Eli Lilly: Drug ads influencing patients

Eli Lilly, which has faced thousands of lawsuits over its anti-psychotic Zyprexa, says lawyers' ads about the drug are prompting some patients to stop taking mental illness medications when they shouldn't.

The advertising blitz "presents yet another barrier for patients who suffer from severe mental illness" and increases the risks that people will not get the care they need, said Carole Puls, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis-based drug maker.

Lilly released the results of a company-funded survey that asked 402 psychiatrists who treat patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia to complete an online questionnaire. More than half of the participating psychiatrists said they believed their patients who stopped medication or reduced the dosage did so after seeing lawyers' advertisements about anti-psychotic drugs.

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Eli Lilly: Lawyers' Ads Are Hurting Patients - Law.com