The Risks Of Zyprexa

The drug maker, Eli Lilly is said to be playing down the risks of its top drug Zyprexa. It is a drug for schizophrenia. It is being said that Lilly kept important information from doctors concerning the drug Zyprexa.

The documents, given to The Times by a lawyer representing mentally ill patients, show that Lilly executives kept important information from doctors about Zyprexa’s links to obesity and its tendency to raise blood sugar — both known risk factors for diabetes.

Lilly’s own published data, which it told its sales representatives to play down in conversations with doctors, has shown that 30 percent of patients taking Zyprexa gain 22 pounds or more after a year on the drug, and some patients have reported gaining 100 pounds or more. But Lilly was concerned that Zyprexa’s sales would be hurt if the company was more forthright about the fact that the drug might cause unmanageable weight gain or diabetes, according to the documents, which cover the period 1995 to 2004.

In some cases the drug is also being said to cause death.

I always knew that Eli Lilly was hiding the truth; the truth that their "blockbuster" drug Zyprexa could cause diabetes, and could kill people as it killed my son. Yet, to read about it today in an article by Alex Berenson in the New York Times still turns my stomach. I got an email from Lilly, trying desperately to do damage control, and shaking a stick at the wonderful lawyer that got this information out to the public. Lilly may huff and puff, but they can't blow this house down.

I am sure most every has heard of the disproportionately high profits made by the drug companies. To my knowledge they are only rivaled by the oil companies. It has been said by some that the drug companies don't want the populace to be health. The sicker we are the more drugs we will take. I don't know if this is a good example of that or not, but I do know we need all the information we can get.

edited for spelling

[edit on 17-12-2006 by RedGolem]

I've been takeing Zyprexa since its been on the market for about 11 years. I've gained about 20 lbs but I exersise and eat right to keep my weight down. As far as I'm concerned the benafits out weigh the risks for me. I have a severe case of paranoid schizophrenia as of the last couple years I've been symtom free.

Not all medications work the same for schizophrenics some have better sucsess then others on certain meds. If I were to try other meds they might not be as effective on me and I do not want to hear voices again.

All meds have side effects even asprin. Certain antipsychotics cause central neverous sytem damage others severe acne some even kidney failure they all have side effects. For me diabetes is the price I might have to pay for my sanity.

No one ever said life was fair if it were I would'nt have this illness to begin with let alone haveing to take medication my whole life. Studies have shown schizophrinics don't live long anyway. The average age of death is 55 for some reason thier very suseptable to kidney and other diseases. I accept things for the way they are the way I see it is no one gets out alive.

If thats the price I have to pay so be it. Being paranoid is no way to live its a [snip] nightmare.

Mod Edit: removed censor circumvention
Mod Note: Profanity/Circumvention Of Censors – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 20-12-2006 by sanctum]

Wantsome,
I am glad the medication is working for you. However I mostly think that it is a good thing that you are aware of the side effect of the drug. Knowing that you can do what you got to do to help keep your weight in control. All that being done I will hope you out live the average age.

Weight gain is a common side effect of most anti-psychotic medication.
To me that is not a major side-effect..I am a psych nurse and have been for 18 years.
I was involved with the trials of Olanzapine (Zprexa) in this country..
I didn't see it work and I am glad it has worked for wantsome.
It works for the mildly psychotic. Depressive etc. but not in a full blown manic, schizophrenic illness.
It is a maintanance drug and not a very good one at that. If you can get someone stabilised with "traditional" medication, then start Olanzapine. It can work but not always.
It is another one of Eli Lilleys wonder drugs...Prozac is another one..It only works for the *sad* not the the really depressed..Even then the side effects outweigh the benefits..It leaves people lifeless, numb, emotionless.
I will say my findings are not scientific but anecdotal. I know GP's and Psychiatrists over here chose others now..

I was absolutely furious when I found out Eli Lily knew about these side-effects, and didn't even bother to post warnings or notify doctors of some of the side effects - especially the propensity for diabeties developing.

I took Zyprexa for several years before finding an alternative that didn't have the side effect of weight gain, and recently had a diabetic scare of my own - fortunately, the tests proved negative.

However, if I had developed diabetes due to my use of this drug, I would have been so infuriated I would have pursued a lawsuit - and that's extremely unlike me.

Personally I have no medical background or knowledge to know if I am right however I feel the more we use drugs and become dependant on them to treat our diseases the less effective they are..

A) Our bodies don't learn or give up trying to fight disease themselves

B) The Virus/Disease etc seems to be almost a step ahead at times developing into often a more deadly and infectious strain.


I try to limit the drugs my children and myself use to when nothing else works..

I know in some cases there is little else that can be done but with a balanced diet full of vitamins our bodies can fight alot more themselves then we often give them credit for..

Originally posted by GENERAL EYES
I was absolutely furious when I found out Eli Lily knew about these side-effects, and didn't even bother to post warnings or notify doctors of some of the side effects - especially the propensity for diabeties developing.

