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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah has filed a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company that makes the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa.
The state claims it was misled about risks to patients who received the drug through Medicaid.
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff filed the lawsuit in 3rd District Court on Thursday against Eli Lilly and Company. The lawsuit accuses the company of pushing doctors to prescribe the drug to treat "off-label" conditions like Tourette's syndrome, Alzheimer's and anorexia.
The federal Food & Drug Administration approved Zyprexa for treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
An Eli Lilly spokesman said he hadn't seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Side effects to Zyprexa can include high blood sugar levels, acute weight gain and pancreatitis, according to the lawsuit.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
