Zyprexa

Zyprexa®, also known as Olanzapine has been used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar mania disorders. Doctors have prescribed Zyprexa® to patients with dramatic mood swings such as manic-depressive disorders, in order to help to balance brain chemicals and relieve symptoms. In some patients, there could be an increased risk of developing diabetes and other glucose conditions.

Some possibly related conditions include:

• Diabetes
• Ketoacidosis
• Diabetic Coma
• Hyperglycemia
• Pancreatitis
• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

The FDA is now requiring a warning on Zyprexa saying that is linked with diabetes, hyperglycemia and other blood sugar disorders. Zyprexa's link with diabetes was first exposed on May 3, 2002, when Britain's Medicines Control Agency warned that several patients taking Eli Lilly's top selling drug Zyprexa (used to treat schizophrenia) had developed diabetes-related complications. In the Medicine Control Agency's Current Problems newsletter, the regulatory body said that the anti psychotic drug "can adversely affect blood glucose."

Forty reports "of hyperglycemia (elevated blood sugar), diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes have been received in the UK. Four were associated with ketoacidosis and/or coma including one with a fatal outcome," according to the newsletter. The precise mechanism of this suspected adverse drug reaction has not yet been elucidated and is currently being investigated further.

This follows an emergency report issued in April 2002 by the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry to Eli Lilly Japan KK concerning side effects of Zyprexa after the deaths of two diabetic users of the drug. It said seven other patients had lost consciousness or become comatose after taking the drugs in the last 10 months. The Japanese Ministry said no new diabetes patients should be treated with the drug and ordered Eli Lilly to warn doctors to closely monitor diabetics already on the medication.

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