Lipitor

Diabetes Diagnosis After Lipitor?

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after taking Lipitor or Atorvastatin, you may wish to explore your legal options.

About Lipitor

Lipitor, a medication that helps prevent heart disease and lowers high cholesterol, has been linked to type 2 diabetes in women. Known generically as Atorvastatin, Lipitor has been investigated for an increased risk of diabetes development since 2009. A study published in May 2013 shows women who take this medication have a 22% higher chance of developing diabetes than those who are not taking it. That percentage increases to almost 50% in post-menopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79, according to the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The rate of complications among Liptor patients is especially alarming due to the number of women who are prescribed this medication. In 2011 Lipitor was the top selling prescription drug on the market, generating more than $125 billion in sales over 14.5 years for the manufacturer Pfizer Inc. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) reports 36% of women between the ages of 64 and 74 take Lipitor to prevent heart attacks. In 2012 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) ordered Pfizer to include a diabetes warning on Lipitor labels. The FDA also indicated a link between Lipitor and other health complications such as liver damage, cognitive impairment, memory loss and muscle damage.

Legal Proceedings

Pfizer Inc. was first taken to court in 2013. Patients in the case alleged that Pfizer inadequately labeled the risks associated with taking Lipitor. When the drug was released in 1996, there were no warnings regarding the risk of changes in blood sugar levels. Consumers were not warned of the serious risk of developing type 2 diabetes until 2012 when the FDA ordered Pfizer to add warnings regarding diabetes 2 development risks to Lipitor labels. The 2013 lawsuit claims Pfizer engaged in overly aggressive and misleading marketing without providing patients and physicians with information that could have prevented injuries. In addition to concerns over developing diabetes, the FDA indicated that Lipitor can cause liver damage and cognitive impairment.There are no scientific studies suggesting a link between Lipitor usage and diabetes in men at this time.

Lipitor Key Points

• Lipitor (Atorvastatin) was introduced in 1996 as a high cholesterol/heart disease medication
• Female Lipitor patients between the ages of 50 and 79 with a body mass index of 30 or less have an almost 50% higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes than women not taking the medication
• In 2012 the FDA required Pfizer Inc. to include warnings about diabetes, liver damage and muscle damage on Lipitor labels
• Pfizer Inc. has also faced numerous lawsuits due to the dishonest marketing of several other medications including Bextra, Nuerotonin and Lyrica. In 2002, the company paid a $49 million fine based on claims that it defrauded the Medicaid program and overcharged consumers for Lipitor.

Conditions Caused by Lipitor

• Type 2 diabetes
• Liver damage
• Myopathy (muscular weakness)
• Rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibers)

Side Effects and Symptoms

• Fever
• Nausea
• Feeling tired or weak
• Loss of appetite
• Brown or dark colored urine
• Jaundice
• Stomach pain
• Tenderness in muscles

You Have Legal Options

If you or someone you love suffered serious side affects while taking Lipitor including the development of Type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for compensation. Call our Lipitor experts today at 1-800-529-3476 for a free and confidential consultation.