Mounting Evidence Links Lipitor to Diabetes
By Robert J. Boumis
Lipitor and related cholesterol-lowering drugs are among the best-selling prescription medications in the United States — and the world. These drugs can help improve the health of patients suffering from high cholesterol and heart problems. Cholesterol drugs may improve cardiovascular health for many patients, but more and more studies are finding a link between Lipitor and the development of type-2 diabetes in women.
In 2011, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued new guidelines on a group of cardiovascular medications called statins. This class of drugs includes the popular drug Lipitor (Atorvastatin), which can help lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. This updated safety information included a warning that in some patients, Lipitor appears to have triggered a spike in blood sugar and eventual diabetes. Those most at risk for Lipitor diabetes are post-menopausal women.
The prestigious, peer-reviewed British Medical Journal published a study in 2011 by a team of Canadian researchers. The researchers reviewed the medical records of almost half a million Ontario residents and discovered that patients taking Lipitor had a 22 percent higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes compared to controls. However, the study stressed that patients should not stop taking their medication without consulting a physicians, because for many patients, the benefits of taking Lipitor outweigh the risk of diabetes.
Since then, additional studies have found a possible link between statins and an increased risk of diabetes. This includes research journals like the Achieves of Internal Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association, and included research from universities like Harvard medical, and the University of Massachusetts Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center. These studies have also found a link between taking Lipitor and type-2 diabetes. In particular, it was noted that older female patients appeared particularly vulnerable to this serious side effect of Lipitor.
A lawsuit investigation has been launched to explore the possibility of a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers of Lipitor. Such a Lipitor diabetes class action lawsuit could alleged that the manufacturers of Lipitor knew, or should have known about the serious risk of diabetes and other complications associated with their product. Lipitor diabetes could further allege that the manufactures failed to act on this information in a timely manner, or even downplayed the risks associated with their product, preventing patients and their health care providers from having all of the information they needed to make informed decisions regarding their medical care.
If you, or someone you love, took Lipitor and went on develop diabetes, you may feel overwhelmed by this change. You may feel powerless, and not sure what to do next. However, you do have rights, and there are steps that you can take to get back control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. Here, you can enter your information for review by a legal specialist. This initial consultation is free of charge.
Updated June 17th, 2013
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