I took Zyprexa for several years before finding an alternative that didn't have the side effect of weight gain, and recently had a diabetic scare of my own - fortunately, the tests proved negative.

However, if I had developed diabetes due to my use of this drug, I would have been so infuriated I would have pursued a lawsuit - and that's extremely unlike me.

Just out of curiosity..What was the alternative? You can U2U me if you like..

Originally posted by Blacksheep
Personally I have no medical background or knowledge to know if I am right however I feel the more we use drugs and become dependant on them to treat our diseases the less effective they are..

A) Our bodies don't learn or give up trying to fight disease themselves

B) The Virus/Disease etc seems to be almost a step ahead at times developing into often a more deadly and infectious strain.


I try to limit the drugs my children and myself use to when nothing else works..

I know in some cases there is little else that can be done but with a balanced diet full of vitamins our bodies can fight alot more themselves then we often give them credit for..

With mental illness..There is rarely an alternative. Some nutritional things can help but rarely. I have read recently that removing gluten from the diet can help Schizophrenia--I am sceptical..
I am holistic in my approach but there are times when drugs are the only thing that will help.
In Ireland (where I am from) Psychiatry tends to be less *medicalised* than in the States.
I visited a few State Sanatoriums in the US and was horrified at the treatment. It would be counted primitive here, though I understand that State Sanatoriums aren't indicitive of the population or treatments..

Originally posted by GENERAL EYES
I was absolutely furious when I found out Eli Lily knew about these side-effects, and didn't even bother to post warnings or notify doctors of some of the side effects - especially the propensity for diabeties developing.

I took Zyprexa for several years before finding an alternative that didn't have the side effect of weight gain, and recently had a diabetic scare of my own - fortunately, the tests proved negative.

However, if I had developed diabetes due to my use of this drug, I would have been so infuriated I would have pursued a lawsuit - and that's extremely unlike me.

I hate the litigation society that is developing or has developed. Medicine especially Psychiatry isn't an exact science or never will be but that is pure negligence on behalf of the drug company and I would have sued too..

Can we get this to my Anorexic ex wife? Seriously the woman is wasting away to nothing. If the drug has this kind of side efect perhaps its time to chainge what the drug is used for.

Isnt Viagra a heart medication?

Originally posted by whatukno
Can we get this to my Anorexic ex wife? Seriously the woman is wasting away to nothing. If the drug has this kind of side efect perhaps its time to chainge what the drug is used for.

My god a man complaining that his wife/ex-wife is too thin..I am stunned!!

Isnt Viagra a heart medication?

Yep! It is!

Originally posted by Murphs
Weight gain is a common side effect of most anti-psychotic medication.
To me that is not a major side-effect..I am a psych nurse and have been for 18 years.
I was involved with the trials of Olanzapine (Zprexa) in this country..
I didn't see it work and I am glad it has worked for wantsome.
It works for the mildly psychotic. Depressive etc. but not in a full blown manic, schizophrenic illness.
It is a maintanance drug and not a very good one at that. If you can get someone stabilised with "traditional" medication, then start Olanzapine. It can work but not always.
It is another one of Eli Lilleys wonder drugs...Prozac is another one..It only works for the *sad* not the the really depressed..Even then the side effects outweigh the benefits..It leaves people lifeless, numb, emotionless.
I will say my findings are not scientific but anecdotal. I know GP's and Psychiatrists over here chose others now..

I beg to differ on the effectiveness of Zyprexa. When I came down with schizophrenia I was quite sick. I had severe hallucinations dellusions and psychotic symtoms. I had no sence of reality I wasn't eating or sleeping. At my worst I thought people were poisening my food so I wouldn't eat. At one point I didn't eat for a week or drink water for 3 days. I was so far gone my family never thought I'd be half way normal again. I was sleeping with a shotgun because I thought the voices were out to get me. I did'nt leave my house for 9 months.

When I was first hospitalized I thought the meds they were giving me were poisen. I went as far as to stick my finger down my throat and vomit them back up. They ended up giving me a masive injection of Haldol. It stopped the hallucinations fast but the side effects were horrible. I was sleeping 23 hours a day and I was a walking zombie. I was hospitalized for 3 months and my diagnosses is paranoid schizoeffective dissorder (Bipolar and shcizophrenia).

When I got out of the hospital I quit all the meds I was taking and started on Zyprexa. I was fine for a year but still had some hallucinations. One day I figured I didnt need it anymore so I quit taking it. I ended up going through another psychotic break and ended up back in the hospital.

When I got out I went back on Zyprexa. I had hallucinations for the first four or five years. But slowly over time they have diminished. Its been 10 years and now I hardly ever have hallucinations but I still take Zyprexa.

Some meds are more effective then others for people, and one med that works for someone might not work for another. I feel very forutenette not to hear voices at this time but I know if it werent for Zyprexa I might not be where I am.

I recently moved to a new house and I have a neighbor with this illness and he is far from where I am and he is on a whole cocktail of meds and still hears voices. He reminds me of myself when I was sick. I was in just as bad of shape but yet I can now function to a higher digree.

