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drug_recall zyprexaThe FDA approved the anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa, or olanzapine, in 1996 for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since then, Zyprexa has been used to treat more than 14 million people worldwide.
Zyprexa, an anti-psychotic medication, is in the class of drugs known as "second generation anti-psychotics" or SGAs. Also known as atypical anti-psychotics, SGAs, like Zyprexa, were developed in the early 1990s as an alternative to so-called "first generation anti-psychotics," which have been around since the 1950s. The SGAs were thought to be more effective at treating psychotic disorders while causing fewer side effects. In addition to Zyprexa, there are five other SGAs currently on the market.
Zyprexa, and other SGAs, work by decreasing unusually high levels of brain activity. The drug has been used alone for treatment of short-term bipolar mania and bipolar maintenance, in combination with lithium valporate for treatment of generalized bipolar mania and in combination with Prozac for treatment of bipolar depression. An injectable form of Zyprexa was approved in 2004 for the fast-acting treatment of acute agitation associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Although Zyprexa has proven successful in treating these mood disorders, physicians have prescribed it for off-label uses, including the treatment of age-related dementia and Alzheimer''s disease symptoms such as delusions, aggression and anxiety. Recent studies have found that this usage increases the risk of stroke in elderly patients.
Zyprexa, which is manufactured by Eli Lilly and Co., had already been linked to hyperglycemia, diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular problems and pancreatitis before the recent study linking the drug to potentially deadly stroke. The study, performed in Great Britain, reports that approximately 9,000 patients over the age of 65 received Zyprexa to treat dementia. Study results find that risk of stroke increased three-fold in the group taking the drug.
Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops. The most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke, is caused by a blood clot that blocks an artery or blood vessel in the brain. Effects of a stroke range in severity depending on the type of stroke, the affected area and the extent of damage suffered during the stroke. Stroke victims may suffer from paralysis, pain, numbness, difficulty speaking and thinking, and emotional changes.
Stroke risk is increased by diabetes, which is also linked to Zyprexa. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, high cholesterol and genetics. People who take Zyprexa or have any other risk factors should pay attention to stroke symptoms, including: numbness or weakness in the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body; confusion or difficulty speaking; vision disturbances; dizziness, trouble walking or loss of coordination; and severe headache with no apparent cause.
On March 6, 2008, the State of Alaska provided its opening arguments in a lawsuit against the maker of the schizophrenia drug Zyprexa.
The lawsuit contends that the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly played down the diabetes and weight gain The maker of the popular antipsychotic drug Zyprexa is in talks to settle state and federal claims over the company’s marketing practices for more than $1 billion, potentially the... Strong new warnings were added to the label of the top-selling antipsychotic Zyprexa last week, alerting patients and physicians to the increased risk of high blood sugar and » Read More "Makers of Zyprexa may Settle Suit"
"High Blood Sugar and Weight Gain Risks"