Could Schizophrenia Drug Cause Diabetes?
Duke University scientists say evidence indicates a relationship


MONDAY, July 1 (HealthScoutNews) -- Dramatizations like "A Beautiful Mind" aside, most people suffering from schizophrenia need drugs to cope with reality.

But could the cost of successful treatment mean contracting diabetes? Duke University researchers think there might be a link between one drug used to treat schizophrenia and diabetes.

The drug is called olanzapine, and it's one of a group of medications called atypical antipsychotics, which are used to treat schizophrenia, paranoia and manic-depressive disorders.

The research results were dramatic, because scientists found not only mild blood sugar problems, but also discovered a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis and coma in patients who had been prescribed olanzapine, whose commercial name is Zyprexa. Most of the subjects in the study had not been known to have any diabetes problems at all.

The findings appear in the July 2, 2002 issue of Pharmacotherapy.


“Sally used to play with her hula hoops
Now she tells her problems to therapy groups”

-John Prine, “The Sins of Memphisto”