Zyprexa and Women

In 2000, the Public Citizen recommended to the FDA that labeling and a box warning is included on Zyprexa to warn of the increased risk of pregnancy when being switched from first-generation antipsychotics to Zyprexa and women patients. The women not wishing to become pregnant should be recommended contraceptives and the information should be included in the doctor and patient Zyprexa label. Also recommended was for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to be required to research the issue of unwanted pregnancies occurring with Zyprexa use.

Women were being unknowingly exposed to unwanted pregnancies at a high rate when switching from an older antipsychotic that was a fertility suppressor to Zyprexa, which restores normal fertility. The popularity of Zyprexa, considered a new atypical antipsychotic, took off, with rapidly increasing sales that have allowed Zyprexa to become the world’s best selling schizophrenia drug. For over 20 years it has been a known fact that Zyprexa can increase risk for pregnancy, but Zyprexa labeling and product information did not contain the subject of pregnancy risks.

In addition, there have been case reports since 1993 showing the Zyprexa pregnancies. These reports indicate the high number of unwanted Zyprexa pregnancies that have occurred. There were tens of thousands or more women, according to the Public Citizen letter, that were of childbearing age still unaware of the increased fertility risks. Contact us for more information on Zyprexa side effects.