Nuplazid is an antipsychotic medication that is linked to hundreds of reports of hallucinations, deaths, and other severe side effects.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Nuplazid induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a severe side effect, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
What is Nuplazid?
Nuplazid (pimavanserin) is a new antipsychotic drug that was approved in the U.S. in April 2016. It is supposed to reduce the risk of hallucinations and psychosis in patients with Parkinson’s disease. It was developed and manufactured by Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
Nuplazid Side Effects
Thousands of people have suffered severe side effects of Nuplazid, such as:
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Ineffective treatment of psychosis
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Muscle injury
- Weight loss
- Death
What is the problem?
Soon after Nuplazid was approved, more than 1,000 people reported hallucinations that were possibly linked to the medication. There have also been over 2,000 reports of deaths, life-threatening incidents, falls, insomnia, nausea and fatigue.
What is the Risk of Severe Side Effects?
In clinical trials, 8.1% of patients on Nuplazid experience severe side effects, compared to 4.8% of patients who received a placebo. For every 2 patients who achieve “much improved” status as a result of Nuplazid, one patient experiences a serious adverse event, according to the FDA.
Hundreds of Deaths Linked to Nuplazid
In November 2017, Nuplazid was linked to 244 deaths between the date it was launched and March 2017, according to a report (PDF) by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP).
Hundreds of reports suggested that Nuplazid was “not providing the expected benefit” or potentially worsening the condition, according to the ISMP, which warned the deaths “reinforce the concerns of those who warned that (Nuplazid) might do more harm than good.”
The FDA data now shows that the number of deaths linked to Nuplazid has risen to more than 700. In at least 500 deaths, Nuplazid was the only medication listed as “suspect” in the cause of death.
Nuplazid Deaths
One report describes the death of a 73-year-old woman in a long-term care facility who was using Nuplazid. Just before 8 a.m., a nurse noticed that the woman was “sleepy.” Soon afterward, the woman was found unresponsive and without a pulse. Less than an hour later, she was dead. Her husband is convinced that Nuplazid was responsible.
Nuplazid Approval Based on Minimal Safety Data
The ISMP warned that Nuplazid was rushed to the market with very little safety data. The approval relied on a single clinical trial indicating a “minimal treatment effect” using a new measurement scale, and succeeded only after 3 previous clinical trial failed to show any benefit.
Nuplazid Hallucinations
Nuplazid patients with hallucinations will see and hear things that are not there. The visual hallucinations may involve fully-formed people, strange objects, or animals. Patients might also hallucinate sounds, such as voices or background crowd noise. The patient may or may not realize that the visual and auditory hallucinations are not real.
Do I have a Nuplazid Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Nuplazid induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a severe side effect, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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