Maryland resident Barbara J. recently filed a Lipitor lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., a major pharmaceutical manufacturer, in federal court. Barbara filed a short form complaint as part of a larger multidistrict litigation in February of 2015. The Lipitor lawsuit alleges that Barbara developed type-2 diabetes as a result of taking Lipitor.

Barbara was prescribed Lipitor by her physician to treat her cholesterol issues. She took the medication for over three years from February 2005 until November 2008. In January 2008, Barbara was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and 10 months later she quit taking Lipitor. Barbara has now joined a multitude of other Lipitor victims who are suing Pfizer for manufacturing an unsafe drug and failing to warn the community about adverse Lipitor side effects. Barbara’s Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuit alleges claims for negligence, misrepresentation, strict products liability, breach of warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment, and punitive damages.

What is Lipitor?

Lipitor, generically known as atorvastatin, is a popular cholesterol lowering medication. According to Lipitor’s website, atorvastatin works by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides in human blood by blocking an enzyme in the liver that produces cholesterol. The medication also claims to help raise a person’s HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Unfortunately for may patients, Lipitor has recently been linked to increased risks of developing type-2 diabetes in middle aged and older women.

What is Type-2 Diabetes?

Type-2 diabetes is a serious lifelong condition which can be deadly if left untreated and unmonitored. Diabetes causes blood sugar levels to rise to unsafe levels in the body. Type-2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in the United States. It occurs when the body cannot use insulin properly, or has an insulin resistance. According to the American Diabetes Association, when a person first develops type -2 diabetes, the pancreas works to make extra insulin for the body but eventually it is unable to keep up with production needs.

Symptoms of type-2 diabetes include increased thirst, increased hunger after eating, dry mouth, fatigue, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, slow-healing sores, blurred vision, headaches, and various other symptoms. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention. Type-2 diabetes is generally treated with a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and insulin supplements. Cases of undiagnosed type-2 diabetes can lead to damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.

Lipitor Lawsuits

Personal injury attorneys are currently looking for potential Lipitor lawsuits. Numerous Lipitor diabetes lawsuits have been filed in both state and federal courts. Plaintiffs are generally victims who have directly suffered adverse side effects from taking the medication or family members who have lost loved ones to these side effects. Plaintiffs hope to receive substantial compensation for past and future medical bills as well as compensation for the pain and suffering they had to endure. Enough individual lawsuits have been filed across the country that multidistrict litigation has commenced. This allows many pretrial motions to be determined for multiple cases all at once in the name of efficiency and fairness.

The Lipitor Type-2 Diabetes Lawsuit is Case No: 2:15-cv-00726-RMG, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division.