A recent Lipitor study shows healthy patients taking the cholesterol reducing medication had an 87 percent increased risk of developing diabetes. Researchers followed 26,000 patients who had no history of heart disease or diabetes and found that not only did Lipitor significantly increase the chance of developing diabetes but patients were also 250 percent more likely to develop diabetes with complications.

Lipitor is one of the most widely prescribed medications around the world. Millions of Americans use the drug to lower their cholesterol and their risk for heart attack and stroke. The link between Lipitor and type-2 diabetes has been found in numerous studies over the past few years but this is one of the first that shows an increased risk even among patients with no history of chronic illnesses.

Manufacturer Pfizer Inc. is currently facing thousands of Lipitor diabetes lawsuits from consumers who allege the company knew or should have known about the increased risk of developing diabetes yet did not adequately warn patients.

Lipitor Type-2 Diabetes Side Effects

Medical studies have researched the cholesterol drug side effects since 2010 and have found that Lipitor users have an increased risk of developing Lipitor diabetes over non users.

A 2012 study from the Archives of Internal Medicine concluded that women between the ages of 50 and 79 who took Lipitor had almost a 50 percent greater risk of developing Lipitor diabetes over women who did not take the medication.

Studies around the world have also shown a connection between Lipitor and diabetes. Findings from a study performed in Finland a few months ago showed an increased Lipitor diabetes risk by 50 percent. Likewise, a study performed in Canada in June 2014 showed patients taking Lipitor had a 15 percent greater risk of diabetes within just two years of treatment.

In February 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required Pfizer to include a warning of increased risk of developing diabetes on Lipitor’s label. Many patients filing Lipitor lawsuits argue that even with the label change it still does not adequately warn of the serious diabetes risks associated with taking Lipitor.

Symptoms of Lipitor diabetes include:

• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Dry mouth
• Areas of darkened skin
• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Headaches
• Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
• Increased thirst
• Increased hunger (especially after eating)

Patients who develop any of these type-2 diabetes symptoms after taking Lipitor are urged to contact their physician immediately.

Lipitor Lawsuits

Thousands of Lipitor lawsuits charge Pfizer with failing to warn of the serious diabetes risks linked to the medication. Some plaintiffs claim that they developed Lipitor diabetes after taking the medication for only a few short months. Lipitor lawsuits allege Pfizer intentionally hid the diabetes side effect while aggressively marketing the product.

Lipitor and other statins have combined sales of more than $14.5 billion each year. Plaintiffs filing Lipitor lawsuits claim that manufacturers knew of the diabetes risks but placed sales ahead of consumer safety.