Parker & Waichman LLP and Aylstock, Witkens & Sasser PLC have filed a class action lawsuit against AstraZeneca, Europe’s second largest drug maker, in a U.S. District Court on behalf of all patients who have used the popular anti-psychotic drug Seroquel. Seroquel is part of the new class of anti-psychotic drugs known as atypical anti-psychotics.
A recent study has linked the use of Seroquel to an unacceptable rate of diabetes onset. Data from this study showed that patients on Seroquel had a significantly higher number of incidences of diabetes than those on older drugs or other atypical anti-psychotics.
The lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca was aware that Seroquel caused a high occurrence of diabetes, but failed to adequately warn doctors or patients in the United States. The Japanese label for Seroquel provides a detailed warning about the risk of diabetes and specifically informs medical professionals regarding the need for medical monitoring of patients on Seroquel.
“When studies show that a medication is linked so often to a disease as serious as diabetes, it is unconscionable that a drug company would not take the necessary steps to protect the public,” commented Jerry Parker, one of the founding partners of Parker & Waichman. “What is particularly upsetting is that a pharmaceutical company would provide a greater warning of a serious side effect of a pharmaceutical in one country but not provide the residents of the United States the benefit of that same warning.”
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that AstraZeneca aggressively marketed and promoted Seroquel for off label use that was beyond its FDA approved indications. AstraZeneca offered incentives to doctors and other medical professionals to increase the number of Seroquel prescriptions that were written.
(via PR Newswire)
{ 116 comments }
← Previous Comments
Ive been taking seroquel for about 3 months. I was STARTED out on 800mg a day. The 200mg morning dose makes me tired, and I feel usafe to drive for a few hours. The 600mg night dose somehow clogs my nose up, so I have to breathe through my mouth. I was on 15mg of zyprexa, which I think is pretty good except for the fact I would gain 20 pounds every 3 months while on it. Ive been in 3 different mental hospitals, and have had 2 major periods of hospitalization. I was paranoid about communists and was hearing voices. Ive attempted suicide about 4 or 5 times, if this seroquel kills me it will mean the doctors did a better job at what I attempted!
I have been on a minal dose of Seroquel for about 6 months now. I do find that it helps quieten the noise of my disorder. I am concerned though that I now have a ‘fatty liver’ and an enlarged gallbladder. I have not gained much from the med’s, only about 5 pounds. My concern is for how it is affecting my other organs and what I can do about that. By the way I have a CT scan scheduled – waiting for the call from the hospital for the actual date.
I am FLOORED, ANGRY, HURT and Completely coming out of being “an opiate high”.. I am borderline diabetic, (the doctor KNEW this), and was prescribed Seroquel which I took for the first and last time last night.. (prescribed for bipolar and insomnia for me).
I awoke out of bed, BARELY able to get up.. drove an hour to work (50 miles) and on the way, words seemed slow to me on the radio, as well as tunnel vision and completely not being able to comprehend where I was..I pulled over, and called the doctor on call, couldn’t keep my eyes open.. just now coming down from it.. I have eight years of sobriety, and have been on opiates when I was out there.. THIS WAS VERY SIMILAR!!!! HOW DARE my sobriety and MY Diabetic condition be put in to jeopardy.. I am Sooo mad, now that I can think again!!!!!
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE DEPRESSION OR A SLEEP PROBLEM, BUT WAS PUT ON SEROQUEL ANY WAY. SHE WEIGHED WELL OVER 300 POUNDS AND HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. FOUR DAYS AFTER BEING GIVEN SEROQUEL (500MG) A DAY, SHE PAST AWAY IN HER SLEEP.
