Did you know?
The FDA has received 384 reports of Zyprexa -related diabetes. The majority of these patients did not have diabetes before taking the drug.
Zyprexa ® and Diabetes
Zyprexa use has been linked to diabetes and diabetes-related symptoms in a large number of documented cases. Many patients developed diabetes or related symptoms from taking Zyprexa . Those who already had diabetes or other blood sugar abnormalities had their problems become significantly worse. A number of patients have died as a result of taking Zyprexa . There have been 23 Zyprexa - related deaths in the United States alone.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar because of a malfunction in production or distribution of insulin. Insulin is the chemical that regulates glucose (sugar) levels in the blood and body. Too much glucose in the blood is an extremely dangerous condition, which can result in variety of serious and lethal consequences including coma and death.
Symptoms
Some symptoms of diabetes include abnormal thirst, frequent urination, unusual appetite, weight loss, sores that don't heal, blurry vision or extreme tiredness. Diabetes is a very serious disease that must be monitored closely with testing of blood sugar levels, strict diet and exercise regimens and, often, insulin support.
Resources
There are many different types and kinds of diabetes, and this web site would be remiss in trying to provide a summary of this complex and serious condition. However, there are literally hundreds of diabetes web sites providing excellent information about the types, diagnosis and treatment of this life-threatening disease. Among them are:
Diabetes and Zyprexa
- Diabetes is a life-long condition for which there is no cure.
- Use of Zyprexa appears to cause diabetes in some patients and exacerbate the condition in patients who have existing blood sugar disorders. The FDA has received 384 reports of Zyprexa -related diabetes. The majority of these patients did not have diabetes before taking the drug.
- The first U.S. published link between Zyprexa and diabetes was in the December 2001 issue of the American Journal of Medicine. The article mentioned 19 patients, seven of whom had newly diagnosed hyperglycemia. Blood sugar problems had developed within a week to six months of taking the drug.
- Since that time, many cases have been documented in Australia , Japan , the United Kingdom and in the United States . To date, the FDA has identified almost 400 cases of Zyprexa -related diabetes. In the majority of these cases, the diabetes shows up within six months of the patients taking Zyprexa .
- A serious complication of diabetes is known as DKA or Diabetic Ketoacidosis that can result in coma and death. Diabetes can also cause other serious health risks.
- Lawyers who are representing Eli Lilly in Zyprexa cases argue that the diabetes risk is statistically higher in patients with schizophrenia than those in the general population and they question the link between Zyprexa use and diabetes. Many studies and reports document the link beyond question.
Hyperglycemia and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you have to deal with some of the problems that go along with having the disease. One of those problems is hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia happens from time to time to all people who have diabetes.
Hyperglycemia can be a serious problem if you don't treat it. Hyperglycemia is a major cause of many of the complications that happen to people who have diabetes. For this reason, it's important to know what hyperglycemia is, what its symptoms are, and how to treat it.
Hyperglycemia is the technical term for high blood glucose (sugar). High blood glucose happens when the body has too little, or not enough, insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly.
A number of things can cause hyperglycemia. For example, if you have type 1 diabetes, you may not have given yourself enough insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body may have enough insulin, but it is not as effective as it should be. Although less common, hyperglycemia can be a side effect related to taking the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa.
The problem could be that you ate more than planned or exercised less than planned. The stress of an illness, such as a cold or flu, could also be the cause. Other stresses, such as family conflicts or school or dating problems, could also cause hyperglycemia.
If you have been injured by Zyprexa and have suffered any side effects, we will put you in contact with an experienced Zyprexa lawyer who has successfully settled Zyprexa cases in your local area. |
