The Hidden Dangers of Antipsychotic Drugs
Life threatening side effects related to the drugs Zyprexa, Risperdal and Seroquel have recently caused Arkansas to join the ever growing list of states that are now suing major pharmaceutical companies over the improper marketing of anti-psychotic drugs.
In the 1950’s scientists discovered a direct link between antipsychotic drugs and serious side effects such weight gain, hypoglycemia and Type II diabetes. However, pharmaceutical companies hid this fact while downplaying the ability of other drugs to treat specific problems as effectively as their drug.
Worse still, in an effort to make more money, these big pharma companies began marketing their antipsychotic drugs to the very people that were not FDA approved to take such medication—namely children, the elderly and people suffering with run of mill behavioral disorders like depression.
As Arkansas doctors began prescribing the so called miracle drugs Zyprexa, Risperdal and Seroquel to everyone, serious, life altering complications began to pop up all over the state.
In the past 8 years, the Medicaid program of Arkansas has paid for $200 million dollars worth of these prescription drugs—which were improperly dispensed due to fraudulent marketing tactics by three different pharmaceutical companies. The big pharma companies in question are Eli Lilly, Astra Zeneca and Janssen Pharmaceutica.
According to the Medicaid fraud law in Arkansas, pharmaceutical companies may have to repay 3 times that amount in damages. But the question is, can money repair the broken lives and years lost due the terrible side effects of antipsychotic drugs?
Don’t play roulette with the medications. Instead, take natural steps to improving your health and avoiding prescription drugs. Begin by eating healthy foods and staying in shape. Don’t forget a very important part of a healthy lifestyle: regular chiropractic adjustments. By improving the health of your spine, you’ll automatically enhance your body’s god-given ability to heal itself without the interference of medication.
[Source: Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Northwest Arkansas Edition published 9/22/07]