Geodon and Diabetes

In September 2003, the FDA issued a mandate to the manufacturers of Geodon the six most commonly prescribed antipsychotic medications requiring them to update their drug warning labels to include a warning about the link between antipsychotic drugs and diabetes. Geodon, an antipsychotic medication manufactured by Pfizer Inc. and prescribed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, was on this list.

In August 2004, Pfizer released a warning to physicians linking Geodon to increased risk of extremely high blood sugar and diabetes. According to Pfizer, this risk could be extreme enough to induce coma or death in some cases. The letter to physicians also claims that the increased diabetes risk in Geodon patients may be related to the higher incidence of diabetes in the general population of schizophrenia patients.

Patients already diagnosed with diabetes should closely monitor their

Related Links:

glucose levels if they undergo treatment with Geodon. In addition, people with risk factors for diabetes, such as obesity or family history of diabetes, should closely monitor their glucose levels. Specifically, at-risk patients beginning treatment with Geodon should participate in a fasting blood glucose test prior to the start of the Geodon prescription and then undergo periodic blood sugar testing throughout Geodon treatment to reassess diabetes risk.

While medical research studies have found a possible link between Geodon and diabetes, a causal relationship has not yet been proven. Experts caution that further studies must be done to firmly conclude the findings that Geodon causes diabetes. Nevertheless, patients on Geodon are warned to be cautious because the proven link between Geodon and diabetes is strong enough to be a major health concern. Anyone taking Geodon should be aware of the possible symptoms of diabetes, which include:

fatigue
extreme hunger and thirst
blurred vision
nausea or vomiting
frequent urination
shortness of breath

If you or a loved one took Geodon and suffered a serious side effect, such as diabetes, contact us today as you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Geodon RSS Feed