Florida Lipitor Lawyer Notes New Developments
Atorvastatin belongs to a family of drugs called “statins” and is better known by its trade name “Lipitor.” No matter the label, the drug has come a long way since initial FDA approval in late 1996. During the past almost two decades, the drug grew phenomenally to reach its status as one of the most popular and frequently prescribed prescriptions on the globe. All-time gross profits of an estimated $125 to $130 billion give Lipitor a permanent place as a top prescription product.
However, during the late 1990s, a study found a link between Lipitor and diabetes. Since then, a growing body of empirical research continues reveals a link between diabetes and Lipitor usage.
Links Between Lipitor and Diabetes
A University of Massachusetts medical scientist conducted a study of suspected links between Lipitor and diabetes in 2012. Dr. Yungshen Ma found that postmenopausal women who took daily doses of statins were particularly vulnerable to developing diabetes, by virtue of increased incidence nearly 50 percent higher than female peers who do not use any statins.
Other recent research published by the British Medical Journal in May of 2014 shows similar results. Two Canadian researchers analyzed medical data of roughly 140,000 patients from six different provincial regions in Canada and two international venues to evaluate new-onset diabetes and high-potency statins.
After thoroughly assessing health and medication histories of all subjects who were over 40 and started taking statins between 1997 and 2011, the scientists concluded that high-potency statins pose a 15 percent greater risk for onset of diabetes than low-potency counterparts.
They further noted that the highest risk presented in the first two years of use, with peak susceptibility in the first 4 months of taking statins. For Lipitor, “high potency” was defined as 20mg or more
Initial FDA approval of amended Lipitor labels was based on two Meta studies encompassed in the second foregoing analyses that failed to adjust for real-life usage conditions and secondary treatment restrictions. By taking a narrower focus limited to individualized variables, the two Canadian medical scientists identified a statistically valid link between Lipitor and the onset of diabetes that pioneering colleagues consistently failed to visualize.
Injured? Contact Us Today
The main thing consumers should know is that there could be a link between Lipitor and diabetes, and lawsuits have been filed as a result of this link. If you or a loved one developed diabetes after taking Lipitor, contact Attorney Group for Florida today. We can discuss your options in your particular situation, help you determine if you have a claim, and connect you with an affiliated attorney, all at no cost to you. Contact us today to learn more.
