Where being medication compliant is a vaunted state, how many psychiatrists disclose common side effects or monitor for them? I wonder how many mental health consumers in psychiatric hospitals, day and partial hospitalization programs, and sheltered workshops have been made aware of the side effects of the medications they are taking? After all, these programs so frequently speak of care predicated on the principles of Wellness and Recovery.

Their doctors MAY (that's a big may) have informed them of diabetes risk, but their lawyers gave them a new angle to use to sue; i.e., an actualy label that tells some of the truth. The previous label was used by Lilly to block suits (diabetes, hyperglycemia and death - placed at FDA request in early 2004). What a game. I hope this group does not get trapped in a class action type suit and is able to take Lilly to the cleaners.

"I don't know much about these patients, but I have to wonder why their doctors wouldn't have informed them of diabetes-related issues with Zyprexa before the recent label change. Are doctors really that out of touch?"

Phil, your comment is touching. A few days ago, you ran a story about Carlat-the MD-drug rep who was hired to lie, and did lie, to prescribing doctors about the wonders of Effexor and, significantly, he never told them about Effexor's obvious side effect -- that of hypertension. The parallel to Zyprexa is obvious, and the government's continued approval of the drug companies' policies is implicit in its approval of Cymbalta for a long-term use as an anti-depressant. We can rest assured that Lilly's drug reps will push the long-term approval schtick to the hilt.

re: doctors being out of touch-- a couple of months ago a neighbor told me she was diabetic. Then told me she had a psychotic episode and was placed on Li and Zyprexa. I asked her if she was diabetic before Zyprexa? "No." I told her about the diabetes warning, and to get to the doc immediately. She did. Off of Zyprexa and no longer diabetic. This JUST happened. Unbelievable, and I was glad I was able to pass the info along to her that should have been given to her by her psychiatrist.

I also told her to contact an attorney.

I have been on quite a few of these "helpful" medications. Other than the mention of dry mouth and "possible" (possible???) weight gain, I was NEVER told of ANY possible side effects. When I complained of what I now know were side effects I was told I was uncooperative and "trying to blame the meds".

So yes, docs really ARE that out of touch. Deliberately, in my opinion.

Sherry,

Psychiatrists are the dregs of med school, who deliberately choose a field in which there is little expectation that the patient will ever get well, and in which patients generally don't die either.

Such people are by definition mediocrities. If you want some advice, look into orthomolecular psychiatry. It has an 85% success rate.