Since 1996, Zyprexa® has been prescribed to thousands upon thousands of people to treat a wide variety of conditions, yet it has only ever been approved for use in patients suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Those who were prescribed the drug prior to 2004 were completely unaware of the full range of possible side effects of Zyprexa®, including diabetes, pancreatitis, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), tardive dyskinesia, and even death. This is because Eli Lilly & Company, the manufacturer of the drug, was not forthcoming about the known and suspected side effects of Zyprexa®, failing to provide proper warnings of risks to consumers. As a result, many Zyprexa® users are currently facing serious threats to their health while Eli Lilly finds itself the subject of an increasing number of lawsuits.
Although Eli Lilly was forced by the FDA in 2003 to revise the label on Zyprexa®, the company has yet to take measures to restrict "off-label" prescriptions of the drug. Among the most common of these off-label (meaning, non-FDA-approved) uses of Zyprexa® is the treatment of anorexia, due to the fact that use of the drug often results in moderate-to-dramatic weight gain. Other common off-label uses include treatment for depression, particularly in new mothers and other females; treatment for unruly or aggressive behavior; treatment for stress, again particularly in females; and treatment for addictive behavior. It should be stressed that, although Zyprexa® has been routinely prescribed for the purposes of mood elevation, it is a second generation antipsychotic drug, not an anti-depressant. The FDA has never approved Zyprexa® as a treatment for depression.
One of the most common and dangerous possible side effects of Zyprexa® is diabetes. Duke University first published the results of a study that linked Zyprexa® to diabetes in July 2002, yet Eli Lilly failed to take definitive action to protect consumers against this possible risk. Evidence was presented that the consumption of Zyprexa® led to an increased risk of diabetes millitus type II, a serious disease that can lead to toxic shock, damage to the cardiovascular system, coma, and even death. Although Eli Lilly was forced to include diabetes as a possible side effect on the revised labeling of Zyprexa®, damage had already been done to many of the drug's users.
Another of the serious side effects of Zyprexa® is pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas commonly accompanied by severe abdominal pain. Zyprexa® has also been linked to neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal reaction to antipsychotic drugs marked by high fever and impaired movement, and tardive dyskinesia, a neurological disorder for which there is no known treatment.
It is unlikely that the risks of Zyprexa® use outweighed the possible benefits of the drug in all but the most severe instances of schizophrenia. The unfortunate truth is that, in nearly every case, the dangerous conditions caused by Zyprexa® are a greater threat to life and health than the conditions for which it was prescribed.
Fortunately, if you have been injured due to Zyprexa® use, you do have legal recourse. If you have taken Zyprexa® and suffered diabetes, pancreatitis, or any of the other serious disorders associated with use of the drug, our law firm can help you to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. Our attorneys have extensive experience and success handling dangerous drug cases, including those involving Zyprexa® injuries. Contact our law firm today for a free evaluation of your Zyprexa® case.
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