An 83-year woman added another Lipitor lawsuit to the multidistrict litigation filed against drug giant Pfizer, alleging that its blockbuster heart disease drug causes type-2 diabetes.

Plaintiff Florene S. states she was prescribed Lipitor in March 2000 to lower her high cholesterol and used the drug for 15 years. In 2005, Florene was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes allegedly as a result of taking Lipitor, according to the Lipitor diabetes lawsuit.

Florene further claims Pfizer knew or should have known about the risk of health problems from Lipitor, but instead provided inadequate warnings. As a result, thousands of women may have developed diabetes from the drug that could have been avoided if more accurate information had been provided about the risk.

About Lipitor

The FDA first approved Lipitor in 1996 to treat high cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease. It has the ability to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL and Triglycerides) and increase the good cholesterols (HDL) in the body.

It can also be used to lower the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and coronary heart disease problems, and has been used in adults and children over the age of 10.

To increase profits, Pfizer began heavily promoting Lipitor to consumers and physicians. Lipitor promotion exceeded tens of millions on advertising alone, leading to its popularity among men and women with high cholesterol.

Since it was approved, it has become the best-selling drug in pharmaceutical history with sales exceeding $125 billion. It provides its pharmaceutical manufacturer, Pfizer, with a quarter of its annual revenue every year.

Lipitor Diabetes Risk

Lipitor’s benefits were not without cost. Since its approval, studies have linked Lipitor to developing type-2 diabetes, a lifelong condition that causes high blood sugar levels in patients. Researchers suspect that Lipitor inhibits the function of the pancreas and can also decrease the body’s sensitivity to the insulin it produces.

One of those studies was published in January 2012 in the Archives of Internal Medicine. This study found that women between the ages of 50 and 79 were 48% more likely to develop type-2 diabetes after taking Lipitor than other women their age. This was not the only study to reach such conclusions.

In light of this research, the FDA released a statement warning men and women that Lipitor and other statin drugs could be associated with an increase in developing high blood sugar levels and type-2 diabetes. They also required Pfizer to update Lipitor’s warning label.

Lipitor Lawsuits

Lipitor side effects and health complications have led to numerous lawsuits being filed against Pfizer. These lawsuits allege that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings for these, including the increased risk of type-2 diabetes.

In addition, even after numerous studies linked Lipitor to an increased risk of type-2 diabetes, Pfizer continued to promote the drug as safe and effective.

If you or someone you love has suffered adverse side effects or been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes after taking Lipitor to control your cholesterol levels, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

The Lipitor Diabetes Lawsuit joins the Lipitor MDL titled In Re: Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2:14-mn-02502-RMG, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division.