High cholesterol can usually be controlled with a low-fat and healthy diet, but many people who suffer from high LDL cholesterol counts in their blood find that, no matter what they do, their cholesterol levels still remained high. One of the marvels of 20th century medicine yielded Statin and Lipid medications that can help fight high cholesterol whether the cause was diet-induced or heredity. However, years after it's 1997 FDA approval, Lipitor's side effects are now being questioned and whether this Statin medication is more hazardous than good is now in question.
Pfizer, the maker Lipitor; of the best-selling cholesterol-lowering drug on the market, has recently been sued as a result of the adverse reactions that are similar to Bayer's Baycol medication which was pulled from the marketplace in 2001. These medications lesser publicized side effects can cause slow decline in neurological and musculature which lead to permanent physical disability. In fact, Baycol was linked to over 50 deaths and countless symptoms and diseases such as rhabdomyolysis (a muscle condition similar to Multiple Sclerosis), kidney failure, and even death.
Not only is Pfizer being sued, but in recent lawsuits, the hospitals and doctors prescribing the drug in several "off-label" uses have been named as defendants in these cases. Many plantiffs feel that Pfizer failed to carry out due-diligence because Lipitor is one of Pfizer's most popular drugs behind Viagra; accounting for over ten billion dollars ($10B) in sales for the drug manufacturer. However, as seen in most drug defect lawsuits, profits can often cloud the perception of a harmful medicaton.
An often cited example of Lipitor's dilutorious effects can be seen in Doug Peterson, a 53 year old man who looks as though he has suffered a recent head injury or stroke. He claims, however, that his condition was brought on as a side-effect of Lipitor, which reduced his hereditary cholesterol from around 280 down to 160. It started slowly for Doug with a slight sleep disorder, moving into more restless nights of sleep where he would swing his arms and even fall out of bed from his nightly symptoms. These symptoms quickly progressed into memory and neurological damage as well as cognitive disorders. In short, Doug went from a man with high blood pressure to a person who could not write more than 10 words per minute on paper.
While Pfizer did conduct clinical trials on its medications which showed a nominal (<2%) experience of more advanced side effects such as facial paralysis. Pfizer claimed that most side effects included muscle pain, liver dysfunction, stomach pain, intestinal disorders and other gastro-intestinal issues. However, as most new medications experience, the rush to get to market makes it financially impossible to do long-term trials before the pills are released. In the case of Mr. Peterson, his symptoms took more than 2 years to develop...well above the normal clinical trial time periods.
Recently, Pfizer's shares took a drop as it settled with a New Jersey insurance fund when several of its subscribers reported memory and concentration issues from taking Lipitor. However, it seems as though this is the first of many battles Pfizer will have to fight over Lipitor's side effects and their alleged neglegence when informing the public of the long-term risks associated with their statin medications. If you feel you have been injured or are experiencing any of the less common side effects associated with Lipitor, you should speak with your physician as soon as possible to ensure you are not risking your long-term health.