Injury

Zyprexa

By Leah Morrison | Updated October 20, 2026

📅 2026 Update: Changes in Telemedicine and Substance Use Treatment

Since the original article on Zyprexa was published, there have been important updates regarding controlled substances and telemedicine. These changes aim to improve access to treatment for substance use disorders and mental health conditions. The earlier article continues further down the page and remains relevant.

🏥 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Controlled Substances

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have extended telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances through December 31, 2026. This means that DEA-registered practitioners can prescribe Schedule II-V medications via telehealth without needing a prior in-person visit.

This change allows patients to access necessary medications more easily.

💊 Permanent Buprenorphine Telemedicine Prescribing

On January 17, 2025, a final rule was issued that makes telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing buprenorphine permanent. Buprenorphine is a key medication for treating opioid use disorder. This ensures ongoing access to treatment through virtual consultations, further supporting patients in need.

⚖️ Strengthened Mental Health Parity

New rules released on September 9, 2024, enhance the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). These rules, which went into effect on November 22, 2024, ensure that health plans cannot impose stricter limits on mental health and substance use disorder benefits than on medical benefits. This promotes fair treatment for those seeking help.

📞 Access to Free Support

For those dealing with substance use disorders, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a national helpline. Individuals can reach out at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for information and treatment referrals. This resource remains vital for anyone seeking assistance.

📌 Key Points to Remember

📅 Telemedicine flexibilities for controlled substances last until December 31, 2026.
💊 Buprenorphine can now be prescribed via telemedicine permanently.
⚖️ New rules enhance mental health and addiction treatment parity.
📞 Free support is available through SAMHSA's national helpline.

💡 Tips for Navigating Prescription and Treatment

It's important to review your specific situation with your attorney.

🔍 Understanding Telehealth Requirements

When seeking telehealth prescriptions for controlled substances, make sure the provider is registered with the DEA. A video consultation is necessary to assess your medical history and current condition.

👩‍⚕️ Finding a Buprenorphine Provider

To receive buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine, locate a provider that offers this service. Complete any required intake forms and schedule a virtual consultation for an eligibility assessment.

⏳ Be Aware of Processing Times

Processing times for telehealth prescriptions can vary. Some providers may offer same-day consultations, while others may take longer to schedule an appointment.

💰 Check Costs Beforehand

Costs for telehealth consultations and buprenorphine treatment can differ by provider. Some may use subscription models, while others charge per visit. It's best to confirm current pricing with the service you choose.

📞 Utilize Free Resources

If you need help with substance use disorders, remember that SAMHSA offers free resources. Their helpline can connect you to treatment options and support services.

🏆 Ranked by User Reviews (2026)

This section lists services relevant to prescription medications and telehealth. The order follows Trustpilot data as of October 2026. Star ratings reflect user experiences, but remember that unhappy customers often leave more reviews.

🥇 1. Direct Meds

Direct Meds has been rated 4.6. It is known for providing GLP-1 telehealth services, including compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide. However, it has limited insurance acceptance, which may affect accessibility for some patients.

🥈 2. Hims & Hers Health

Hims & Hers Health holds a Trustpilot score of 3.0. This service offers a range of online healthcare options, including prescription medications and personal care products. Customers have noted issues with customer service and product effectiveness.

🥉 3. LifeStance Health

LifeStance Health has a score of 4.0. It is recognized for its mental health services, including therapy and psychiatry through telehealth. Some users have reported inconsistent service quality and issues with appointment availability.

4️⃣ Talkiatry

Talkiatry has a rating of 2.4. This service specializes in online psychiatry and medication management with flexible scheduling. However, reviewers mention limited insurance coverage and variable clinician quality as potential drawbacks.

🆓 Government and Nonprofit Help

The U.S. Department of Labor offers resources related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Individuals can contact the Employee Benefits Security Administration for assistance.

Additionally, SAMHSA provides a helpline for those seeking treatment referrals.

🔎 What to Compare When Choosing a Service

🏥 Types of services offered related to mental health and substance use.
💬 User reviews and ratings to gauge customer satisfaction.
💰 Cost structures and insurance acceptance.
📞 Availability of free support options for additional help.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

❔ What are the requirements for telehealth prescriptions?

Telehealth prescriptions for controlled substances require a video consultation with a DEA-registered practitioner. The practitioner will evaluate your medical history and current condition.

🏥 How do I find a buprenorphine provider?

To find a provider for buprenorphine treatment via telemedicine, search for services that specifically offer this treatment. Ensure they have the necessary licensing and credentials.

⏰ How long does it take to get a telehealth appointment?

Processing times for telehealth appointments can vary widely. Some platforms may offer same-day consultations, while others might take several days to schedule.

💵 Are there costs associated with telehealth prescriptions?

Yes, costs for telehealth consultations can differ by provider. Some may charge per visit, while others use subscription models. It’s important to inquire about fees before scheduling.

📞 What resources are available for substance use disorder treatment?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides a national helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This resource offers information and referrals for treatment.

🔍 How has telemedicine changed substance use treatment?

Recent changes have allowed for easier access to telemedicine for controlled substances, including medications like buprenorphine. This aims to increase treatment accessibility for opioid use disorder.

⚖️ Recent Cases Related to Drug Regulations

Recent court rulings have impacted regulations surrounding controlled substances and telemedicine prescriptions. These rulings connect to the evolving landscape of drug treatment and accessibility.

You can browse more rulings on the news page for recent updates and legal decisions.

