[Bigred]

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”

[mylife]

Hmmm, I'd be intererested to read more on this study.

[daryl]

I'm on zyprexa currently and have been Type II diabetes since '97. Should I be concerned about this.

[CamW]

Daryl - Did you have the Type II diabetes before you started Zyprexa? Also, are you being maintained on oral meds or do you need insulin? Lastly, are you stable on your medications, orare you constantly changing dosages?

On the whole I'd say that it is no problem to have Type II diabetes and take Zyprexa, as long as your doc knows about it and is watching your sugar levels.

- Cam

<font color=blue>"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." - Winston Churchill</font color=blue>