Lipitor Recall and Injury Information

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. The good news is that safer drugs with fewer side effects are available. These drugs also lower the chance of cardiovascular issues and heart disease.

Many healthcare professionals prescribe cholesterol-lowering medications called statins to prevent heart disease. Lipitor is a popular statin drug made by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Unfortunately, studies show the medicine may cause health complications and adverse events.

This section discusses how Lipitor works and the injuries associated with Lipitor.

How Lipitor Works

Pfizer designed Lipitor to lower bad cholesterol and fats (triglycerides). Generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) works the same way. The drug also raises good cholesterol levels. Lipitor works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver.

Common Problems and Injuries

The most common complication associated with Lipitor is muscle pain. This can involve the following:

• Soreness
• Tiredness
• Weakness in the muscles

The pain can be so excruciating that it interferes with routine activities like walking and climbing stairs.

Lipitor can also cause an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis, which may lead to severe kidney failure, liver damage, and death.

Other risk factors include the following:

• Liver damage — Lipitor can cause an increase in liver enzymes.
• Digestive issues — Lipitor may cause nausea, gas, constipation, or diarrhea.
• Type 2 diabetes — Lipitor may increase your blood sugar, which could lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. The company also includes a warning about raised blood sugar and diabetes on all statin medications.
• Neurological issues — Some people reported memory loss or confusion while taking statin medication.
• Heart attack — There are also claims that Lipitor causes heart attacks.

Lipitor Recall

A recall happens when a manufacturer removes a product from the market due to possible defects. Pfizer recalled specific bottles of Lipitor (40 mg only) due to reports of an unusual odor. But, there was no evidence that this odor caused an adverse reaction.

Pfizer still stands behind Lipitor and insists the medication is safe. It claims the recall was for a packaging issue. Despite the Lipitor recall, Pfizer did not refund patients over the smell.

A generic version of Lipitor called atorvastatin calcium, made by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, was also the subject of a separate recall. Ranbaxy issued the recall because pills reportedly had specks of glass in them.

Lipitor Lawsuits

Many people sued Pfizer for injuries they got while taking Lipitor. Some claimed the drug caused muscle problems and memory loss. Many plaintiffs also alleged that Lipitor caused them to develop diabetes.

But, the FDA has said that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is so remote that the benefits of statin medication outweigh the risks. Generally, these lawsuits claim Pfizer is liable under product liability law.

Under product liability law, drug manufacturers must give patients adequate warnings about the dangers of their products. Some states hold manufacturers strictly liable for defective medications. This means you don't need to prove negligence.

Discuss Lipitor Recall Claims with an Attorney

Contact a product liability lawyer if you or a loved one got sick after taking Lipitor or another product. Drug companies have teams of lawyers fighting for them. You should have someone in your corner, too.

An experienced lawyer can help you present your claim and better understand your opponent's strengths and weaknesses.