Following a growing number of lawsuits on the health risks posed by AstraZeneca’s antipsychotic drug Seroquel, the pharmaceutical company decided to release more than 100 sealed documents about the drug.
According to plaintiffs' lawyers suing the British drugmaker, the company failed to warn physicians and patients about health risks associated with the drug. These risks ranged from diabetes, weight gain to related health problems such as kidney failure and heart attacks. “They not only failed to warn about the risk of diabetes, but they marketed it as not having that risk,” Houston attorney Ed Blizzard was quoted as saying. Blizzard's firm is representing patients who say they developed diabetes from taking Seroquel.
On the other hand, AstraZeneca’s spokesman said the company believes the label of the drug has always provided adequate and appropriate information and warnings based on available data.
The drug comes from a class of newer antipsychotics, a category which includes bestsellers Zyprexa and Risperdal, which are among the 10 most commonly prescribed medications in the world. The newer-generation drugs were developed to avoid the side effects of older drugs, which can produce Parkinson-like symptoms, such as involuntary movements, rigidity and even permanent physical disabilities. But all these newer-generation drugs have come under fire for side effects and off-label marketing for treatment of ailments like depression, insomnia, attention deficit disorder and dementia.
Experts advise doctors to treat any other condition, such as high blood pressure, that can affect the functioning of the heart before prescribing any of these drugs. They also recommend that physicians first try safer alternatives before prescribing an antipsychotic. People suffering from other conditions such as bipolar disorder could consider mood stabilizers, a different class of drugs that includes lithium and valproic acid, instead of antipsychotics.
The FDA would never "chuck" these "blockbusters" - too much money at stake, but they could reign them in - black boxes on all; limit use especially off label for seniors and children. The New England Journal of Medicine says they are not effective; instead lethal and recommends limiting their use.
Where is the FDA anyway.?? Haven't heard a peep from them about Zyprexa OR Seroquel, even though clinical trials in both cases have been shown to be false? I know they are busy investigating peanut butter, and this is important, but check and see where people are dying or being stuck with chronic illnesses for life....right, it's on the DRUG SIDE.
Where is the (now up to) $4.6 billion Eli Lilly Zyprexa settlement going as many victim claimants haven't been paid yet? It's the largest pharma-fraud-whistleblower case in US history.
There must be millions out there harmed by this drug.
