Decreasing consumption of Zyprexa®

The consumption of the antipsychotic medicinal product Zyprexa® decreased during 2004. The decrease in consumption has taken place following EMEA’s announcement in March 2004 about a heightened risk of death and brain haemorrhage from treating elderly dementia patients with Zyprexa®. Hence, the consumption has especially decreased among the elderly. Studies of Risperdal® have also shown an elevated risk particularly of brain haemorrhage, yet the consumption of Risperdal® has not decreased.

Consumption of Zyprexa® and Risperdal® among elderly people in 2004

From April to December 2004, the consumption of Zyprexa® fell by 24% compared to the same period in 2003. Of the 6,565 people aged 65 or more who used at least one prescription for Zyprexa® in the period October 2003 to March 2004, 2,296 people (i.e. 35%) stopped using Zyprexa® after March 2004. An analysis of the consumption of antipsychotic medicinal products among elderly people during 1996-2003 can be found on this website in the report "Consumption of antipsychotics in Denmark among the elderly" (an English summary is available).

Users of Zyprexa® change to Seroquel®
Of the 2,296 people who have stopped using Zyprexa®, 766 are dead, 583 have stopped their antipsychotic treatment, 590 have changed to a different antipsychotic and 198 have changed to a benzodiazepine (tranquilliser or sleeping medicine). 159 people either changed preparations previous to March 2004 or used more than one antipsychotic product at once and stopped their treatment with Zyprexa®. Of the 590 people who have changed to another antipsychotic, 36% have changed to the more recent antipsychotic Seroquel®, whereas 22% have changed to Risperdal®. Furthermore, 15% have changed to Cisordinol®.

The Danish Medicines Agency, 17 February 2005