Developed by Eli Lilly & Company, Zyprexa® (Olanzapine) is a second generation antipsychotic drug that was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration in 1996. Unlike first generation antipsychotic drugs, Zyprexa® effectively targeted specific chemicals responsible for psychotic behavior, blocking their transmittal and curbing many of the symptoms of neurological disorders. Although Zyprexa® use had some risks, it showed promise as a treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, the two specific disorders for which it was approved.
By 2003, Zyprexa® was responsible for over one-third of Eli Lilly's total sales, bringing in over $4 billion for the drug manufacturer. Much of this revenue resulted from prescriptions for "off-label" uses, or uses for which Zyprexa® was never approved by the FDA and which Eli Lilly could not promote. These off-label uses included treatment for stress, general depression, aggressive behavior, post-partum depression, and even gambling addictions. Even more disturbingly, many physicians prescribed Zyprexa® for children and adolescents, even though there is no case in which such a prescription would be appropriate. Under any circumstances, these off-label prescriptions would be ethically questionable.
It has since been discovered, however, that the use of Zyprexa® carries risks that were not made clear from the time the drug was introduced onto the market until recently. Although there is evidence to suggest that Eli Lilly was aware of many of these risks, the company failed to warn consumers through proper labeling or full public disclosure. As a result, the health of many Zyprexa® users, including many for whom the drug should never have been prescribed, has been severely compromised. The known and suspected risks of Zyprexa® are numerous, counting diabetes and other blood sugar disorders among the most serious.
As a treatment for schizophrenia and debatably for the manic stage of bipolar disorder, the benefits of Zyprexa® may still outweigh the risks in certain cases. However, the adverse side effects that have been linked to the drug have rendered it unduly dangerous in all other cases, its only true beneficiary being Eli Lilly & Company, for which it has generated billions of dollars over the years.
If you or someone you love has been injured by Zyprexa® (Olanzapine), you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Recently, an increasing number of lawsuits have been brought against Eli Lilly, whose responses to the possible risks associated with Zyprexa® have been slow and consistently inadequate. By contacting a law firm with experience and a track record of success in handling dangerous drug cases, and Zyprexa® cases in particular, you are taking a step not only toward protecting your own rights but also toward ensuring that others do not continue to suffer the effects of Zyprexa®.
If you would like to learn more about the co-sponsors of this Zyprexa® online information resource, please feel free to contact our law firm .
Fill out the form below if you or someone you love has taken Zyprexa® (Olanzapine), manufactured by Eli Lilly, without being properly advised of Zyprexa® risks. Be as specific about your case as possible.
Once all fields have been filled out to your satisfaction, click on the “submit” button.
You will be contacted by a qualified, experienced Zyprexa® attorney as soon as possible.