Originally published October 19 2005
Health experts warn about depression drug's effect on the liver
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Cymbalta, a drug designed by Eli Lilly & Co. to treat depression, has been associated with liver-related problems, and the FDA has reported that a new label will appear on the drug's packaging to alert people to its risks.
Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has expanded its warning about possible liver-related problems with its depression drug, Cymbalta, and cautioned doctors against its use in chronic liver disease patients, U.S. health regulators said on Monday.
A new label for the antidepressant, known generically as duloxetine, also includes reports of hepatitis, jaundice and other liver-related problems in patients using the drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on its Web site.
"Some of these reports indicate that patients with preexisting liver disease who take duloxetine may have an increased risk for further liver damage," the company said in letter to doctors dated Oct. 5.
Cymbalta, which is also approved to treat a type of nerve damage caused by diabetes, has been known to cause liver problems.
The label earlier warned against using the drug with alcohol.
"Cymbalta should ordinarily not be prescribed to patients with substantial alcohol use or evidence of chronic liver disease," according to the new label, which was also posted online.
A spokeswoman for the drugmaker could not be immediately reached for comment.
The letter and new label are posted online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2005/safety05.htm#Cymbalta.
Lilly shares fell $1.04, or 2 percent, to $51.58 in afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange.
The American Stock Exchange Pharmaceutical Index of large U.S. and European drugmakers was off 1.1 percent.
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