Zyprexa

Zyprexa (Olanzapine) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute bipolar mania. In March of 2004, the FDA and Eli Lilly and Company informed healthcare professionals that the Zyprexa label warnings would include the description of increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes in patients who take Zyprexa. In fact, the FDA has asked all manufacturers of atypical antipsychotic medications to add the Warning statement to labeling.

At Keel O’Malley L.L.P., we are dedicated to holding pharmaceutical manufacturers who make unsafe or mislabeled drugs accountable and liable for their actions. Our attorneys help improve the lives of our clients by fighting for their right to fair compensation. We have successfully handled dangerous drug cases in North Carolina.

Zyprexa is a thienobenzodiazepine and is considered an “atypical” antipsychotic medication that is used to treat schizophrenia. It is thought that Zyprexa works by decreasing the effects of two chemical messengers in the brain, serotonin and dopamine. In a 2001, the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry stated that the FDA had received numerous case reports linking Zyprexa use to diabetes. Many patients were newly diagnosed with hyperglycemia and some had developed problems within a week to six months of taking the drug. Diabetic ketoacidosis is another life-threatening complication that has been linked to Zyprexa. Four separate medical agencies have issued a warning that people being treated for schizophrenia, manic depression, autism, dementia and other psychiatric disorders should be closely monitored for symptoms of developing diabetes, obesity and/or high cholesterol. In addition to Zyprexa, physicians were warned that patients taking Abilify, Clozaril, Geodon, Resperdal, and Seroquel should be monitored for signs of developing of heart disease. While not approved for use in elderly dementia patients, physicians still prescribe the drug on an “off-label” basis. Off-label use refers to the practice of marketing or prescribing a drug in a different dose, for a longer period of time, or for a different medical condition than approved by the FDA. Eli Lilly and Company has notified doctors and psychiatrists that elderly patients with dementia face an increased risk of stroke with Zyprexa treatment.

Despite a continuing civil investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania into Eli Lilly's marketing and promotion of Zyprexa, the drug represents about one-third of Eli Lilly’s 4.3 billion in sales last year. As investigations continue and Eli Lilly’s profit margins grow, vulnerable consumers continue to suffer from health risks associated with the drug.

At Keel O’Malley L.L.P., we believe that consumers have the right to medication that is safe when taken as directed. If you or a family member have been injured by Zyprexa or have lost a family member because of this medication, please contact us today at (252) 823-2266 or toll free at (800) 755-1987, or submit an online questionnaire. Our team of attorneys, legal assistants, a professional investigator and a registered nurse will review and analyze your case. We will discuss the situation with you in an initial consultation that is always free and will work for you on a contingency fee basis. In many cases, a lawsuit must be filed within a limited timeframe known as a statute of limitations.