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Lipitor

Lipitor, known generically as atorvastatin, is a prescription drug known as a statin. Statins are used in lowering cholesterol in order to try and prevent health problems such as heart disease from occurring or developing. The drug giant, Pfizer, manufactures Lipitor. Sales of Lipitor in 2004 reached over $10 billion, making it the most sold drug in the world.

Lipitor works by limiting and stopping a certain enzyme used by the liver in cholesterol synthesis. This lowers the amount of cholesterol that the body produces, including the LDL cholesterol.

Since 1999, Public Citizen has called on the FDA to put black box warning on Lipitor as well as other statins, saying they are concerned about possibly deadly side effects. Public Citizen director Sidney Wolfe has said there were over 50 deaths related to statins, and he was concerned that there wasn't enough public awareness over the drug's problems.

In 2001, a high profile withdrawal of the drug Baycol, by the maker Bayer, occurred after several deaths relating to a muscle degenerative disease called rhabdomyolysis. Baycol is also a type of statin, similar to Lipitor. Merck spokeswoman Donna Cary recently stated that their company's drugs, Mevacor and Zocor, might have also been related to some undisclosed amount of deaths.

Other statins are set to come on the market as potential competition for Lipitor. Many statins are being fast tracked by the FDA because of their possible off-label uses, such as preventing heart attacks and helping stop arthritis pain.

Rhabdomyolysis is a degenerative disease related to all statins, including Lipitor. Symptoms have been reported in people that are also similar to ALS or multiple sclerosis, as well. Other people have reported side effects such as fatigue, dizziness, forgetfulness, aches and pains, swallowing problems, and memory loss, among others.

Rhabdomyolysis causes a breakdown of muscle tissue due to acute renal failure. The disease begins by flooding the bloodstream with substances that the kidney cannot process. This flooding of substances can cause kidney failure, which in turn can cause the severe muscle breakdown symptomatic of rhabdomyolysis.

Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis due to Lipitor include darkened urine and serious muscle aches. Any muscle weakness, pain, or even stiffness in the muscles may be a sign of the development of rhabdomyolysis. Any signs should be looked out for if you are taking Lipitor.

If you or someone you know has experienced serious side effects from taking Lipitor, or are just concerned about being on the drug for too long, contact an experienced Lipitor lawyer through this website. Our lawyers will give you a free, no-obligation consultation on your case to determine if you have been put in harm's way by a faulty product.

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