Patients struggling with high cholesterol levels may be prescribed Lipitor to help better manage their health. The statin medication was approved in 1996 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is typically prescribed in doses ranging from 10mg to 80mg. According to Pfizer, the manufacturer of Lipitor, the product prevents the liver from producing bad cholesterol and thus reduces the likelihood that the patient will suffer from blood clots, strokes, heart attack, or death.
However, Lipitor has recently been linked to several complications, including the development of type 2 diabetes. If you or someone you love has been negatively affected by Lipitor and you wish to learn more about filing an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit, contact Attorney Group for Iowa today.
Risks and Side Effects
In February 2012, Pfizer was ordered to update Lipitor’s warning label to reflect the possible risk of type 2 diabetes. Lipitor patients may consider filing an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit if they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or if they experienced other complications associated with the popular drug, including:
- Anemia
- Jaundice
- Neurological disorders
- Kidney failure
- Cognitive loss
- Muscle or liver problems
- Pancreatic dysfunction
Common side effects include joint pain, diarrhea, stomach pains, fatigue, throat irritation, indigestion, nausea, infrequent or incomplete bowel movements, gas, or headaches. Several research studies have found that certain groups of people are more likely than others to experience Lipitor complications. Individuals older than 65, those with a smaller body frame, those who take multiple cholesterol medications, those who drink alcohol on a regular basis, or anyone with kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes may wish to seek an alternative medication to help to treat their high cholesterol levels.
Lipitor Lawsuits Filed in the U.S.
Lipitor patients who have developed type 2 diabetes or other complications may consider filing an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit. Doing so could better their chances of recovering the compensation to which they may be entitled. Although the medical community has known about the link between Lipitor and cognitive damage, liver dysfunction, heart attacks, and rhabdomyolisis for some time, the relationship between Lipitor and type 2 diabetes has only recently been established.
As of June 2014, more than 700 Lipitor lawsuits are pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Plaintiffs allege that Lipitor can increase a patient’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes and that Pfizer failed to adequately warn consumers of this potential danger. According to court documents, the first bellwether trials in the Lipitor litigation are expected to begin on or after July 1, 2015. Alleged Lipitor victims may be entitled to file an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit to recover damages for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering that may have been caused by their use of the drug. To learn more about filing an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit, contact Attorney Group for Iowa today.
Believe You Have an Iowa Lipitor Lawsuit?
If you or someone you love took Lipitor subsequently received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, consider seeking legal counsel today to learn more about your legal options. Attorney Group for Iowa can review your case, free of charge, and help determine if you are eligible to file an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit. We can put you in touch with an affiliated attorney able to file an Iowa Lipitor lawsuit on your behalf and help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
