Lipitor and Diabetes Risk for Women

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted April 18, 2013

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The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are pursuing Lipitor lawsuits over Pfizer’s failure to adequately warn about the diabetes risk associated with their blockbuster cholesterol drug.

At this time, claims primarily involve healthy women diagnosed with diabetes on Lipitor, with a BMI under 30, as there are serious questions about the effectiveness of the drug for women with a health body weight. If adequate information about the Lipitor diabetes risks had been provided, few such users would have elected to take Lipitor, and it appears that the potential benefits do not outweigh the risks.

▸ Contact A Lawyer About Diabetes from Lipitor

Lipitor (atorvastatin) is one of the most widely used medications in the world, generating billions of dollars in sales amid aggressive promotion by Pfizer, who has marketed the drug as a safe and effective prescription to lower cholesterol and help prevent the risk of developing heart disease.

Lipitor Diabetes Lawyers

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Most women using Lipitor agree to take the medication to promote a health lifestyle and they rely on representations made by Pfizer that Lipitor is safe and effective.

In recent years, a growing body of scientific research and studies have suggested that Lipitor actually is not safe or particularly effective for women with healthy BMI, due to the link between Lipitor and diabetes.

In February 2012, the FDA announced that new warning labels would be added about the risk of diabetes with Lipitor and other statins.

The FDA based these new warnings on information from a number of studies that have been available to Pfizer for years, suggesting that side effects of Lipitor increase levels of blood surgars, resulting in an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in January 2012 specifically focused on the diabetes risk for women using Lipitor and other other statins.

Researchers looked at data on more than 160,000 women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) between 1993 and 2005. Among women between the ages of 50 and 79, researchers found that 9.9% of women using Lipitor and other statins developed diabetes within nine years. This represented more than a 1/3rd increase in the risk of diabetes when compared to women not using Lipitor or another statin.

Several reports and studies have also raised concerns about the effectiveness of Lipitor, highlighting how Pfizer was able to build a widely used blockbuster medication by failing to warn about the Lipitor diabetes risk, especially for women.

According to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in February 2013, researchers highlighted how most doctors prescribe Lipitor and other statin cholesterol drugs to patients who have very low odds of actually developing heart disease. Based on responses to a survey sent to hundreds of doctors involving six fictitious patients, researchers indicated that 70% of those who responded indicated that they would have recommended Lipitor or another statin to patients that do not fit the profile of those who need them.

In comments made in a Reuter’s report issued at the time this study was published, researchers pointed out how misleading information provided in direct-to-consumer advertisements likely influence the rate of prescriptions for Lipitor and other statins. Many physicians report that they are under pressure from patients who see a television ad, and believe they need Lipitor or another medication to maintain their healthy lifestyle as they age.

As a result of aggressive promotion and withholding information about the risk of diabetes with Lipitor use by women, Pfizer generated more than $125 billion in sales before the medication became available as a generic in 2011.

Lipitor Diabetes Lawsuits for Women with Healthy BMI

Lipitor diabetes lawsuits are focused at this time on women with a low BMI, as it seems that this group receives no benefit from the medication.

BMI, or body mass index, is a formula for measuring health weight based off an individual’s weight in comparison to their health. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered normal weight and a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. However, any BMI over 30 is considered obese.

Serious questions exist about the benefits of using Lipitor for women with a BMI under 30, especially in light of the increased diabetes risk which can severely impact their overall health, putting them at an increased risk for blindness, neuropathy, kidney disease and the heart disease they were actually trying to avoid.

A study published this month in BioMed Central’s journal BMC Medicine evaluated the risk of heart disease among women, finding that the risk of coronary heart disease increases with BMI, as well as age.

The Lipitor diabetes lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are providing free consultations and claim evaluations for women diagnosed with diabetes after using the popular drug. As a result of Pfizer’s decision to place their desire for profits before the safety of women using Lipitor, financial compensation may be available.

To review a potential diabetes lawsuit for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

12 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Elva says:

    I was diagnosed with high cholesterol in the late 1980’s and prescribed a statin drug, I was not diabetic at this time. Over the next 8-9 years, I was prescribed Lipitor and/or Crestor. Around or about 1998/1999, I was diagnosed with full-blown diabetes (fatigue, frequent urination, blurred vision, etc.). I am currently being prescribed the generic brand of Lipitor (Atorvastatin) sp. even though I have raised concerns about the link between this drug and diabetes with my health care provider; My concerns have been ignored.

    Posted on May 7, 2013 at 2:18 pm

  • Vickie says:

    Started Lipitor a few years ago and now I am pre diabetes. Should I stop taking it? I have all the symptoms right now. No one in my family, brothers or sister and I have five brothers. My mother is 92 and she has no diabetic issues.

    Posted on May 21, 2013 at 2:30 pm

  • Linda says:

    I was not a diabetic after 3 years of lipitor use , I developed diabetes…now on insulin. My Dr. also ignored my concerns, when I brought it up. I am off all cholesterol meds, now because I had leg muscle inflammation, called myositis twice both times on lipitor. I have tried other cholesterol meds with leg muscle pain and weakness.