Seroquel & Zyprexa are evil & can cause reverse affects from what is intended. I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder & I am still questioning that diagnoses by the way. Why is it that if you are depressed over a loss of a dead loved one that you are exibiting signs of being Bipolar- extreme depression. Well after the death of my brother I was severly depressed & shrunk into a little hole of existence. I went to the doctor because i could no longer sleep, he then puts me on Ambien & Zyprexa for anxiety. The ambien worked for a while but worked best with the zyprexa. The bad thing was that the zyprexa made me very angry & irritable! I dont know if it was the combination of the two drugs but severe anger would occur in the drop of a dime. I felt on the edge all the time & always had a chip on my shoulder??? This isnt suppose to happen with a mood stabilizer! I told my doctor that it made me angry & guess what, he ups the dosage?! I was finally talked into going to see a Psychiatrist & he immidiately put me on Seroquel while I was on the Zyprexa @ the same time. I started out on 100mg & told him that it made me feel like the zyprexa did. He then in turn turned up the dosage to 500mg & I was told to stop the zyprexa. Well, I had all of that Seroquel & Zyprexa in my system & it made me rage!!! I told him what it was doing to me & he kept me on it! I was a walking time bomb & am sure that I have some heart problems due to it. I have irregular heart palpatations & my heart just doesnt feel the same anymore. I work out 4 days a week & while I was on Seroquel & Zyprexa I went from benching 225lbs to 320lbs in a matter of a week. If I am Bipolar that medicine increased my mania & caused me to due super human things that I never could do before. It was like I was on steroids & I have never taken steroids but the effect was the same. Irritability, acts of rage, major muscle development * even some hair loss. All are symptoms of steroid use. I was turned into a manic man almost daily! I went from being depressed all the time to being nothing but manic!!! Help me out with that? It was suppose to stabilize my mood & instead it altered me like the Hulk! I could of seriously hurt someone & had many confrontations that I never would of gotten myself into before. I have alwasy been a peaceful man & this stuff turned me into an animal. I have been off Seroquel & Zyprexa for a while now & have never had a manic episode since. Please dont assume that the doctor knows best. PLease question your diagnoses extensively. Get a second opinion & do the research yourself & seek out the best treatment for you. Thats why they call it practicing medicine……They really have no clue in the end. The risk of doing what they say may be the loss of your life!! No medication in the world is worth such terrible side effects! If your doctor doesnt believe what you are telling him as to your side effects, get up & leave immediately!!! Dont forget they make more money of prescribing Medicine than they do sitting there talking to you. As I said before these drugs are evil & are in the same family of medicines. What once causes so will the other! Be careful when someone whno doesnt know you takes your life in his hands & gives you a medication that he knows has the chance of hurting you. Let me know if you have a similar story or would like to know more. I have plenty more to say!!!
i been taking seroquel for two years now the shit will fuck you up i wake up in the morning my whole body fell weak i see flashes in my eyes every morning afther been on the drugs 3 weeks i am now a diabetic
I have a friend that was prescribed Seroquel due to his problems with depression. He told me that the pills help him fall asleep at night and that his doctor told him that there were no sides, you can’t OD, and that they were non addictive. He started giving me some to help me with my horrible sleeping habits, stupid me for just assuming something as fact before doing research. Once I found out it could cause diabetes I stopped taking it immediately and he’s a little pissed off since he is more susceptible to developing diabetes than I am. He eats way too many simple sugars which can lead to hypoglycemia, type II Diabetes, and contribute to mood swings, depression, and other mental impairments. I’m almost wondering if it’s just his diet he needs to change up instead of rocking his system with another multiplier of diabetes that was prescribed to him by a doctor. I was on the drug for approximately 5-6 months taking on average 50mg a day at night. Does anybody know if the damage done is irreversible? I going to start taking milk thistle, hawthorn berry, CoQ10, mineral water, and a detoxifier to try and clean my system after taking this drug.
I was going through depression from my separation. I was placed on 1200mg for the last 4 years. I am now off of it for a month now. I can’t remember the last three years. I lost my family. Went to jail for 1 year, for something I can’t remember. I can’t begin to explain to you the side effects. How I never committed suicide I will never know. I’m sure that this medication can help some people, and maybe for some it may be the only option, BUT WATCH OUT!!! For some, it can totally destroy your life. Find a support group, God, or a good life, and love your family, no matter what s*it they put you through.Use drugs like these if there is absolutely no alternatives, but seriously consider other methods. Don’t say that you were never warned.