I belive thier are many factors involved when it comes to recovery from schizoprenia. From what I've read is those that get help and medication early on in the developemet of this illness have a better outcome. Because the longer someone goes without treatment the more braindamage they suffer. I also read that those that quit taking thier meds everytime they have a relapse it gets harder and harder to get their symtoms back under control.

I feel the longer I stick with my treatment the less paranoia I have. But If I had a million dollars I'd bet if I quit taking my medication I'd have a severe relapse.

Thier are no marical cures for schizophrenia but Zyprexa does work. It might not work for everyone but it does for me. I don't know what country your from but I feel sorry for your patients especialy if thier on Haldol.

Wantsome
If you read my posts I said I was glad it worked for you..
I truely am glad but it works for very few and I am happy it works for you. I am glad you have recovered.
It is one of those drugs that may work or may not and unfortunatly it doesn't 9/10. Your are lucky.
I am from Ireland and Haldol is still prescribed but only for those patients who have been on it for years and have no effects and it keeps them stable..Abit like Chlorpromazine.
NO new patients will ever be prescribed Haloperidol..The side-effects are too bad.
I am glad, really glad you aren't on Haloperidol anymore. Thoridazine (thorazine) isn't prescribed here anymore..At all.!
Over here for rapid tranquilization of a very disturbed patient and I mean VERY disturbed we use a 10/4. Which is 10mg of droperidol and 4mg of Lorazepam by injection. On occassion we will use 10mg diazepam IV..
Mostly we use minimal physical restraint..Nurses holding down while the person(nurse) at the head, talks and calms..It works..
We don't use strait jackets, padded cells or any form of prolonged physical restraint..cuffs, tying down etc..They are illegal.
Risperidol and seroquel are the anti-psychotics of choice now..Minimal side-effects, maximum effects.
Everyone is allowed to get angry and vent..We allow that! Only if they are consistantly dangerous to others do we over medicate..

Originally posted by Murphs
Wantsome
If you read my posts I said I was glad it worked for you..
I truely am glad but it works for very few and I am happy it works for you. I am glad you have recovered.
It is one of those drugs that may work or may not and unfortunatly it doesn't 9/10. Your are lucky.
I am from Ireland and Haldol is still prescribed but only for those patients who have been on it for years and have no effects and it keeps them stable..Abit like Chlorpromazine.
NO new patients will ever be prescribed Haloperidol..The side-effects are too bad.
I am glad, really glad you aren't on Haloperidol anymore. Thoridazine (thorazine) isn't prescribed here anymore..At all.!
Over here for rapid tranquilization of a very disturbed patient and I mean VERY disturbed we use a 10/4. Which is 10mg of droperidol and 4mg of Lorazepam by injection. On occassion we will use 10mg diazepam IV..
Mostly we use minimal physical restraint..Nurses holding down while the person(nurse) at the head, talks and calms..It works..
We don't use strait jackets, padded cells or any form of prolonged physical restraint..cuffs, tying down etc..They are illegal.
Risperidol and seroquel are the anti-psychotics of choice now..Minimal side-effects, maximum effects.
Everyone is allowed to get angry and vent..We allow that! Only if they are consistantly dangerous to others do we over medicate..

I apoligize, I took what you said out of context. I was thinking you were questioning the seroiusness of my condition because I take Zyprexa. As if Zyprexa wasnt a effective medicaion or maybe my illness wasnt severe.

Originally posted by wantsome

Originally posted by Murphs
Wantsome
If you read my posts I said I was glad it worked for you..
I truely am glad but it works for very few and I am happy it works for you. I am glad you have recovered.
It is one of those drugs that may work or may not and unfortunatly it doesn't 9/10. Your are lucky.
I am from Ireland and Haldol is still prescribed but only for those patients who have been on it for years and have no effects and it keeps them stable..Abit like Chlorpromazine.
NO new patients will ever be prescribed Haloperidol..The side-effects are too bad.
I am glad, really glad you aren't on Haloperidol anymore. Thoridazine (thorazine) isn't prescribed here anymore..At all.!
Over here for rapid tranquilization of a very disturbed patient and I mean VERY disturbed we use a 10/4. Which is 10mg of droperidol and 4mg of Lorazepam by injection. On occassion we will use 10mg diazepam IV..
Mostly we use minimal physical restraint..Nurses holding down while the person(nurse) at the head, talks and calms..It works..
We don't use strait jackets, padded cells or any form of prolonged physical restraint..cuffs, tying down etc..They are illegal.
Risperidol and seroquel are the anti-psychotics of choice now..Minimal side-effects, maximum effects.
Everyone is allowed to get angry and vent..We allow that! Only if they are consistantly dangerous to others do we over medicate..

I apoligize, I took what you said out of context. I was thinking you were questioning the seroiusness of my condition because I take Zyprexa. As if Zyprexa wasnt a effective medicaion or maybe my illness wasnt severe.

It's OK..It's easy to get confused or pick things up wrong on the internet..I do it all the time and have to creep back and apologise
Stay well.