{"id":353309,"date":"2016-04-04T10:46:56","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:46:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/injury\/product-liability\/lipitor-lawsuit-overview.html"},"modified":"2023-11-16T13:58:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T18:58:00","slug":"lipitor-lawsuit-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/product-liability\/lipitor-lawsuit-overview.html","title":{"rendered":"Lipitor Lawsuits and Legal Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lipitor Lawsuits and Legal Information<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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Lipitor has been the subject of lawsuits alleging it caused type 2 diabetes and other health issues. Plaintiffs claimed Pfizer failed to adequately warn about these risks, but courts dismissed thousands of cases due to insufficient evidence. Although the litigation has largely ended, patients with severe side effects may still explore legal options.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Millions of Americans take Lipitor to help manage their high cholesterol. Pfizer Inc. manufactures Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in 1996. The cholesterol drug blocks HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that allows the liver to produce LDL or “bad” cholesterol<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When patients take Lipitor, it reduces their\u00a0bad\u00a0cholesterol and triglycerides. Lipitor also increases patients’ HDL or\u00a0good\u00a0cholesterol. In addition, Lipitor can help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in certain patients.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, some patients have reported experiencing health problems due to their use of Lipitor. As a result, many patients have sued Pfizer.<\/p>\n

This article provides an overview of the Lipitor litigation. It also explains what to do if you believe you became ill as a result of taking Lipitor.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Drug manufacturers must ensure their medications are safe to use and carry adequate warnings. If they fail to do this, they can be liable for harm caused to patients resulting from their product. If you have developed an illness after using Lipitor, you have legal options. Contact a product liability attorney<\/a> near you to learn your rights and next steps.<\/p>\n

For What Uses Did the FDA Approve Lipitor?<\/h2>\n

When Pfizer first submitted Lipitor to the FDA, they approved it for three uses. This means the pharmaceutical company can only market it for these specific uses.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0FDA approved Lipitor<\/a>\u00a0to help with the following:<\/p>\n