The Pfizer, Inc., drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) is one of several medications known as “statin” drugs. These drugs are prescribed along with diet and exercise to reduce LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or “bad cholesterol”). It is consumed in tablet form.

Chief among concerns about statin drug side effects is their potential for raising blood-sugar levels and causing the patient to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus. This risk may be particularly high among older women. Lipitor is of particular concern because it is often prescribed in higher doses than other statins.

Studies Link Statin Drugs to Diabetes Risk

Studies that have appeared in the Lancet medical journal and Journal of the American College of Cardiology have identified an increased risk of developing new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients who consume statin drugs. Another study, conducted by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, found a 48 percent increased risk of diabetes among women ages 46 to 79 who use statin drugs.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition. It affects the way your body metabolizes sugar, or glucose. Diabetics either do not produce enough insulin – the hormone that regulates the movement of glucose into the body’s cells – or their body does not use insulin properly.

Diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise, or with self-administered insulin shots. If untreated or improperly treated, type 2 diabetes can be life-threatening. Potential complications of diabetes include cardiovascular problems, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney damage, eye damage (including glaucoma), nerve damage (neuropathy), foot damage (caused by poor blood flow) and skin problems (susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections).

Lipitor and other statins are also known to cause liver problems, muscle injury, memory loss and confusion, joint pain, tendon problems, diarrhea and upset stomach.

We Help Those Suffering Lipitor Side Effects

If you or a loved one has been prescribed Lipitor and developed diabetes, liver damage or another serious side effect, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, today. You could be eligible to obtain compensation for the losses you have sustained.

The Driscoll Firm, LLC, has a successful record of pursuing product liability lawsuits on behalf of clients who have been injured by dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Our founding attorney, John J. Driscoll, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

The Driscoll Firm, LLC, can provide you with a free, no-obligation initial consultation about your case and begin right away with using its skill, experience and resources to seek justice for you and your family.

Don’t wait to take action. Get started today.