Zyprexa: Another Link to Diabetes

In September 2005, Mary Allen was hospitalized and treated for manic depression. She was given Zyprexa. "I was never told about any side effects," she says. "My doctor nor I knew at the time of any correlation between Zyprexa and diabetes.

"At the hospital, I was a subject of a clinical study to determine whether Zyprexa was more effective than other medications for depression. I was supposed to stay on it for six months. But when I gained so much weight, the doctors at the hospital took me off Zyprexa.

I was in the hospital for two months and as soon as I was discharged I visited my doctor. I was concerned about my weight gain, about 15 pounds, but I had no idea that my blood sugar was over 7.0. That is double what it should be and an indicator for diabetes. It was a shock! I am a nurse and know you don't usually get diabetes from medications. Also, I am only 54 years old and that is young for a late onset of diabetes.

I use the Internet a lot to look up medications and read about Zyprexa. As well, my doctor now indicated that Zyprexa could have been responsible for my blood sugar going up. I lost the weight I gained and my doctor was very pleased but he said, 'Once a diabetic, always a diabetic'.

This means that I have to check my blood sugar twice a day. I have had to change my lifestyle - especially my diet. I always have to eat healthy foods and that's not so easy on a limited income.

Being given Zyprexa made me resentful - I had no indication, nobody gave me any idea, of the side effects. When you are sick in the hospital, you don't question anything; you just think they are doing the best for you. I think doctors are just starting to know not to trust these drugs. I went back to my psychiatrist and he said that studies were still being done on Zyprexa - strange that they want to keep you on the drug for the sake of the study rather than for the benefit of the patient.

It would be nice to get a settlement but even more important for me is to be heard so others might know ahead of time, and be prepared for the side effects of Zyprexa."

Zyprexa: Another Link to Diabetes

Zyprexa Legal Resources

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