Zyprexa and Strokes

Pete Strom

Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 590

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For millions of people, prescription drugs are necessary to health and even survival. Yet, the very drugs designed to help people may cause adverse reactions that range from illness to disability to death. As recently as April 11, 2005 the FDA issued an alert advising health care providers, patients, and patient care givers to safety issues regarding Zyprexa. New marketing documents were released and published in part by the New York Times on Monday, December 18, 2006. These documents could prove to be very damaging for Eli Lilly.

The documents show there may have been improper marketing strategies utilized by Eli Lilly to market the drugs to elderly patients who did not suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but instead suffered from dementia. In February of 2004, Zyprexa drug maker, Eli Lilly and Company, notified doctors and psychiatrists that elderly patients with dementia face an increased risk of stroke with Zyprexa treatment. While not approved for use in elderly dementia patients, or for anxiety or depression, physicians still prescribe the drug on an "off-label" basis. It is against federal law for a drug maker to market a drug for unapproved conditions. Some estimates indicate that up to 75% of the 12 million patients who have been prescribed Zyprexa are not sufferers of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mania, and have been prescribed Zyprexa "off-label".