    Posted on May 28, 2013 at 8:39 am

  • Donna says:

    I am 42 and am diabetic . Not over weight or anything. I took Lipitor for several tears between 92-96 is it connected

    Posted on June 7, 2013 at 3:59 am

  • ROBERT says:

    I HAVE 2(TWO) QUESTIONS:
    WHY ARE ONLY WOMEN INVOLVED IN THIS LAW SUITE AND NOT MEN?
    2. WOULD A DOCTOR PRECRIBE THIS MEDACATION TO A PERSON THATS INSULSIN DEPENDENT,HAVING THE SAME INFORMATION,YOU HAVE.

    Posted on June 9, 2013 at 10:47 am

  • Nancy says:

    Have just been given lipitor alreadt a diabetic 1 50 yrs, on a pump low body mass, lc was 108 am 77 and have lost 1 eye due to diabetes am concerned about this drug should I be? Dr of coarse says it’s the right drug for me.

    Posted on June 22, 2013 at 1:50 pm

  • tammy says:

    I was put on Lipitor on week ago friday. I had blood work done on that friday they told me my cholesterol was high. There was no mention of issues with my sugar. No one in my family has sugar issues.
    My BMI is under 30 I exercise 3-4 days a week(cardio and weights).
    I started on a lo-fat, lo-sugar diet as of last friday. I had blood work done today by a outside source and they say I am pre-diabetic.I wasn’t pre-diabetic last week. Is it possible the Lipitor can act this fast?

    Posted on September 28, 2013 at 3:24 pm

  • Cynthia says:

    I was diagnosed with high cholestrol in the early 2000s,and was prescribed a statin drug(crestor).That drug did not seen to get my cholestrol under control then I was prescribed Lipitor in which I had been taking for years.While taking Lipitor I was diagnosed with having type 2 diabetes.I was also prescribed with another medication zetia. About 6or7 months ago my perscription changed tothe generic brand atorstatin instead of Lipitor. None of my other family members,mom, sisters, brother,cousins, do not have diabetes.

    Posted on November 11, 2013 at 9:30 pm

  • Carla says:

    My husband was prescribed Lipitor about 4-6 weeks ago. His leg muscles started aching and he was having trouble lifting his leg. We thought he had a pinched nerve so we went to the mall to walk and try to loosen up. As we were walking he suddenly lost control of his legs and fell hard right in the mall. We were going to see the dr. the next morning. His arms started getting weak that night. The next morning I heard him hollering and found him stuck on the floor with paralyzed arms and legs. EMTs took to ER where potassium as lowest they had seen. Never found out why this happened but they did take him off Lipitor.He takes no meds like Lasix that would cause low potassium. Dr. called today and said he has diabetes and we will see him tomorrow. There is no family history for diabetes and he has never had any of these problems before. I know it was the Lipitor. The sad thing is that his cholesterol was only 217. Had we known the dangers of this drug we would’ve taken our chances with the “high” cholesterol.

    Posted on January 14, 2014 at 12:32 am

  • Jackie says:

    My G.P. changed me from a simvastatin to lipitor 3 years ago and I have now been diagnosed with pre-diabetes…my body mass index is 25.5 and I do aquarobics twice a week and also try to walk for at least an hour a day. I have lost a stone in the past few months due to following weightwatchers and never add sugar or salt to any foods or eat cake or biscuits regularly….None of my family members are diabetic so I am almost convinced this is entirely down to taking artovastatin.

    Posted on October 27, 2014 at 12:24 pm

  • Martha says:

    I am on Lipitor. I have been on this medication for several years. I began experiencing intense pain between my left hip and knee. I went to the ER . The physician treated me for arthritis . The pain was not in my joint. Recently two GP have suggested the on going pain may be nerve damage. The lower extremities of both legs now have cellulitis the skin is deep purple and has at times developed small blisters that break open sending drainage down my legs. The area between the left hip and knee is now numb . I have trouble lifting the leg to move up or down stairs. I now have trouble walking . I am dependent on a mobility scooter.

    Since being on Lipitor I am now a full diabetic . My diabetic condition requires two medications , non insulin. Frequently my A 1C numbers are off the scale in spite of my diet, daily exercise, and medication.

    Posted on September 12, 2016 at 11:43 pm

  • Suzanna says:

    I have been on Lipitor for awhile now, I believe since 2000. I am a diabetic. And now I have neuropathy. My legs hurt most of the time. I am in a lot of pain. My feet hurt, sometimes it feels like my legs are getting bites from ants. Doctor says nothing can be done for the neuropathy either. I can not walk without a walker because I have fallen. Both kidneys have cysts in the middle and they say nothing can be done with them, just watch the cyst grow. No one ever said why the cyst are in both kidneys and the same place.

    Posted on June 11, 2018 at 5:05 am

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