Experienced Attorneys for Patients who Suffered from Taking Lipitor
Lipitor (atorvastatin), a drug manufactured by Pfizer Inc., is used to help lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. It is classified as a statin drug along with other medications such as Merck’s Zocor (simvastatin), Astra Zeneca’s Crestor (rosuvastatin), and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Pravachol (pravastatin).
Statin drugs are also present in combination products such as Merck/Shering-Plough’s Vytorin (simvastatin/ezetimibe), Abbott’s Simcor (simvastatin/niacin), and Abbott’s Advicor (lovastatin/niacin extended release).
Doctors often prescribe statin drugs along with diet and exercise to reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can lead to blood clots, blocked arteries, heart attack, and stroke if allowed to build in the arteries.
FDA Issues Safety Notice Regarding Statin Use and Diabetes
In February 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a drug safety notice and change for labeling of statin drugs including Lipitor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zocor and others along with combination drug products Advicor, Simcor, and Vytorin. The FDA stated labels for these drugs need to include a warning for a greater risk of increased blood sugar levels and of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
The FDA has reviewed multiple studies that indicate statin drugs like Lipitor pose a greater risk in women for developing increased blood sugar levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some data suggests that women taking statin drugs with a body mass index (BMI) under 25, which is considered to be a person of ‘normal’ weight, have as much as a 27% increased risk for developing diabetes mellitus.
Additionally, the Women’s Health Initiative conducted a study and reported that postmenopausal women of normal body weight (BMI under 25) may be at a 9% to 27% increased risk for developing high blood sugar levels or diabetes mellitus depending on the statin drug that was prescribed to them. The study also found a trend for greater risk of diabetes mellitus among Asian women compared with other ethnicities.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes mellitus include: increased thirst and frequent urination, increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow healing sores, and frequent infections. Serious personal injury can occur if type 2 diabetes mellitus is not treated. Long-term complications include heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
Your Rights
If you or a loved one has taken Lipitor or another statin drug and has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, contact us. Our product liability attorneys have litigated thousands of cases against drug manufacturers and have experience in helping seriously injured people obtain compensation for their damages. Call or email us for a free case evaluation and to learn of your legal rights and options.
