Sarah Mirando  |  July 12, 2013

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

product liability lawsuitIn 2007, Eli Lilly, the maker of Zyprexa, agreed to pay out $500 million to settle 18,000 lawsuits.

Zyprexa is a popular drug for treating bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but it can also cause heart attacks, diabetes and other serious side effects in patients.

It’s been over five years since Eli Lilly made that massive payout, but it looks like more victims are coming forward to complain of new serious side effects: heart attacks, coma and death.

Around the world, over 20 million people have used Zyprexa since it became available in 1996. However, just because Eli Lilly paid out such large sums in 2007 doesn’t mean the trials and Zyprexa lawsuits were over.

Eli Lilly continued to face civil and criminal investigations, and now more Zyprexa victims are coming forward. Zyprexa continues to be a popular drug, and many people didn’t realize their failing health was caused by the medication.

FDA Warns About New Zyprexa Side Effect

The FDA has issued a new warning regarding Zyprexa. According to the federal agency, Zyprexa has been linked to a dangerous skin side effect called Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS).

The FDA has recorded 23 cases of Zyprexa induced DRESS in it’s Adverse Event Reporting System since the drug was first approved in 1996. However, the federal agency warns that there is likely more cases than those that were reported. In one case, a patient suffering from DRESS allegedly caused by Zyprexa died as a result.

The symptoms of DRESS includes rash, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. The infection works by creating an increased number of white blood cells called eosinophils, resulting in inflammation and/or swelling. DRESS can also affect major organs including the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and pancreas.

In some cases, a patient may die as a result the Zyprexa side effect. According to the FDA, DRESS will lead to death in up to 10 percent of cases.

Where Zyprexa Went Wrong

According to The New York Times, Lilly “played down” the Zyprexa risks to both doctors and patients, and some internal trials were kept top secret. Lilly’s clinical trials revealed that 16 percent of people on Zyprexa gained over 66 pounds per year, and obesity can exacerbate diabetes and heart issues, and lead to a host of other problems like joint pain and a general lower level of life enjoyment. However, Lilly chose to keep that detail away from doctors.

Additionally, these internal documents also showed that Zyprexa was marketed as safe for people who weren’t even diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder — which is the only thing the FDA approved the drug for. During the 2007 trial, Lilly denied doing anything wrong and was vehement that doctors were given all information. The American Diabetes Association agreed in 2004 that Zyprexa causes diabetes more than similar drugs largely because of the weight gain.

Zyprexa Injection Deaths

Now, almost six years after Lilly agreed to the $500 million Zyprexa settlement, the company is facing new lawsuits over claims that Zyprexa injections lead to serious side effects like cardiac arrest and death.

On June 18, 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert that it was investigating two “unexplained” deaths of patients who were injected with Zyprexa Relprevv. Product liability and drug injury attorneys are actively looking for Zyprexa victims who suffered severe side effects after taking the injectable drug, including heart attack, coma, death or other severe injuries.

Did You Suffer a Serious Zyprexa Side Effect?

If you or a loved one suffered a major complication after being injected with Zyprexa, you may have a claim to seek compensation through a Zyprexa injury settlement. Submit your information with using the form on this page, and a Zyprexa attorney will contact you if you have a case for your complimentary claim review.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Zyprexa class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Zyprexa lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Join a Free Zyprexa Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

Please Note: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client, if you potentially qualify, or getting you dropped as a client.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.