Name Manufacturer Yearly sales Use
Risperdal Johnson & Johnson $4,000,000,000 Bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia
Risperdal was first approved for
use in 1993. It is a atypical antipsychotic. The advantage of Risperdal over typical antipsychotics (Haldol, etc.), is that
the side effects are less intense. Recent studies have seemed to indicate that atypical antipsychotics are not as effective
as the previous generation of drugs in controlling symptoms. Risperdal was recently approved for use in treatment in children
and teenagers diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Risperdal is already used for treating irritability in children
with autism, ages 5-16.
Some of the side effects of Risperdal
are: Drowsiness, fatigue, increase in appetite, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, dry moth, tremors. (some have experienced rashes
with Risperdal also.)
Name Manufacturer Yearly sales Use
Zyprexa Ely Lilly Bipolar
disorder
Zyprexa is similarly a atypical
antipsychotic used in treating bipolar disorder and related disorders. Though not approved for use with children, it is prescribed
for children often, as are many drugs not approved for use with children. This is allowed by law, until the FDA would make
a contrary ruling for a specific medication. In addition to the side effects normal for atypical antipsychotics, drowsiness,
fatigue, anxiety, nausea, dizziness, etc., weight gain has resulted in diabetes for hundreds, sometimes leading to untimely
death. As a result, the manufacturers of Zyprexa recently paid a multi-million
dollar settlement to those who acquired diabetes while on the drug.