Seroquel ruined my life too. I lost my job that i had for two years. And the worst of it was when i went to complain to the doctor that gave it to me that it was too much with what all i was taking they accused me of abusing it. One time i went to complain and i had cotton mouth so bad i couldn’t talk right everyone asumed that i was incoherent and all it was, was a hard tome talking because my mouth was so dry. so they wrote in my records that i came to them and was doped off my ass. the first time i was on it i was taking prozac 100mg zanxa 2mg three times a day, and seroquel 200mg. I don’t remember much of the month or so that i was on it and my wife lost her job becuase i couldn’t take care of our daughter. I got a DUI too for it which i am currently fighting. I am still taking seroquel 300mg a day but it looks like my body is used to it now. i am very lucky that i didn’t kill someone or my self on it i was very manic at that time driving all the time and not remembering where i was at or what i was doing.
I don’t understand all of the people on here who are having all of these horrific side effects from this med, but so many apparantly continue to take the stuff. If seroquil was causing the effects you describe(for me I have no side effects, at least that I know of) I would throw the stuff in the garbage and tell my doc to prescribe a different med(if meds are absolutely neccesary). I hope to be med free soon, but in the mean time seroquil has been a positive med for me, I realize I may be an exception rather than the rule. I wish everyone on this board the very best.
I was diagnosed with Adult ADHD about 3 months ago, the doctor who prescribed me Concerta said if the Concerta didn’t work I was probably bi-polar. Well it helped at first, I was able to focus, and it gave me a sense of well being. When I had a severe episode of anxiety/depression I realized something was wrong and went back to the doctor. She said the Concerta was probably making my condition worse, and then she conveyed to me that in her opinion I was in fact bi-polar. She wrote me a prescription for Seraquil. I asked her if there were any side effects all she said was that it can make you sleepy, so make sure you take it at night. Well around 8pm that night I took my first 100mg pill of Seraquil factoring in that I would probably be ready for bed around 9:30. WHAM!! When that pill kicked in it was nothing like I could ever have anticipated, a little tired? Hell no, the most comperable feeling that I can communicate to you would be equal to anastesia!!! At first I was thinking, this is worse than morphine, then the next day when I got up for work totally anilated and drove to work high as a kite!! I couldn’t believe I was high the entire day! How I didn’t lose my job or kill someone on the ride to work or the ride home escapes me!! That night I pondered, what could I compare this drug to? I was discussing with family and friends to make them realize how severe this pill knocked me on my ass and a light bulb went off in my head: you know when you are given anestesia and for like 5 seconds right before you go out you feel that major major rush and your slipping, that’s how it feels, and then the whole next day, you feel how you feel the first hour or two after your’e coming out of anestesia except it lasts the entire day! So the next night I took half a pill (50mg) and went to bed at 9:30 well I slept until 11:00 the next day and was a complete zombie. See ya Seraquil kiss my ass your not gettin me! I’ll keep my anxiety and depressed ridden ass diabete, and zombie-free. I’ve recently lost 20 pounds (very slowly over 6 months) and I’m not trying to find em!! Of course doctors say Seraquil works for depression, cuz it puts your ass in a coma and if your in a coma you can’t be depressed!! I bet horse tranquilizers are like tylenol compared to Seraquil. They should call it Serakill. Who’s with me on this one?
