Lipitor is a brand name of a drug containing atorvastatin. Marketed by Pfizer, Lipitor is part of a class of drugs known as “statins” that are the most prescribed class of drugs in the world. Statins are prescribed to lower cholesterol, stabilize the formation of plaque and prevent strokes and heart attacks.
Unfortunately, Lipitor may be harmful as well. In fact, studies have linked Lipitor to cognitive side effects, an increased risk of muscle injury when taken in conjunction with certain other medications, and an increased risk of diabetes.
Patients received only limited warnings regarding the risks of Lipitor, and now many patients have filed lawsuits against Pfizer alleging that they suffered harm as a result of the unexpected side effects of the drug.
If you have suffered unexpected health problems related to your use of Lipitor, you could be entitled to compensation for the physical injuries and emotional suffering you have endured. Contact our South Carolina Lipitor lawyers at Joye Law Firm to find out what legal options you may have. Call Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100 or use our online contact form. There is no fee for the consultation and claim review.
Lipitor Side Effects
Lipitor has been at the top of the list of best-selling branded drugs in the world for around a decade, but it was not until May 2012 that a generic version of Lipitor came to market. This means that Pfizer was able to capture the bulk of the profits from the cholesterol drug, which have been significant. Since Lipitor’s approval in 1996, sales of the drug have exceeded $125 billion annually.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that Lipitor may present some significant health risks to patients. Perhaps the greatest risk faced by Lipitor patients is the link between the medication and Type 2 diabetes.
Lipitor and Diabetes
Numerous studies have demonstrated that Lipitor, which can increase serum glucose levels in the body, can significantly increase the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, particularly in women.
One study showing evidence of a link between Lipitor and Type 2 diabetes was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study revealed that women who took statins of any type were approximately 48 percent more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than women who did not take the cholesterol medication.
This conclusion was drawn by looking at the data on 154,000 women between the ages of 50 and 79. The data was collected over 12 years and researchers focused on women because the study was part of a Women’s Health Initiative. However, researchers who were not involved in the study indicated that the link between Lipitor and diabetes probably applied to men as well.
The JAMA study was not the only one to find a potential link between diabetes and Lipitor. Another study showed that Lipitor users were as much as 22 percent more likely to develop diabetes compared to patients on a different cholesterol drug.
A third study published by the American College of Cardiology reviewed data from three clinical trials comparing patients taking high doses (80 milligrams) of the active ingredient in Lipitor compared with a lower-dose drug and a placebo. Patients taking the generic Lipitor, atorvastatin, had a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes over five years.
Taking Legal Action for Lipitor Injuries
While most drugs carry side effects, the risks associated with Lipitor may be especially problematic. The author of Overdose, Jay S. Cohen, said in an article in Natural News that he had “heard more complaints about the side effects of Lipitor than all of the other drugs in its class combined,” perhaps because the recommended dose of this cholesterol medication is notably higher than other similar drugs.
Lipitor guidelines typically call for a dose of 10 mg or higher and do not distinguish between patients who have heart disease or who need their cholesterol reduced by a moderate or a significant amount. This means that some patients taking Lipitor may be getting more medication than they need.
The side effects of Lipitor are also especially troubling because the public may not have received proper warnings. Patients have the right to give informed consent before taking medications, which means they need to know what side effects a drug has. Some allege that Pfizer knew that their drug was dangerous and linked to side effects including an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, but failed to share that information with patients prior to 2012.
Drug companies may be held “strictly liable” in any situation where they have produced and released a drug on the market that causes unexpected harm when used as intended. There is no requirement that a drug company be negligent in order for the company to be held legally responsible.
If you have suffered unexpected side effects from taking Lipitor, you could have a valid claim against the manufacturer.
Talk to Our South Carolina Lipitor Side Effect Lawyers Today
At Joye Law Firm, we are dedicated to our clients and our community. When you’ve been seriously injured by a dangerous prescription drug, you can trust our South Carolina drug injury attorneys to treat you with respect and work to get the compensation you deserve.
You can count on our South Carolina Lipitor attorneys at Joye Law Firm to give you a fair and honest evaluation of your claim. Call Joye Law Firm at (888) 324-3100 or use our online contact form for a no-cost claim evaluation and consultation.
Sources:
- FDA – Statins and HIV or Hepatitis C Drugs: Drug Safety Communication – Interaction Increases Risk of Muscle Injury
- Natural News – Statin drugs expose patients to dangerous, debilitating side effects
- Drugs.com – Lipitor Side Effects
- JAMA Internal Medicine – Statin Use and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women in the Women’s Health Initiative
- Los Angeles Times – Statins raise risk of Type 2 diabetes in older women, study finds
