Zyprexa News
The Controversy of Zyprexa Being Overprescribed
- November 19, 2007
In the first four years that Zyprexa was sold in the U.S., marketing the drug for any use other than for adult schizophrenia was illegal.
However, in 2000, the drug was approved to treat bipolar disorder and other forms of depression.
Drug Approved to Treat Other Conditions
According to experts, once the drug is approved to treat one condition, it's legal for doctors to prescribe it for other purposes.
These unapproved purposes are known as “off-label”, which means that the doctor can prescribe the drug for a longer duration then specified.
Doctors were also given the ability to prescribe the potent drug at different doses and in combination with other medications, which has caused serious side effects for many.
Zyprexa Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder
When Zyprexa was approved for adults suffering from bipolar disorder in 2000, sales reportedly rose 23% over 1999, to $1.69 billion in 2000.
The following year the medication supposedly became the first product to be produced by Lily that had sales in excess of $3 billion worldwide.
Experts claim that there is no way that Zyprexa could have had the capability of becoming Lily's most widely used medication without influencing doctors to prescribe it off-label.
Lilly Not Upfront About Risks
Ellen Liversidge's son was prescribed Zyprexa when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and he reportedly remained on the drug for two years.
During this time, Ellen says he gained 100 pounds and eventually went into a coma and died from hyperglycemia.
After her son's death, Liversidge discovered that other countries had required Lilly to add warnings about the risk of weight gain, hyperglycemia and diabetes; however, the same requirements weren't issued in the U.S.
(Source: Best Syndication)
Have you or someone you know been harmed by Zyprexa? If so, please contact us today to speak with an experienced attorney regarding ways that you and your loved ones can receive compensation for any harm that has been done.
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Whether
or not Zyprexa and similar atypical antipsychotic drugs are linked to diabetes
is a question that will be answered in the Zyprexa lawsuits that have been
filed. Patients have reported deadly instances of Zyprexa side effects. There
are 288 reported cases of Zyprexa diabetes cases, including 23 deaths.
Zyprexa maker Eli Lilly has enjoyed large success with Zyprexa, with the drug
currently the world’s top selling schizophrenia medication. The Zyprexa
side effects causing Zyprexa lawsuits may begin slowing the company’s
current financial success. For more information on