Symbyax Health Risks

In addition to the health risks announced in the FDA alerts (above), there may be other dangers associated with Symbyax use.

The risks of using Symbyax include:

• An increased risk of having suicidal thoughts or actions

• Increased chance of death in elderly persons treated with atypical antipsychotics (such as Symbyax) for dementia. Symbyax is not approved for treating dementia.

• Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening nervous system problem, which can cause high fever, stiff muscles, sweating, fast or irregular heart beat, change in blood pressure, and confusion. NMS can also affect your kidneys and is a medical emergency. Call your healthcare professional right away if you experience these symptoms.

• Tardive Dyskinesia (TD), a movement problem. Call your healthcare professional right away if you get muscle movements that cannot be stopped.

• High blood sugar and diabetes. Patients with diabetes or who have a higher chance for diabetes should have their blood sugar checked often.

• Strokes have occurred in older patients treated for mental illness from dementia. Symbyax is not approved for this use.

• Bleeding problems, especially if taken with aspirin, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or other drugs that affect bleeding

• Mania (becoming hyperactive, excitable, or elated)

• Low salt levels in the blood, which can cause weakness, confusion, or trouble thinking

• Sexual problems including impotence (erectile dysfunction), abnormal ejaculation, difficulty in reaching orgasm, or decreased libido (sexual desire)

Other serious side effects of Symbyax use include:

• Low blood pressure (seen as dizziness), and possible fainting
• Increased heartbeat
• Seizures
• Liver problems
• Increased body temperature
• Difficulty swallowing

The most common side effects include

• Sleepiness
• Dry mouth
• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Diarrhea
• Weight gain
• Increased appetite
• Tremor

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Professional?

Before you start taking Symbyax, tell your healthcare professional if you:

• have or had heart problems
• have or had seizures.
• have or had diabetes or increased blood sugar
• have or had liver disease
• are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
• are taking Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem, olanzapine, Zyprexa, or Zyprexa Zydis. These medicines each contain an ingredient that is also found in Symbyax.
• drink alcohol

Can Other Medicines or Food Affect Symbyax?

In order to avoid dangerous interactions with any medicines you might be taking, tell your healthcare professional about all prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you take.

Your healthcare professional may have to adjust your dose or watch you more closely if you take the following medications:

• blood pressure medicines
• levodopa and other medicines called dopamine agonists
• omeprazole
• rifampin
• carbamazepine
• fluvoxamine
• clozapine
• haloperidol
• phenytoin
• lithium
• pimozide
• sumatriptan
• warfarin

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Symbyax.

Is There Anything Else I Need to Know?

Dizziness (and sometimes fainting) caused by a drop in blood pressure may happen with Symbyax, especially when you first start taking this medicine or when the dose is increased.

Symbyax may impair judgment, thinking, or motor skills. You should be careful in operating machinery, including automobiles, until you know how Symbyax affects you.

Lastly, it is important to avoid overheating and dehydration while taking Symbyax. Symbyax may make it harder to lower your body temperature.

Symbyax - Getting Legal Help

While most medications have certain anticipated side effects, a drug manufacturer has a duty to make its products as reasonably safe as possible, and to inform the medical community and the public of known risks associated with its drugs. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held legally responsible if patients are injured as the result of inadequate warnings or the unreasonably dangerous nature of the drug, under a legal theory called "product liability."

If you or a loved one have experienced any dangerous symptoms or unusual medical conditions related to Symbyax use, you should first contact your doctor or other healthcare professional. You may also wish to meet with an experienced attorney to discuss your options and to protect your right to a legal remedy for any injuries caused by Symbyax use.

• Go here to learn more about an attorney's role in a pharmaceutical liability case.
• To find an experienced attorney, use the "Find a Lawyer" tool on the left side of this page, or click here.