Lipitor - Atorvastatin - Baycol, was removed from the market after causing at least 52 deaths

July 14, 2009

Lipitor - Atorvastatin

Updated September 2007- Lipitor, also known as atorvastatin, is a cholesterol lowering medication manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Lipitor belongs to the statin family of cholesterol drugs and is considered a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor.

Recently, another statin drug, Baycol, was removed from the market after causing at least 52 deaths. As a result, the safety of all statin drugs has subsequently come into question. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that Lipitor causes considerably fewer adverse side effects than Baycol, the agency acknowledges that Lipitor does pose some risk.

All statins increase a patient's chances of developing myositis and rhabdomyolysis, potentially fatal conditions that cause muscle pain and muscle deterioration and may lead to kidney failure. According to the FDA, the chances of developing myositis or rhabdomyolysis from Lipitor are low. As such, Lipitor remains on the market. See a licensed physician if you have concerns regarding the safety of Lipitor, other statins, or any prescription drug. It should be noted that with the exception of Baycol, most doctors believe that the benefits of statin therapy outweigh the risks associated with this class of drugs.

In July 2004, the FDA approved Lipitor to help reduce the risk of heart attack. The labeling change resulted from a 19,000 patient clinical trial that revealed Lipitor reduced the risk of heart attack and heart-related death by 36 percent compared to a placebo.

In 2007, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and the Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, conducted a longitudinal Adverse Events Reporting System Review of the U.S. FDA's most dangerous drugs. The study found Lipitor to be one of the most dangerous drugs on the market with one of the highest numbers of serious drug outcomes. Lipitor was the eighth most dangerous drug in the study for causing serious medical events.

Over the eight years of the dangerous drug study, Lipitor was found to have caused over 6,000 adverse events resulting in disability or some serious outcome requiring medical attention.

If you are taking Lipitor an have suffered some injury, then you should consult with your physician immediately. In addition, you may need to speak to an attorney to find out what your legal rights are.

Attorneys associated with InjuryBoard are currently reviewing Lipitor cases, and will review your case free of charge. For a free consultation please click on the Ask an Attorney button on your right hand side. Remember that there are time limits within which you must present your case.