 |
Zyprexa
|
Zyprexa is the brand name for Olanzapine, a thienobenzodiazepine. It is considered an “atypical” antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. It is thought that Zyprexa works by decreasing the effects of two chemical messengers in the brain, serotonin and dopamine. This medication is more effective and has fewer side effects than standard antipsychotic medications.
In 2001, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reported that the FDA had been received 19 case reports of diabetes linked to Zyprexa use. Of these patients, many were newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia. Some had developed problems within a week to six months of taking the drug, and one patient ultimately died. According to four medical agencies, people being treated for schizophrenia, manic depression, autism, dementia and other psychiatric disorders should be closely monitored for symptoms of developing diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol. In addition to Zyprexa, physicians were warned that patients taking Abilify, Clozaril, Geodon, Resperdal, and Seroquel should be closely watched for signs of developing problems that raise the risk of heart disease. Diabetic ketoacidosis is another life-threatening complication from Zyprexa that is marked by weight loss, nausea, vomiting, rapid breathing and dehydration. Following a study by Duke University and warnings by British and Japanese health agencies, the FDA requested that Eli Lilly add a new warning label to Zyprexa outlining the drug's link to diabetes and other blood sugar disorders.
In February of 2004, Eli Lilly and Company notified doctors and psychiatrists that elderly patients with dementia face an increased risk of stroke with Zyprexa treatment. While not approved for use in elderly dementia patients, physicians still prescribe the drug on an “off-label” basis. Off-label use is defined as prescribing a drug in a different dose, for a longer period of time, or for a different medical condition than recommended in the prescribing information. In March of 2004, the FDA and Lilly informed healthcare professionals of a revision to the drug label's Warnings section -- for more information see: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/safety04.htm#zyprexa. The new labeling describes the increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes in patients who take Zyprexa. All manufacturers of atypical antipsychotic medications have been asked by the FDA to add the Warning statement to their labeling.
Zyprexa represents about one-third of Eli Lilly’s 4.3 billion in sales last year. While the corporation continues to enjoy their Zyprexa profits, vulnerable consumers continue to suffer from the known and seemingly constant discovery of new health risks associated with the drug. John H. Carney & Associates believes that dangers of Zyprexa will increase as the drug remains in use at nursing homes and hospitals to treat the outbursts of the mentally ill and elderly.
If you that feel you, or someone you know, have been injured by a medical or pharmaceutical product, determining your legal rights can be complicated, and it may be unclear who to bring a claim against, and to what sort of damages you are entitled. To ensure that you receive just compensation, you should consider contacting an attorney with experience handling this type of case.
|
| |
