June 18, 2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated today that it would be looking into the deaths of two patients who were given a drug for the treatment of schizophrenia. Investigators will be looking into whether or not potential Zyprexa Drug Injuries that were caused by the medication was a contributing factor in the fatalities.
The patients were given an appropriate dose of the antipsychotic medication, Zyprexa Relprevv, in order to ease the symptoms of their mental condition. However, three to four days after receiving the injections, the patients died.
An FDA Press Release explained the drug is known to cause a condition known as post-injection delirium sedation syndrome, which occurs when a drug enters the bloodstream too fast and causes dangerously high levels of the drug to be in the patient’s body. The drug carries a black box warning that states the condition can cause a patient to suffer delirium, cardiac arrest, coma, and death. Anyone receiving the drug is required to stay under the care of the physician administering the drug for at least three hours to ensure patient safety.
Investigators say they will work to determine if a reaction to the drug was the cause of the patients’ deaths.
The Drug Injury Attorneys with Ferrer, Poirot & Feller are hopeful a conclusion to the investigation will bring a sense of closure to the families of the victims.