Zyprexa Lawsuit

Atypical Anti-Psychotic Drug Lawsuits

Zyprexa (Olanzapine®) Lawsuit

Zyprexa, like Risperdal and Seroquel, has been associated with serious
side effects in patients, especially those who have already been
diagnosed with diabetes.

Knowledge of the potential dangers of Zyprexa were discovered as a
result of a series of findings beginning in 2001 when the FDA was alerted
to 19 case reports of diabetes associated with the drug.

One of these cases resulted in a patient’s death due to necrotizing
pancreatitis, a very serious condition in which cells in the pancreas
die.

An emergency report issued by the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry
in April of 2002 concerning the side effects of Zyprexa noted that there
had been two deaths of patients who had diabetes prior to taking the
anti-psychotic medication.

Seroquel Raises Diabetes Risk, Doctor Says

Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) — AstraZeneca Plc’s antipsychotic drug Seroquel raised by almost 400 percent the risk of developing diabetes when compared with first-generation medications in its class, a doctor testified in a court case against the drugmaker.

A 2004 article published in Psychiatric Services, a journal of the American Psychiatric Association, reported the increased risk in males who were exposed to Seroquel for at least 60 days. The study, which involved 1,629 patients, compared the exposure of a newer class of antipsychotics including clozapine and Seroquel with an older class of drugs, Jennifer Marks, a Miami- based endocrinologist, said during a pre-trial hearing yesterday in federal court in Orlando, Florida.

Antipsychotic Drug Use Up in Elderly Despite Warnings

MessageMONDAY, Aug. 25, 2008  — Safety warnings slowed the use of antipsychotic drugs in seniors with dementia. But the overall use of the drugs in the elderly increased, a finding which suggests that warnings may not be sufficient to protect patients, Canadian researchers say.

Between late 2002 and June 2005, Health Canada issued three warnings that three new atypical antipsychotic drugs increased the risk of stroke and death in elderly patients with dementia.

Doctor who Sparked Biopolar Disorder in Children, Nailed!

The world renowned Dr. Joseph Biederman, Professor of Psychiatry and Child Psychiatrist at Harvard University; and Chief of Clinical and Research and in Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Chief of the Adult ADHD Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, who sparked Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, was exposed by Congressional Investigators and the New York Times for not reporting much of the $1.6 million he collected from drug manufacturers from 2000 – 2007 until just recently.  The figure could be higher because in one example, Dr. Biederman reported no income from Johnson & Johnson for 2001 in a disclosure report filed with the university. When asked to check again, he said he received $3,500. But Johnson & Johnson told Congressional Investigator, Mr. Grassley, that it paid him $58,169 in 2001.

Patients of All Ages on Antidepressants Should be Monitored Warns FDA

The FDA Black Box warnings increase.

Some of our readers are not up to date on that Black Box Warnings found on antidepressants.  Black Box Warnings that were made mandatory on antidepressants by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) are no longer just targeted at young children, adolescents or young adults.  See the excerpt below found on your typical antidepressant:

“…Patients of all ages who are started on antidepressant therapy should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber… “*