Seroquel has garnered a reputation as a potentially dangerous drug, although it has not been officially recalled by the Food and Drug Administration or the manufacturer AstraZeneca as of yet. Nevertheless, FDA alerts on Seroquel informs the millions of people who take the antipsychotic medication of the potential dangers posed by the drug.
The first part of the FDA alert on April 11, 2005 reported on findings that revealed using drugs like Seroquel to treat senile dementia and Alzheimer's could result in serious injury or even death. Although the FDA did not approve Seroquel to treat senile dementia, many doctors began to use it in this "off-label" use because drugs like Seroquel showed promise in earlier studies. The FDA requested that AstraZeneca add a black box warning to the packaging of Seroquel to reflect this risk. A black box warning is the highest cautionary measure that the FDA can take without initiating a recall.
The second part of the FDA alert on Seroquel involved the alleged link between the drug and incidents of severe side effects, including hyperglycemia and diabetes. It went on to list the risks involved with the drug, including neuroleptic malignant disorder, tardive dyskinesia, blood pressure irregularities, and other common side effects. The alert also described conditions that might preclude a Seroquel prescription such as heart or thyroid problems, high cholesterol, seizures, liver disease, excessive alcohol use, history of diabetes, or high blood sugar.
If Seroquel caused you to suffer from the devastating consequences of dangerous and potentially fatal side effects, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your unjust and unnecessary anguish. Don't allow powerful drug makers to jeopardize your health by failing to provide timely warnings about dangerous drugs. Let a dedicated and experienced defective drug attorney help you get the answers that you deserve. Contact someone today.
The antipsychotic medication Seroquel has received national notoriety for its association with dangerous and sometimes-fatal complications such as diabetes, pancreatitis, and hyperglycemia. Seroquel news stories have shoved drug maker AstraZeneca into the spotlight with evidence linking the drug to these kinds of severe side effects.
One such study at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in New Haven, Connecticut found that antipsychotic medications such as Seroquel may be lead to increased blood sugar and that hyperglycemia is a common occurrence in those taking the drugs. According to the study, almost one in three patients taking atypical antipsychotics who thought their blood sugar levels were normal actually had abnormalities. The authors believe this finding should prompt the implementation of periodic screening even in large outpatient populations.
Seroquel grabbed headlines in 2004 when the American Diabetes Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists named the drug as one of six anti-psychotic medications that promote diabetes, obesity or high cholesterol. These organizations warned that Seroquel patients should be particularly concerned with the increased risk of developing diabetes.
If you have read the recent Seroquel news and are concerned about your safety, make sure to speak with your doctor immediately in order to make sure that you are not in danger. If you have already suffered from the potentially catastrophic consequences of Seroquel use, or if you have lost a loved one to the medication, make sure to speak with a compassionate and experienced defective drug attorney as soon as possible. Legal help for victims and families can ensure that drug makers make consumer safety their absolute highest priority.