Lipitor Side Effects Play Key Role in Product Liability Lawsuit

Plaintiff Diane Strader began taking the statin medication January 13, 2009 and was diagnosed with diabetes on December 15, 2009. Her Lipitor lawsuit lawyer notes that Pfizer Inc. did not update the drug safety information to mention anything related to Lipitor diabetes side effects until February 2012. 

However, rather than explicitly mention that diabetes is one of the potential side effects of Lipitor, the labeling instead says: “increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Lipitor.” Meanwhile, the drug maker has had the exclusive rights to market and sell the cholesterol drug since 2000 and there were pre-approval studies that linked the medication to elevated blood sugar levels.

More recent studies completed after Strader was diagnosed with Lipitor diabetes indicate that this Lipitor side effect occurs at a significantly higher rate than other products in the statin medication class. Had Pfizer properly tested for potential Lipitor side effects such as this, it would have been able to advise patients like Strader and her doctor, according to the Lipitor diabetes lawsuit.

Strader is seeking damages for medical expenses required due to ongoing monitoring of Lipitor side effects including blood sugar levels as well as compensatory damages on counts of failure to warn and defective design. According to her lawsuit, she would have used a different treatment to control her LDL cholesterol levels had she known of the risks.

The Lipitor diabetes lawsuit is Diane Strader v. Pfizer Inc., Case No 13-cv-05666, U.S. District Court, District of Washington.

File a Lipitor Lawsuit Today

While the recent FDA warning may have been news to many people, thousands of female patients looking to lower their cholesterol levels may have been at risk for Lipitor diabetes and should consider their legal options.

Women who have been diagnosed with diabetes after taking Lipitor may be able to follow a similar legal avenue against Pfizer. Learn more when you visit the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. While there, you can fill out the short form to get a free legal review from a Lipitor diabetes lawyer who will help establish whether or not you are eligible to file a product liability lawsuit against the drug maker.