Zyprexa Lawyers & Attorneys for Zyprexa Lawsuits

Zyprexa

Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic drug created by Eli Lilly and Co. to combat the suffering of people who suffer from schizophrenia. Unfortunately, Zyprexa is linked to a number of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects including diabetes and other blood sugar-related disorders. Also, Zyprexa was linked to the deaths of several elderly patients who used the drug to treat senile dementia.

The Food and Drug Administration demanded that Eli Lilly change the packaging on Zyprexa to reflect the increased dangers of the drug. Sadly, this warning came too late for the people who developed severe reactions to the drug. Zyprexa can cause the body to fail to process blood sugar properly, which can result in coma, renal failure, or even death.

Under pressure from several lawsuits, Eli Lilly relented and on June 9, 2005 decided to settle almost 75% of the cases against them regarding Zyprexa-related issues. Although Zyprexa does cause a number of serious side effects, most of these cases involve diabetes or diabetes-related conditions. Some of these conditions include weight gain, hyperglycemia, and fatigue. Every person who takes Zyprexa needs to constantly monitor themselves for the early signs of diabetes, for early prevention can reduce the likelihood of serious complications.

Zyprexa Settlement

The large pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has been the target of numerous lawsuits due to the severe life-threatening side effects of its popular atypical antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. These lawsuits claim Lilly had prior knowledge about the potential link between Zyprexa and diabetes, but either underscored the link or dismissed it entirely.

Lilly only officially recognized the link between once the Food and Drug Administration forced them to. It is speculated that Lilly knew the link between their allegedly "safe" drug and diabetes for more than three years before alerting doctors to the potential side effects. This revelation came far too late for the thousands of people whose lives will be forever changed.

On June 10th, 2005, Lilly announced it would pay a settlement of almost $700,000,000 to a percentage of people who had developed diabetic complications because of its product and had pending litigation against the company.

Side Effects

Some common side effects of Zyprexa use include:

• Uncontrollable mouth, tongue, cheeks, jaw, arms, or leg movement
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Objectionable behavior
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Weight gain

The most dangerous side effects of Zyprexa often come without warning. Zyprexa reduces insulin sensitivity which can lead to several diabetes-related conditions. Inform your doctor IMMEDIATELY if you have any history of diabetes as many life-threatening conditions have no distinguishable outward symptoms.

Zyprexa and Diabetes

Zyprexa is responsible for a number of diabetes-related conditions because it affects the way the body responds to insulin, a hormone needed by the blood to turn a sugar called glucose into energy. Glucose is necessary for every cell in the body to live and grow, and without the chemical the body begins to die.

When the body does not produce insulin, or the amount insulin is insufficient to remove glucose from the blood, a number of things happen. Too much sugar in the blood causes it to become thick and lumpy, which draws more moisture from the body in return. This causes extreme dehydration, which in turn causes the kidneys to overwork. The kidneys have to dump this excess sugar directly into the urine, which is why the urine of diabetics smells very sweet. This is a situation called Diabetic Hyperosmolar Syndrome.

Further compounding this process is since the body cannot draw energy from the blood it begins to break down other tissues for fuel. This causes the liver to produce harsh acids that increase the acidity of the blood stream, which then causes more dehydration. Between fluid lost through increased urination and the increase of acid in the bloodstream causes a situation called Diabetic Ketoacidosis. The combination of these two situations often rapidly escalates into a diabetic coma and certain death if left untreated.

It is imperative that if you or someone you know is the victim of the debilitating and deadly side effects of Zyprexa that consult a lawyer immediately. You could have the right take legal action against those who caused your hardship and suffering, but if you wait too long the statute of limitations in your state could end you case before it has a chance to begin. Contact a Zyprexa attorney today.

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