Lipitor (atorvastatin), Pfizer’s best selling cholesterol drug, was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and quickly became one of the company’s best-selling drugs. Lipitor has generated over $125 billion in sales for Pfizer. However, it is now being linked to type 2 diabetes in women over 50.
What Is Diabetes?
Our bodies use insulin to break down glucose for energy. When we eat food, our body breaks down sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes those sugars from the blood and puts them into cells. However, when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, glucose may build up in the blood instead of going into cells, which can lead to diabetes and its complications.
There are three main types of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes and affecting approximately 5% of the population, occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Gestational diabetes can present temporarily in pregnant women. However, type 2 is the most common form of diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Affects Nearly 30 Million Americans
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, approximately 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, which often develops in middle-age, affects those who are overweight and has been known to be more common in certain populations, such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that women who are between the ages of 50 to 79 with a Body Mass Index (BMI) under 30 (meaning those who are not obese) who took Lipitor had a 9.9% increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes within nine years.
That’s startling news to women who try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and take Lipitor to reduce their cholesterol. Now, these women allege that they face an increased risk of diabetes as well as heart disease, blindness, neuropathy, kidney disease and other health problems from taking the drug.
Have You Been Injured By Lipitor?
If you are a woman between the ages of 50 and 79 who developed type 2 diabetes after taking Pfizer’s Lipitor, contact The Driscoll Firm, LLC, to discuss your situation and determine whether you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including lost income, medical bills, pain and suffering, medical monitoring and more. Our experienced drug injury attorneys have recovered more than $170 million for clients. Let our team of experienced products liability attorneys help you get the compensation you deserve.
