Antipsychotic medications are strong medications used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The most commonly prescribed antipsychotic drugs on the market are Abilify, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel, Symbyax, and Zyprexa. Over the last decade, many drug makers have come under fire for unlawfully marketing antipsychotic drugs for off-label uses in elderly populations, children, and the mentally disabled. In addition there have been numerous reports of serious side effects in people who have taken these drugs including:
a life-threatening nervous system disorder called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
a motor movement problem called tar dive dyskinesia (TD)
high blood sugar and diabetes, and
increased risk of death in elderly patients.
Within the last five years, federal officials have obtained settlement agreements in the billions of dollars involving Risperdal, made by Johnson & Johnson; Zyprexa, made by Eli Lilly; Seroquel, made by AstraZeneca; Geodon, made by Pfizer; and Depakote (now AbbVie), made by Abbott.