Zyprexa, the brand name for olanzapine, was a drug approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute bipolar mania, and bipolar disorder. It is one of a type of drugs called psychotropics, which are believed to reduce symptoms of some mental disorders by balancing chemicals in the brain. Since Zyprexa was approved in 1996 by the FDA, it has been prescribed to over 16 million people.

In the past couple of years, Zyprexa has been found to be associated with increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia. Their rate of death during a 10-week controlled trial was nearly double the rate in placebo patients. The causes of death included cardiovascular (CV) events such as heart attacks and infections.

Suffered harm from Zyprexa? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.

Additionally in 2004, Zyprexa and other drugs in its class (called “atypical antipsychotic medication”) were associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes. As a result, the FDA published a dear doctor letter, notifying the physicians of important Zyprexa labeling changes and required the drug maker to change language on the drug label describing the health risks for patients taking the medication. In April 2005, the FDA ordered the manufacturer to include a black box warning on its label that the drug was not approved for older patients with dementia-related disorders. ( A black box label is the strongest warning that a drug can carry.) As of this writing in 2005, Zyprexa remains on the market.

There have been several Zyprexa lawsuits. However, in early June 2005, the drug maker agreed to settle about 8000 lawsuits filed by patients who developed diabetes and other diseases after taking the medication. See the following sections for more information on the drug’s side effects and legal issues relating to Zyprexa.

Suffered harm from Zyprexa? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.