit helps.

I have been on this drug for a couple years now - I have never in my life experienced such unnecessary pain. I have been having brain shivers for the past three days since I came off the medicine. I have been so dizzy and my stomach is in ruins.
I have been a pharmaceutical representative for the past 4 years - if I would have been educated on the withdrawal symptoms of Cymbalta I would never have agreed to try this horrendous medication!! I can assure Eli Lily that I will do everything I can out in the field with my doctors to educate them on the withdrawals of this medication.
Fortunately for me, I understand the business of Pharmaceuticals - unlike many naieve patients. I know that hitting a Pharma company where it hurts is the only way. I can assure you I will make sure all those cymbalta scripts get CHANGED and new scripts take Cymbalta out of the equation. I didn't reach Presidents Circle for nothing. Thanks for the extra motivation Eli Lily!

As far as my career in Pharma when I get back to the States - I will have my day! I don't sell anti-depressants but I did call on Family Med and Internal Med physicians. I will be there to educate every one of them on my experience with this horrific drug.

The sad thing is - is that reps are not educated on withdrawal symptoms - ask yourself - why would that help the companies numbers??? It doesn't - so during training very little time is spent on this area. In addition - the sad and very scary truth is that the only way the majority of physicians are educated on medications is through reps. They do not have time to study after work and the insurance system has set it up so that they have to see so many patients in order to make any money. The average amount of time that a physician spends time learning about a medication is 60-90 seconds - maybe 4 times a week. How effective is this? Not very.

I know I may catch some grief for being a rep but at the end of the day I know the medication that I am selling is SAVING LIVES and that is no minor thing. My company may not have their interests in the patient all the time - but I know I DO! The day I stop caring about whether or not a patients lives or dies - will be the day I need to move onto something else. Thanks for listening to my rantings - don't think that part is from the withdrawals - like I said I am a hard one to keep quiet!!

[Attorney_Victim]

Pharmarunner,
I'm sorry you had to find out about Cymbalta the hard way! This drug doesn't discriminate...it has found victims in all professions! As you may have read, Prozac (or another antidep with a long half life) can be taken during withdrawal to alleviate the symptoms. Or, you can stick with the natural way using supplements and diet changes. There is lots of info about both methods on this site. Feel free to ask for specific advice, or just to come here for support when you need it! We're all in this together, and when you feel better, you will be in a great position to help others avoid the dangers of Cymbalta!

[pharmarunner]

Thank you so much for the responses! They were much needed after my day. I am teaching and traveling at the same time - so teaching and going through this I know will be quite a challenge, as I saw today. the worst part was the brain shivers - it actually feels like the subway train is approaching - I can hear IT!! I can handle the upset stomach - the food in SE ASIA has never liked me --- but the brain shivers....

Does anyone know exactly what is happening physiologically when these shivers occur? (As I am certain that Eli Lily doesn't use this terminoIogy - so finding it on there packaging I am certain will be a lost casue.) I am nervous of permanent damage to my neurotransmitters. I was pretty out of it today and I can't imagine having to deal with this the rest of my life! I know it is only the end of day 4 but I am scared.

Has anyone reported this as an adverse reaction? What was the official word from Eli Lily? Novartis takes adverse events extremely seriously - I can't imagine this being a minor problem . I am wondering how Eli Lily has handled them? I still have some friends with Eli Lily - I will see what they have heard about this - not that you would want input from them - but I am curious. I am also wondering if Forest / Lexapro has gotten a handle on the withdrawal symptoms of cymbalta - I can only imagine it would help them out.

Enough of my rambling - I think I need to get some sleep!