End of October 2026 Update

Frequently Asked Questions about Zyprexa

What is Zyprexa?

Zyprexa is the trade name for the drug olanzapine as manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lily and Company. It is termed an atypical antipsychotic and can be used in the treatment of several mental illnesses.

How is Zyprexa taken?

There are actually three separate ways that Zyprexa is meant to be taken, but most interestingly, the way that a patient takes Zyprexa determines what its effect will be on them.

•Oral Zyprexa: For the treatment of schizophrenia, both during acute episodes and as a maintenance treatment, as well as for the treatment of bipolar disorder during its manic phases, in which case it used as a supplement to lithium or valproate;

•Intramuscular Zyprexa: Only for acute treatment of schizophrenia of bipolar disorder or manic-phase bipolar disorder, not for maintenance treatment;

•Oral Zyprexa with fluoxetine: For the treatment of the depressive-phase of bipolar disorder, or for adults with depression which is resistant to other medications.

Some doctors also prescribe Zyprexa to treat anorexia or Tourette syndrome, though those are not FDA approved uses.

What are the common side effects of Zyprexa?

Zyprexa can cause several movement disorders, such as Tardive dyskinesia in which involuntary and repetitive body movements occur, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome, which is very rare and potentially fatal, consisting of muscle rigidity, autonomic instability and even cognitive delirium. These movement disorders are common to all drugs in the neuroleptic category.

More unique to Zyprexa are all of the following side effects:

•Akathisia or chronic restlessness

•Anhedonia, or the inability to find pleasure in activities commonly found enjoyable;

•Auditory Hallucinations;

•Decreased Motor Skills

•Dizziness;

•Dry Mouth;

•Heart Failure, Heart Attacks, Heart Disease;

•Impaired Thinking or Judgment;

•Increased Appetite;

•Insomnia;

•Irritability;

•Menstrual Irregularity;

•Red Eye;

•Seizures

•SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome or Brain Zaps, a risk of withdrawal

•Trouble Swallowing

•Vertigo.

Is there some controversy over Zyprexa?

Yes, Zyprexa has become a highly controversial medication during the past decade. There are several reasons for this, but one important cause is a side-effect that Eli Lilly & Company is still reluctant to discuss: diabetes. A recent report in The Times of London shows that Eli Lily and company has had information that the use of Zyprexa simultaneously causes weight gain and increased blood sugar levels. Documents going as far back as 1998 show the company worrying about what the weight gain caused by Zyprexa might do to sails. One researcher wrote in a 2000 memo about the drug’s “implications for glucose,” which is a polite way of suspecting it to cause diabetes.

The actual research conducted by Zyprexa paints a revealing portrait. At least 30% of patients on Zyprexa gained 22 pounds or more because of the drug, and a later study showed that 60% of patients gained at least 66 pounds after just one year on the drug.

Two lawsuits resulted from Zyprexa and its ties to weight gain and diabetes. The first, settled in 2006, paid out $700 million dollars to individuals who’d developed diabetes and other diseases while taking Zyprexa. The second which concerned 18,000 other, similar allegations, was worth another $500 million. This means that Eli Lilly has paid out more than $1.2 billion dollars to more than 28,000 patients who’ve suffered from the use of Zyprexa, a huge number until you realize that more than 20 million individuals have taken Zyprexa across the globe, and Eli Lily & Company routinely earns more than a billion dollars from sales of the drug each quarter.

The other controversy regarding Zyprexa does not directly concern its risk factors for diabetes but rather its prescribed uses, although the seriousness of its side effects is an important factor. After the first phase of Zyprexa’s introduction to the marketplace, when it was a huge success among sufferers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Eli Lilly & Company was pushing for new uses for the drug, even though these uses hadn’t been approved by the Food & Drug Administration.

Most troublingly, Eli Lilly & Company marketed the drug through its thousands of sales representatives to treat children in foster care, insomniacs, and the elderly in nursing homes. According to Laurie Magid, a U.S. Attorney, the Company’s sales representatives were trained to court nursing home and foster home managers with the slogan “five at five,” meaning that a low dosage of Zyprexa would keep individuals quiet throughout the evening and night.

The serious side-effects of Zyprexa made these actions genuinely harmful. Prescribing a individuals with no serious symptoms a drug like Zyprexa, which causes diabetes, huge weight gains, seizures, and the potentially fatal neuroleptic malignant syndrome, as a mere matter of routine, is a hugely negligent act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Laurie Magid.

For these crimes, Eli Lilly & Company agreed to pay out $1.4 billion dollars to sufferers from Zyprexa. This means that the total costs of Zyprexa to the pharmaceutical giant now total $2.6 billion.

What do I do if I’ve been injured by Zyprexa?

If you’ve been injured by Zyprexa, then you should contact an attorney right away. If your claims appear to fall under the jurisdiction of one of the lawsuits that have already occurred, then you might be entitled to a portion of the billions that have already been awarded. Finding an attorney will help to legitimize your claims and get you your compensation as soon as possible.

You may also need to file a new lawsuit against Eli Lilly & Company over Zyprexa. Thousands of cases have been tried continuously during the period that these large class-action suits were occurring, and yours might very well be another one, but you should have the input of a noted medical malpractice attorney first.

Remember that no matter what your claims regarding Zyprexa are, if a medical malpractice attorney agrees to take it, they should charge you on a contingency plan, asking for no money upfront and instead a portion of a trial award or a cash settlement. This also means that they won’t charge you any money if you lose your case.