www.aspie-editorial.com

 

By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on June 18, 2013

 

Long-acting antipsychotic Zyprexa Relprevv (olanzapine pamoate) is under scrutiny after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) turned up two deaths following the injection of the drug.

 

The two patients received the appropriate dose of Zyprexa Relprevv, then died 3-4 days later.

 

Zyprexa Relprevv (olanzapine pamoate) is manufactured by Eli Lilly and first approved for use in the United States in 1996. It is an extended release injectable suspension, meaning it is injected only once every 2 or 4 weeks in most patients.

 

After injection, patients are typically monitored for a 3-hour post-injection period — required under the Zyprexa Relprevv Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (also known as REMS). According to the FDA, “patients are required to receive the Zyprexa Relprevv injection at a REMS-certified health care facility, to be continuously monitored at the facility for at least 3 hours following an injection, and to be accompanied home from the facility.”

 

It’s not clear that the REMS protocol was followed in both patents who died.

 

According to the FDA, “Both patients were found to have very high olanzapine blood levels after death. High doses of olanzapine can cause delirium, cardiopulmonary arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, and reduced level of consciousness ranging from sedation to coma.”

 

Read in Full:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/06/18/fda-investigating-2-deaths-after-zyprexa-injections-for-schizophrenia/56226.html