FDA Warns that Zyprexa, Symbyax May Cause Dangerous Reaction

Earlier this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made an announcement regarding the safety of using a number of mental health drugs. According to the statement, Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Replrevv, and Symbyax may cause patients to develop serious complications, such as facial swelling, swelling in the lymph glands, and fevers accompanied with a rash. These symptoms are referred to as Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, or DRESS.

A patient experiencing DRESS may first identify a rash on his or her body that begins to spread. Swelling in the face or lymph glands occurs due to a higher-than-average reaction of infection-fighting white blood cells to the situation. This is called eosinophils.

So far, there have been 23 known reports of patients who have experienced DRESS while taking these drugs, which are olanzapine-based. The first product containing olanzapine was approved by the FDA in 1996. The drug has been prescribed to treat mental health conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. While Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv, and Symbyax are the common names under which olanzapine is sold, there are also generic brands for the drug.

According to the announcement, health care professionals are advised to cease prescribing olanzapine-based drugs if the signs of DRESS begin to present, and they are encouraged to report the event to the FDA as soon as possible. Patients are advised to look for the early onset of DRESS so that they can seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you have suffered injuries as a result of taking an olanzapine-based pharmaceutical, you can file a claim against the drug manufacturer to seek damages for your injuries. There may be a variety of causes of action available to a victim in a dangerous drug case, but the most common is a product liability claim. Under this cause of action, the plaintiff alleges that the defendant’s drug was designed in an unreasonably dangerous manner, or was manufactured in a way that rendered it unreasonably dangerous. Also, the plaintiff may recover damages by establishing that the defendant failed to include sufficient warnings and instructions about the drug to allow for its safe use. According to the FDA, the agency is requiring olanzapine drugs to print a new warning on the label identifying the potential for DRESS to occur.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries as a result of taking Zyprexa, Zyprexa Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv, or Symbyax, you may be entitled to compensation. At Moll Law Group, our skilled team of pharmaceutical injury lawyers is investigating claims involving injuries stemming from these medications and DRESS. Proudly serving clients throughout the United States, including in Illinois, Florida, New York, and California, we offer a free consultation to discuss your situation and the legal options available to you. Call us now at 312-462-1700 or contact us online to schedule your appointment.

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