Woman Develops Type-2 Diabetes, Takes on Pfizer with Lipitor Lawsuit

Burrow says she “was prescribed Lipitor and used it as directed from approximately June 2006 until approximately February 2011. Plaintiff was prescribed Lipitor to lower her levels of low-density lipoprotein (“LDL”) and as a preventive measure to decrease her risk of developing cardiovascular disease (“CVD”). Plaintiff agreed to initiate Lipitor treatment in an effort to reduce her risk of developing heart disease. She relied on claims made by Pfizer that Lipitor has been clinically shown to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Plaintiff developed type 2 diabetes after initiating her Lipitor treatment. Plaintiff was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in or about July 2007.”

She only took the drug for about a year before she was diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. However, like many Lipitor victims, she didn’t immediately know this diagnosis was linked to the drug. After all, at this point the warning labels still made no mention of the connection. She continued to take Lipitor for years after this diagnosis, perhaps further exacerbating her diabetic condition.

“As a result, for the rest of her life she must undergo regular testing of her blood glucose levels, adhere to a restrictive diabetic diet, and take medication to control her diabetes. Due to her diabetes, she is now at markedly increased risk of heart disease, blindness, neuropathy, and kidney disease,” the complaint states.

Lipitor has been on the market since 1997, and Burrow isn’t the only person to have such a complaint. In fact, there are scores of people who have developed diabetes from Lipitor, causing a Lipitor class action lawsuit to grow in numbers every month.

Burrow says that Pfizer “knew or should have known that the risks of Lipitor included the severe and life-threatening complications of type 2 diabetes. At all times material hereto, Defendant, by and through its agents, servants, and/or employees, negligently, recklessly and/or carelessly marketed, distributed, and/or sold Lipitor without adequate instructions or warnings of the drug’s serious side effects and unreasonably dangerous risks.”

Even though Lipitor has been available for so many years, it wasn’t until 2011 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had enough information and complaints to require Pfizer to update its warning labels. However, this move came too late for many people, including Burrow.

“In February 2012, Pfizer complied with the FDA request and added the following language to its Warnings and Precautions Section: ‘Increases in HbA1c and fasting serum glucose levels have been reported with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, including Lipitor.’ Until the February 2012 change, Lipitor’s label had never warned patients of any potential relation between changes in blood sugar levels and taking Lipitor. Despite the February 2012 label change, Lipitor’s label continues to fail to warn consumers of the serious risk of developing type 2 diabetes per se when using Lipitor.”

There are other medications which treat cholesterol. Type-2 diabetes doesn’t disappear when a person stops taking Lipitor, and it can come with severe complications. Amputations and blindness are most often caused by diabetes in the US.

Just Another Number?

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing conditions in the US, but Burrow didn’t have to be a victim.

“Had Defendant properly disclosed the risks associated with Lipitor, Plaintiff would have avoided the risk of diabetes by either not using Lipitor at all or by closely monitoring her blood glucose levels to see if the drug was adversely affecting her metabolism,” the complaint contends. “Plaintiff has endured pain and suffering, has suffered economic loss, including incurring significant expenses for medical care and treatment, and will continue to incur such expenses in the future.”

Burrow sufferer is suing Pfizer for failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, constructive fraud, unjust enrichment, and punitive damages. She is seeking compensation for medical, incidental and hospital expenses, interest, a full refund of Lipitor made over the years, compensatory and consequential damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees. She is also seeking for other reliefs that the court may deem necessary.

The case is Edna A. Burrow v. Pfizer Inc., Case No.: 3:13-cv-01060-DRH-PMF, the United States District Court Southern District of Illinois.

Did Your Lipitor Usage Lead to Diabetes?

If you were prescribed Lipitor and subsequently were diagnosed with diabetes, you may have a Lipitor legal claim, especially if you’re a woman over 50. Learn more about what you can do by visiting the Lipitor Diabetes Class Action Lawsuit Investigation site today. Once you submit your information, an attorney will be in touch if you have a case for a complimentary Lipitor claim review.