Seroquel
If you have suffered a personl injury as a result of the dangerous drug Seroquel, you may be eligble for compensation and should contact an attorney who specializes in product liability litigation and dangerous drug litigation against pharmaceutical companies.
Seroquel Data hidden by AstraZeneca
The pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Thursday that it had reached a $520 million agreement to settle two federal investigations and two whistle-blower lawsuits over the sale and marketing of its blockbuster psychiatric drug Seroquel. Read the full story from the Wahington Post here: AstraZeneca Pays Millions to Settle Seroquel Cases
Seroquel Can Cause Diabetes and Pancreatitis
There have been case reports about second-generation antipsychotics causing pancreatitis. In addition, there has been a case report of pancreatitis without diabetic ketoacidosis associated with the use of quetiapine, specifically, and a case report of a patient receiving quetiapine who rapidly developed hyperglycemia and acidosis without evidence of acute or chronic pancreatitis. We present what we believe to be the first report of a patient who developed pancreatitis and life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis while receiving quetiapine.
Seroquel Deaths and Complications
The Food and Drug Administration has determined that the treatment of behavioral disorders in elderly patients with dementia with atypical (second generation) antipsychotic medications is associated with increased mortality. Of a total of seventeen placebo controlled trials performed with olanzapine (Zyprexa), aripiprazole (Abilify), risperidone (Risperdal), or quetiapine (Seroquel) in elderly demented patients with behavioral disorders, fifteen showed numerical increases in mortality in the drug-treated group compared to the placebo-treated patients. These studies enrolled a total of 5106 patients, and several analyses have demonstrated an approximately 1.6-1.7 fold increase in mortality in these studies. Examination of the specific causes of these deaths revealed that most were either due to heart related events (e.g., heart failure, sudden death) or infections (mostly pneumonia).
The atypical antipsychotics fall into three drug classes based on their chemical structure. Because the increase in mortality was seen with atypical antipsychotic medications in all three chemical classes, the Agency has concluded that the effect is probably related to the common pharmacologic effects of all atypical antipsychotic medications, including those that have not been systematically studied in the dementia population. In addition to the drugs that were studied, the atypical antipsychotic medications include clozapine (Clozaril) and ziprasidone (Geodon). All of tvhe atypical antipsychotics are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. None, however, is approved for the treatment of behavioral disorders in patients with dementia. Because of these findings, the Agency will ask the manufacturers of these drugs to include a Boxed Warning in their labeling describing this risk and noting that these drugs are not approved for this indication. Symbyax, a combination product containing olanzapine and fluoxetine, approved for the treatment of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, will also be included in the request.
2004 Seroquel Warning
FDA has asked manufacturers of all atypical antipsychotic drugs to add a new warning to the drugs' labels about the increased risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes. Atypical antipsychotics include: Clozaril ® (clozapine), Risperdal ® (risperidone), Zyprexa ® (olanzepine), Seroquel ® (quetiapine), Geodon ® (ziprasidone), and Abilify ® (aripiprazole).
Epidemiologic studies suggest that the risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes is increased in patients taking Clozaril, Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel, although the relationship isn't completely understood. In some cases, the hyperglycemia was extreme and associated with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death. Geodon and Abilify weren't marketed at the time the study was conducted.
For some patients, the hyperglycemia resolved when the drug was discontinued, but others required continuing treatment for their diabetes even after they stopped taking the drug.
The warning recommends that patients with diabetes who are started on atypical antipsychotics be monitored regularly for worsening of glucose control.
Patients starting on these drugs who have diabetes risk factors, such as obesity or a family history of diabetes, should have fasting blood glucose testing at the start of treatment and periodically thereafter.
And all patients treated with atypical antipsychotics should be monitored for symptoms of hyperglycemia, such as excessive thirst, excessive appetite, frequent urination, or weakness. If they develop symptoms of hyperglycemia while on these drugs, they should have a fasting blood glucose test.
