Thousands of Lipitor lawsuits that allege the cholesterol treatment caused type-2 diabetes are moving forward through the federal court system. 

The more than 2,300 Lipitor lawsuits filed in the District of South Carolina as part of a multidistrict litigation are currently in the discovery phase, while both parties prepare for the first bellwether trials. 

Court records indicate that Pfizer Inc., Lipitor’s manufacturer, has produced documentation of the sales and marketing strategy of the cholesterol medication. In addition, both parties have conducted depositions of general and case-specific experts.

According to the Lipitor MDL, all of the pending 2,300 Lipitor lawsuits allege that Pfizer hid the possibility of Lipitor causing diabetes from consumers as well as from the medical community. In addition, plaintiffs have accused Pfizer of not adequately warning patients of the diabetic risks even after the FDA mandated the warning label modification to include the increased chance of the Lipitor side effect.

Lipitor Diabetes Risk

Multiple studies have suggested that Lipitor is linked to the development of type-2 diabetes in patients. One study performed in 2012 and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that female Lipitor consumers between the ages of 50-79 had a 50 percent increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes when compared to non-users.

Another study followed 26,000 Lipitor consumers with no past history of heart disease or diabetes, and discovered that those taking the cholesterol medication had an 87 percent increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes. This same study also concluded that the patients diagnosed with Lipitor type-2 diabetes had a 250 percent increased risk of developing diabetes with complications.

Lipitor diabetes symptoms include:

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

Lipitor Lawsuits

Today, millions of Americans are prescribed Lipitor for cholesterol treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration required manufacturer Pfizer to warn of the increased risk of type-2 diabetes as a Lipitor side effect in 2012. However, consumers filing Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits allege the company did not adequately warn of the risk even with the federal requirement to do so.

The number of Lipitor lawsuits that accuse Pfizer of concealing the threat of type-2 diabetes substantially increased after the FDA mandated the company change the warning label to include the risks.

In general, plaintiffs accuse Pfizer knew the diabetic risks, but chose to intentionally hide the information while over-marketed the product. Plaintiffs believe Pfizer placed sales ahead of consumer safety. 

Some Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuits allege plaintiffs developed Lipitor diabetes after only taking the medication for a few months. If you developed Lipitor type-2 diabetes after taking the medication, contact a Lipitor attorney to find out if it is better for you to file a lawsuit as an individual or to join a Lipitor class action lawsuit.