Lipitor Diabetes Lawsuits

Lawsuits have been filed against the maker of Lipitor (atorvastatin) alleging patients suffered serious Lipitor side effects. The number of Lipitor lawsuits has reportedly increased since a multidistrict litigation concerning Lipitor was announced. Plaintiffs allege they developed Type 2 diabetes due to the use of the drug. They further allege Pfizer, maker of Lipitor, failed to adequately warn about the risks associated with the medication.

Lipitor belongs to a class of drugs called statins, which are used to lower cholesterol by reducing blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or "bad"cholesterol, a contributing factor in heart disease.

A study (Culver AL, Ockene IS, Balasubramanian R, et al. "Statin Use and Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative." Archives of Internal Medicine, 2012,172(2): pp.144-152.), completed in 2012, as part of the Women' Health Initiative (WHI) found an association between the statin class of medications and the development of type 2 diabetes in women, particularly post-menopausal women.

Meanwhile, a different study, published in BMJ (British Medical Journal (5/29/14) found that patients who were exposed to higher potency statins had a moderately increased risk of new onset diabetes compared with lower potency statins. Researchers noted that the highest risk was found in the first four months of statin use. The study counted atorvastatin (Lipitor) at 20 mg or more as a higher potency statin.

In February 2012, the FDA issued a warning about a possible link between Lipitor and Type 2 diabetes.

Lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer alleging Lipitor is linked to an increased risk of diabetes but that the drug company failed to adequately warn patients about that risk.

According to court records, more than 1,100 lawsuits representing around 4,000 women have been filed against Pfizer Inc, as of August 15, 2014. All federal Lipitor lawsuits have been consolidated into one federal district court in South Carolina.

The first of the Lipitor bellwether trials is scheduled to go to court in July 2015.

The Lipitor MDL is In Re: Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) Marketing, Salespractices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2502.

Lipitor Diabetes Legal Help

If you or a family member have taken Lipitor and have experienced any side effects, please click the link below to submit your complaint.
Last updated on Sep-22-14