Truro, NSIn 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."
If you or a loved one have developed diabetes while taking Zyprexa and you would like a lawyer to review your case at no cost, please fill out a [Zyprexa] complaint form.