Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) is part of the statins drug class. It is used primarily in treating dyslipidemia, or the abnormal presence of cholesterol and/or fat in the blood, and preventing cardiovascular disease. It works by inhibiting the liver enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that is key to cholesterol production within the body. Decreased production of cholesterol by this enzyme prompts the liver to assume more cholesterol from the bloodstream, which in turn decreases the amount of cholesterol circulating in the blood.
Although atorvastatin was the fifth drug developed in its class, it was shown to have a more dramatic effect in reducing the amount of cholesterol found in low-density lipoproteins, also termed LDL-C, than other statin medications. Atorvastatin is considered a highly potent form within its drug class.
Beyond dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease, atorvastatin has also been used to treat thrombotic strokes and acute coronary syndrome in patients.
Beginning in 2004, evidence began to be produced in relation to a lack of glycemic control in patients taking Lipitor, particularly when taken in higher doses. Subsequent studies showed a significant correlation between patients taking Lipitor and the development of type 2 diabetes, especially in the case of women.
Not only has Lipitor been linked to diabetes, the medication and similar statins have been implicated in cases involving the following:
- Rhabdomyolysis, or serious muscle damage
- Liver damage
- Kidney damage
The medication has also been connected to a variety of other symptoms and conditions.
In the case of patients prescribed Lipitor who go on to develop type 2 diabetes, they become affected by a lifelong condition that requires continuous monitoring. If left untended, it can result in death.
At McDivitt Law Firm, we feel that you deserve information that may be relevant to your rights as a consumer. We want to alert you to a potential claim regarding this medication that you or someone you know may have been prescribed.
We may be able to help you if:
- You have developed type 2 diabetes during or after taking Lipitor.
- You have suffered from kidney or liver failure.
- You are affected by pain in your extremities and, in more serious cases, muscle damage.
- You have experienced other known side effects of the medication.
If you or someone you know has taken Lipitor and been affected by the health risks listed above, please contact us for a confidential case evaluation.