54 replies to this topic

[KnoxRicksenLLP]

Hi Everyone,

 

My name is Zachary Johnson and I've had the pleasure of speaking with quite a few of you over the phone, may be it on unfortunate circumstances. 

 

Our law firm, Knox Ricksen LLP, has been handling claims for individuals who have been suffering from Cymbalta Withdrawal. We have seen the negative effects of Cymbalta first hand after seeing someone very close to our firm's family go through Cymbalta withdrawal. We are committed to doing all that we can do to help people who have had to suffer through withdrawal symptoms. 

 

Please feel free to ask questions or comment here if interested. You may also contact us directly if you have any questions at www.knoxricksen.com . You may also email me directly at zjohnson@knoxricksen.com 

[thismoment]

wow

[ZappAlta]

All along my withdrawel journey and 2 calls to Eli L I hoped and longed for someone to listen. Thank you for posting this info.

[FiveNotions]

Thank you Zachary, Tyler and Knox Ricksen!

I keep coming back here to read, re-read, your letter to us. You've returned a sense of hope to me, a hope that with your help and advocacy we can put a stop to this evil drug and prevent countless others from going through what we have, and are, going through.

I will do everything in my power to help with this effort.

And I will keep both of you, and all of the "Cymbalta team, " in my daily prayers.

[fishinghat]

A quick question Mr. Johnson.

 

When I had my disability hearing several years ago the 'other' side deposed me 5 or 6 times and each was 5 to 8 hours long. Additionally, they deposed my wife as well. I know it is early in the process but will there likely be several depositions in this case as well?

[xman]

Thank you!!

[KnoxRicksenLLP]

Hi FishingHat,

 

If these cases move to litigation, they will personal injury cases and the experience will be very different from your experience with SSDI. I'm sorry to hear that you had to go through such a hassle during your hearing.

 

Its very unlikely that we will have to perform depositions in these cases.The cases will most likely come down to the medical records and the reports we generate from each of your stories. We know that each of you have already gone through a very tumultuous experience. Our goal is to make this as easy on you as possible. 

 

[fishinghat]

Thank You very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to reply.

[FiveNotions]

Whew....that lowered my anxiety, thanks!

[GonnaMakeIt]

DITTO--thanks so much, Zachary, Tyler and Knox Ricksen!  Very happy to see that you have joined the group and are reading the posts to understand what we are all going through.

[ZappAlta]

Just to add a comment update from my sweet Pharmacist( this eve) when I chatted with her about the dreadful time I had coiming off Cymbalta . 'O yes daily we get many calls from our customers asking for advice on what Drug they can cross taper with to alleviate their symptoms and sadly their dr's discount how badly they feel.

[FiveNotions]

I'm going to contact Ken, the creator and admin of this forum now, and ask him to pin this thread permanently at the top of the main topic page.

We can't let this "drop down" the index and topic list!

[FiveNotions]

Just sent Ken a PM about this!

[Clara]

Wow! I'm happy! Don't know if I'll join up... maybe. Haven't kept very good info on myself, but....! Thanks ever so much Zachary, Tyler, and Knox. Someone out there besides us C sufferers cares!!! Thank you, thank, thank you and God bless!

[FiveNotions]

I now come here every morning and evening when I've finished my prayers and I reread K-R's letter to us..... it keeps a smile on my face and hope in my heart.

[FiveNotions]

Zachary and Tyler.....

Here's a link to all the articles on discontinuation that Fishinghat has found so far....I was going to send them to you directly, but am putting the link here so that others who read your notice and this thread can have access to them as well.....

https://www.cymbalta...ing-2014/page-2

[xman]

There is hope that someday this drug, prescribed by physician and their extenders around the world, will think twice before writing an rx for it. And if it stays on the market, the horrible side effects will be well documented.

[FiveNotions]

Here's a quarterly report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) that discusses duloxetine discontinuation. See the end notes for citations to journal articles.

QuarterWatch™ (2012—Quarter 1) Signals For DULoxetine, Pioglitazone, Aliskiren, And Rivaroxaban
https://www.ismp.org...icle.aspx?id=32

[FiveNotions]

I should have posted this sooner.....the link to Knox Ricksen's cymbalta discontinuation syndrome website page ....

http://www.knoxricks.../?page_id=10696

[ShadyLady]

FN...thanks for your tireless crusade for us helpless zombies wandering around with our brains spilling out. I made my first call (to anyone in weeks) and spoke with Zachary. Very compassionate, insightful young man!! It was empowering for me to feel the pain & fear of trying to create something positive out of this negative mind/body assault of getting off Cymshit...I want to live long enough to see this killer drug banned!

[FiveNotions]

Zachary and Tyler,

Are you considering posting this notice in the other online forums devoted to antidepressant withdrawal? My bet is you've already identified these forums, but just in case not, here are just a few of them.....

http://survivingantidepressants.org (Doesn't seem to have a "search" function, which meant I couldn't find entries specifically on duloxetine/cymbalta.)
http://survivinganti...events-actions/

http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/ (Has a search function, but it requires an image/code verification, and I'm repeatedly told I didn't correctly enter the letters/numbers, so I gave up.)

http://www.drugs-forum.com/index.php

http://www.depressio...duloxetine-hcl/

http://www.socialanx...ine-snri-84126/

[FiveNotions]

Here's the link to Knox Ricksen's entry in Martindale-Hubbell, which is the "go-to" reference source for information on law firms, attorneys, and client/peer reviews of them....

http://www.martindal...-firm-82836.htm

We've got the best representing us.