I was a Poly drug addict for 2 years and alcoholic for 4 years previous i am Male aged 22, my main drug of choice was marijuana a day would not go by without it During this period i was on 20mg of prozac for 18 months. On the 7th of Feb 2005 i went into rehab to detox from drugs they continued my prozac and put me on a mild dose of zyprexa. 2 months later i check back in to get off Zyprexa because it was not working for me so well. I wanted to use Drugs still, but i had the will to go in thier and try to another combination of meds. I was detoxed off zyprexa and prozac in 3 days and put onto 600mg of seroquel and 100mg of fluvoxamine (luvox) i was bombed out for months i turned into my 29 year old fiancee who is 5 years into recovery from heroin addiction 2 years on methadone now on beupronorphine (subutex) started needing afternoon naps things like that, motivation loss. I knew this was no good so i started a weining process got down to 25mg of seroquell a night for about a month. I have had physcotic episodes, suicide attempts, self harming, haullicinations the lot, i have also droped 16 kg during the time of taking seroquel and i am not an overweight person, i went from a solid built lean body builder weight lifter boxer 84 kilos to 68 kilos loosing lots of muscle mass and all body fat, i am now still muscular but i have veins comming out everywhere and look like a long distance runner, and have had no motivation to train since seroquel, the gym was my life along with the drugs. 2 weeks ago i stoped my dosage and side effects became worse little things would get to me but i would calm my self down, today at work i went into a physcotic state because of no big issue just things from the last fortnight piled up, i broke into tears, i could not speak i collapased on the floor vomited, turned blue, whole body cramped up, shaked, heard voices and halluicinated my pulse went from 90 – 150 – 50 back to 90 this episode lasted for about 2 hours. I am still dizzy and shaken, i do not want to be on any ant physcotic drugs i want to live normally like i did prior to drugs. obviously this drug is evil and un researched properlly by medical professionals, or the physcs just love thier free pens, stationary and commissions from “dealing” you the drug. Has anyone been successful getting off this awful medication? has anyone expirienced the weight loss like myself?
feel free to discuss via email with me
Regards
Matt
In 2001, I was admitted into Saint Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS for depression. I was placed on Seroquel and Risperdal. For ten months I took this medication. In September of 2002, I was diagnosed as a Adult Onset Diabetic. Since becoming a diabetic, this has changed my life dramatically because of the lifestyle I have to live now. I am very angry with the pharmaceutical company that made this medication without putting all of the side effects on the warning label. Had they noted that this particular medication would cause me to be a diabetic, I would never have taken this medication. Today I no longer can live a normal life because I am limited to the various types of foods I can eat. From reading about diabetes I have learned that in the future there is a possibility that my sex drive may decrease and other diseases may occur linked to me being a diabetic.
Posted by James Tyrone Johnson on October 19, 2005
I went on seroquel in Sept. of 2001. I did research it on the computer like I do any drug that I take. Didn’t seem to have any bad side effects listed. About a month later I was hospitalized for a major suicide attempt (I am bipolar 1). While I was in the hospital they discovered my blood sugar was 295. I had never shown any sign of diabetes or have any family history of it. I went on diabetes medicine but they still couldn’t get my sugar levels down. At one point they shot up even higher. I realized afterwards that this was when I had been upped to 400 mgs from 300. At 400 mgs I was like a zombie. I couldn’t think or talk straight. I dropped back down to 300 mgs. Stayed on that for about a year longer. One day I came across an article on the net that said they were finding an increase of diabetes with seroquel. It didn’t take me long to figure out that this might be my problem. I looked around on the net and found some more about the diabetes side effect. I decided to go off of it cold turkey which was really bad. Didn’t know how addicted to the stuff I had become. Surprizingly though my sugar levels dropped in to the normal range within a day or two. I demanded that my psychiatrist take me off the drug. He didn’t want too so I found a new one that put me on geodon. I did fine on it and dropped some weight but had finally had it with these antipsychotics. I now take none. I seem to be getting along fine. I’m lucky I guess that the psychotic manias that I had in my 40’s are far less. Don’t see the need to take meds as serious as this one. I also now have gall bladder stones and disease. I feel all of my physical problems are due to the seroquel. I was very healthy prior to taking it. Now I feel like my life span has probably been cut by 10 years. Yeah I’m real mad at the makers of seroquel and will definately be getting involved in any class action suit.
I have been taking 200 mg of seroquel for around 3 years now. around 6 months ago I started having problems with excessive thirst, loss of vision, excessive hunger, headaches and vomiting. I was finally admited to the hospital with a blood sugar of 680. i could barely see 10 or 15 feet in front of me. I was diagonosed with type 2 diabeties. no one ever warned me of any problems with seroquel before i developed diabeties and no doctor has metioned or warned me since.
I have been taking seroquel for the past month. 2 Weeks ago I started haveing trouble urinating. Now I am in full renal retention with a cathader and bag strapped to my leg. Has anyone else had this problem?
← Previous Comments
Comments on this entry are closed.