Zyprexa/Resperdal news that we already knew

[Guest guest]

Headline on MSNBC.COM:

Zyprexa maker issues warning for elderly

Drug significantly increases risk of death, stroke

NEW YORK - Eli Lilly and Co. on Friday said it has warned doctors

that its schizophrenia treatment Zyprexa, its best-selling drug,

significantly raises the risk of death and stroke in elderly

patients suffering from dementia...

....Drugs widely used in treating dementia patients

Zyprexa and Risperdal, J & J's second-biggest drug with 2003 sales of

$2.5 billion, are widely used to control behavioral disorders among

dementia patients, such as delusions, aggression and anxiety.

Lilly's warning letter said 3.5 percent of elderly patients with

dementia taking Zyprexa in the trials died of all causes, more than

twice the death rate of 1.5 percent seen among those taking placebos.

Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog group, has criticized doctors

for routinely prescribing schizophrenia drugs to treat symptoms of

dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, even though the medicines

are not approved for that use....

For the complete article, go to:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4327542/