A friend of mine sent me a link with some recent news about Risperdal:
Risperdal, Anti-Psychotic Medication and Elder Care in Oregon
On Thursday, August 30th, Oregon was one of 36 states, as well as Washington, D.C., that settled a case with a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary over improper marketing of Risperdal. A federal government settlement of similar claims is expected soon. One of the allegations made by critics: Risperdal and similar drugs have been used improperly at times, including as chemical restraints.
Oregon to Receive $4.2 Million in Risperdal Illegal Marketing Settlement
The consumer protection settlement is based on a long-running investigation into whether Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc paid kickbacks to providers to use the drug for unapproved purposes such as managing elderly in nursing homes – while downplaying safety concerns. The drug’s side effects include increased risk for obesity and diabetes, as well as for strokes in older people.
Feds: Johnson & Johnson Paid Kickbacks to Boost Sales
Federal prosecutors said that health care giant Johnson & Johnson paid tens of millions of dollars in kickbacks so nursing homes would put more patients on its blockbuster schizophrenia medicine.
FDA Advises Against Certain Dementia Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration warned doctors that prescribing a certain group of psychiatric drugs to seniors suffering from dementia can increase their risk of death.
Anti-psychotic drugs are approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disease, but doctors frequently prescribe them to treat elderly patients with dementia.
The FDA’s announcement was an update to a 2005 action, when regulators added warnings about increased heart attacks and pneumonia to drugs called atypical antipsychotics. The medicines include blockbusters like Eli Lilly & Co.‘s Zyprexa and Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal.