FDA Issues Advisory on Antipsychotic Drugs

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory on several drugs prescribed off-label as antidepressants and requested that manufacturers of the named drugs to include a 'black box' warning in packaging alerting consumers to an increased risk of heart attack and pneumonia.

The April 11 advisory applies to Abilify (aripiprazole); Zyprexa (olanzapine); Seroquel (quetiapine); Risperdal (risperidone); Clozaril (clozapine); Geodon (ziprasidone); and Symbyax.

Symbyax is approved for the treatment of depression in patients with bipolar disorder, but the other named drugs are approved for the treatment of schizophrenia and mania. The FDA said clinical …