Zyprexa
In a Pharmalot article, dated Nov. 2008, it was reported that the FDA "... staffers believe that labeling for the Lilly antipsychotic should include info about the risk of children gaining weight, developing hyperglycemia or experiencing other metabolic effects.."
Zyprexa, like so many other psychiatric drugs, are often prescribed to a person without them ever seeing the full list of FDA side effects and warnings. This leads to many tragic stories of children and adults experiencing life-altering side effects, all because the person was never given their basic rights, to be fully informed of the adverse effects and the alternatives.
The package insert, for Zyprexa (olanzapine) lists the following, as some of the information that is available from the FDA:
"The safety and efficacy of olanzapine have not been established in patients under the age of 13 years.
“Tardive Dyskinesia: A syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop in patients treated with antipsychotic drugs. There is no known treatment for established cases of tardive dyskinesia.."
Per informed consent, a patient has the right to know the adverse effects as well as the alternatives. It is important to note that there are many medical professionals, throughout the country, who deal in alternatives to psychiatric drugs. See CCHR Florida website’s Alternatives tab.
The Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA and several other organizations, released a report in April of 2008 that reviewed cases of death in children 16 years old and younger, in relationship to the use of atypical antipsychotic drugs (such as Zyprexa). Among the various causes of death was cardiac disorders/sudden death. Twelve of the cases were reported to have drug exposure to Zyprexa in utero, leading to death.
In five of these cases patients experienced such effects as diabetes, diabetic coma and weight gain as contribution factors that lead to their death. An additional four cases were deaths from cardiac events.
A notice posted by the makers of Zyprexa and the FDA, in January of 2010, announced the following to healthcare professionals:
"When deciding among the alternative treatments available for adolescents, clinicians should consider the increased potential (in adolescents as compared with adults) for weight gain and hyperlipidemia. Clinicians should consider the potential long-term risks when prescribing to adolescents...”
There is plenty of information on the web about the harms of Zyprexa for every generation, whether it is children, adults or the elderly. You can view each drug insert on the FDA website.
For more information on your rights, search the www.cchrflorida.org website or call 800-782-2878.