[FiveNotions]

I just found this online petition effort to Eli Lilly re. Cymbalta withdrawal.....never heard of this website, and I doubt the petition will go anywhere because it's not being promoted properly ... but, found it interesting....

Potential Cymbalta Withdrawal Symptoms Made Public By Eli Lilly
http://www.ipetition...tion/cymbalta1/

[FiveNotions]

SSRI Stories
http://ssristories.org/categories/

ThisMoment posted this link in another thread.

[FiveNotions]

In addition to Dr. Peter Breggin, we've talked about this fellow previously on the forum:

Dr. David Healy (UK)
http://davidhealy.org/

Two of his group's endeavors

RxISK
https://www.rxisk.org/Default.aspx
Research a prescription drug to see what side effects have been reported in the 5.2 million reports submitted to the FDA, Health Canada, and RxISK. - See more at: https://www.rxisk.org

RxISK eCONSULT
http://rxclinic.org/

The world’s first internet based comprehensive drug event consultation service . . .
1.Set you up for access to your medical records in the RxISK Patient Portal. The Portal provides access to referral and consent forms that are completed by you and uploaded to the Portal;
2.Schedule and conduct an interview of approximately an hour using the web based GoToMeeting to meet with a member of our medical team to review your situation and answer your questions; and
3.Follow up with a written personal consultation report.
(Reports and expert witness services are also available for civil or criminal litigation.)

[FiveNotions]

Zachary, do you have the names of any doctors .....anywhere in the US or abroad.....who are familiar with, and treat, severe ssri/cymbalta withdrawal syndrome?

So far, I've got just two names I've mentioned above...Dr Peter Breggin (Ithaca, NY) and Dr. David Healy (UK).....

It would be a wonderful resource for all of us to have access to.....

[FiveNotions]

Here's another profession who's fighting these drugs.....Ann Blake-Tracy, PHD...... I also made a separate post for her websites....

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com

It's oddly designed, but loaded with information.....here's the little bit I found about who started it....not sure it's even currently maintained....she's definitely on a crusade against these poisons....

Dr Ann Blake Tracy, founder of the International Coalition for DrugAwareness (ICFDA), was and is the first amongst the "front fighters" in the battle against the anti-depressant hype with the courage to undertake action to educate the public. Through the years she has gathered an abundance of horrendous experiences and shocking facts regarding the devastating side effects of these drugs. With her ample knowledge, experience as well as her activities across the United States, she has become an authority in this untransparent and complex field. We of AntiDepressantsFacts invite you to visit her brilliant website which is utmost educative.

http://www.drugawareness.org

[Amybc7]

Can Mr. Johnson - or anyone here - speak to what this really means?  How do we join? What will be required of us?  Is there a cost?  Those kinds of questions.

 

I'm still tapering....and should be for another month.  (So slow but steady!)  My doctor had nothing to offer after the initial instructions to go every other day for a week and then every three days for a week and then stop.  I'm flying blind with the help of the wonderful people here.  

 

Yes, I'm angry.  Yes, I'm scared.  Yes - I want other people to know.  Above all else though - what would this lawyer do and do I really count?

[FiveNotions]

Yes, Amy, you really count! And this law firm really does care!

There is no cost to any of us who participate. The firm would take their fees and expenses out of any final judgment that was awarded or settlement that was reached.

I don't want to explain anything about the case incorrectly, so I'm going to leave that for Zachary to do.

If you feel well enough to talk on the phone, I. Suggest you call Zachary directly. That's what I did.....he explained the case to me, asked me what I'd been experiencing during withdrawal/discontinuation, and based on what I told him he sent me a packet of new client forms....which I am slowly getting filled out and intend to send back to him early next week.

He also answered a number of questions I had about the case.

By the time we ended our call, I felt a huge sense of relief....and reduced anxiety.....after dealing with all the docs and therapists who've told me there's no such thing as cymbalta withdrawal syndrome, it was just wonderful to be validated and acknowledged by Zachary and the firm as a whole.

If you don't feel up to calling him, go right ahead and email him. Let him know that you're interested in participating, a little bit about your experience while on, and now while getting off, cymbalta. And ask him all the questions you have.

[ShadyLady]

You count! I called the office and spoke with Tyler! For me that was huge as I am 12 days into cold turkey off the crap & can't even talk to my closest friends (none of which is on any ssri/ssnri's!) He was so kind & compassionate even with all my uhs:) & sent me the packet that same day!! Required of us? He asked if I could get some documentation from my pharmacist showing the history of refills and explained it saves time if you can get your medical records from whomever prescribed the C crap!! I felt so empowered after I made the call, even in my despicable condition, that maybe in my life time I might live to see this shit banned!!

I aint so smart on some of the specifics,,,others can probably answer more coherently;). I, too, am 'angry (big time:-0) & scared' right along with you, Amybc7