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.

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Statin Quick Facts

Statins are cholesterol lowering drugs that work by reducing the cholesterol output of the liver. Statins accomplish this goal by blocking the enzyme responsible for making cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein’s (LDL), also known as the “bad” kind of cholesterol, are trimmed from the blood-stream of a patient using statins, thereby lowering the chance of plaque build up.

Aside from breaking down plaque build-up and clots, statins also lower the inflammation of arteries. According to MedicineNet.com, 35% of individuals who develop heart attacks actually don’t have high levels of cholesterol, meaning they do not suffer plaque build up and clots from high cholesterol, but inflamed arteries. So, it would seem statins are a complete life-saver for all patients suffering from all types of plaque build-up.

There are many risks and side effects, however, to using statins. The most common side effects are headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, constipation, diarrhea, rash, and general weakness. There are two even greater dangers to using statins, liver failure and rhabdomyolysis. An unsafe spike in statins in your blood will lead to these conditions and will occur more often when a patient using statins is also using other liver-related drugs. When these drugs are coupled, grave damage is done to the liver and muscles in your body.

That is why you must be thorough with your doctor and make regular visits to perform all the necessary liver tests. Remember to keep the aforementioned symptoms in mind when talking with your doctor after beginning statin use for they could be a sign of something very serious. FDA approved drugs must be taken with care, so beware of mixing them or the consequences could be deadly.