Lipitor Under Fire After Healthy Users Acquire Type-2 Diabetes

Lipitor|Atorvastatin has continued to acquire lawsuits from users holding the statin responsible for the development of Type-2 diabetes. Victims, such as Doris Brown from Philadelphia, claim that they were prescribed Lipitor to aid in the prevention of heart disease or to lower high cholesterol however, began to experience adverse side effects and were eventually diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes.

Precautions and Pre-existing Conditions

In June 2006, patients who were prescribed Lipitor to lower cholesterol levels began filing lawsuits against Pfizer, Lipitor manufacturer, after suffering from memory loss and muscle damage. In 2006, 47-year-old Michael Mazzariello (left) took the stand against Pfizer and stated that after he began using Lipitor, he was forced to rely on a cane to walk and was unable to pick up his toddler daughter. Users, like Mazzariello, claimed that Pfizer marketed Lipitor as a safe prescription and neglected to warn doctors and patients about the serious side effects affiliated with the drug. Extensive research administered at the University of California has listed risk factors linked to atorvastatins and diabetes. Anyone associated with the following conditions should avoid the use of Lipitor|Atorvastatin as such factors increase the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes:

• High blood sugar levels
• High blood pressure
• Excess weight gain and/or obesity
• High triglycerides levels
• Pregnancy
• Post-menopausal women

Healthy Woman Acquires Type-2 Diabetes

In August 2013, a Philadelphia resident has filed a lawsuit against Pfizer after she was diagnosed with diabetes. Doris Brown, began using Lipitor in 2009 with the determination to lower her chances of developing heart disease and in 2011, was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes. Prior to her consumption of Lipitor, Ms. Brown followed a healthy diet, participated in daily physical activity, and contained a body mass index (BMI) of 20.1. Her claim, as well as lawsuits accumulated between 2007 and 2013, have mentioned that had the victims been aware of the “slight increased risk of developing Type-2 diabetes and other severe side effects,” they would have never considered the usage of Lipitor.

Pfizer, Inc. has enjoyed financial success after the FDA’s 1996 approval of their statin drug, Lipitor. Lipitor|Atorvastatin became the best selling drug in pharmaceutical history, held that title for 10 years, and achieved sales of more than $125 billion. Despite lawsuits that have slowly piled up over the years, Pfizer continues to support their billion dollar baby, confirming their vast amount of success stories and testimonials thus, attempting to ensure the public that Lipitor is safe and individual’s health factors can alter their reaction to the drug.