The number of Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits filed in the last five months against the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. has risen from 56 to about 1,000 cases filed. This rise in Lipitor lawsuits filed may be attributed to the recent allegations and news reports of long-term female Lipitor users developing type-2 diabetes and Pfizer’s alleged knowledge of this side effect.

The 1,000 lawsuits account for more than 4,000 women who allegedly are suffering from type-2 diabetes  as a result of taking Lipitor to manage their cholesterol issues. According news reports, the number of Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits is estimated to rise to 10,000 within the next year.

This slew of Lipitor lawsuits comes on the heels of a motion by a federal judicial panel to consolidate all nationwide cases filed against Pfizer for various drugs and medical products into a single multidistrict litigation. Pfizer and its legal representatives have stated that they plan to fight the claims.

When asked about the various consumer-reported side effects about Lipitor and its link to type-2 diabetes, and in some cases memory loss, Amy G. Egan, the deputy director for safety of the FDA’s Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products stated, “Clearly we think that the heart benefit of statins outweighs this small increased risk[.]” As a result, the FDA updated its Lipitor public health warning, which included a detailed list of newly discovered Lipitor side effects, such as muscle and liver damage.

Type-2 Diabetes and Lipitor Users

Female consumers continue to join Lipitor class action lawsuits alleging that Pfizer did not fully inform its consumers, especially female patients, of the increased risk of developing diabetes after taking Pfizer’s cholesterol managing statin drug.

Developing type-2 diabetes can be debilitating for many women, especially considering the severe change in diet and increased medical monitoring required as a result of a type-2 diabetes diagnosis.

In August 2011, the FDA issued a public notice ordering Pfizer to update the marketing labels and drug advertisements for Lipitor so that they reflect the growing number of legal cases and medical reports alleging a strong correlation between Lipitor consumption and patients’ increased risk of type-2 diabetes. These same reports also demonstrate that of the majority of Lipitor consumers, those most at risk for developing type-2 diabetes, are women. Pfizer Inc. finally did comply with the FDA order in February 2012 and updated Lipitor’s drug advertisement and product labels to include the alleged diabetes health risk.

Lipitor Side Effects

Many women have reported experiencing various unwanted and disconcerting side effects after using  Lipitor besides type2 diabetes, including :

• Muscle problems, pain, or weakness
• Fever and tiredness
• Liver problems
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Joint pain
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Myopathy