Cardiologists across the country are voicing their concerns about the growing number of women using statin medications like Lipitor, given the minimal health benefits and potential risks associated with the popular cholesterol drugs. In a report published last week in the New York Times, leading doctors indicated that Lipitor and other statin medications offer fewer benefits for women than men, yet the drugs pose the same possible side effects, including an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, muscle damage and other serious side effects. If you believe you have been harmed by side effects of Lipitor or another statin drug, contact a knowledgeable attorney today to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a Lipitor lawsuit against the drug maker, in order to seek fair and timely reimbursement for your injuries.
In the new report, the editor of the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, Dr. Rita Redberg, indicates that there isn’t enough good data on the benefits of statin drugs for women, and no evidence that the possible benefits of statin treatment outweigh the risk of serious side effects. In one study, called the Jupiter Trial, researchers examined data on 6,801 women over the age of 60, and found that statin therapy did not reduce strokes, heart attacks or deaths among women, even though it lowered the risk of heart attack and stroke among men. These findings suggest that women using statins may be exposed to major side effects of statin therapy, even as they receive little to no health benefits from the treatment.
These concerns about the potential risks of statin drugs come on the heels of new heart guidelines issued by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, advising doctors to prescribe only statin drugs to lower cholesterol, which critics say could result in patients being kept on the potentially dangerous medications permanently. The New York Times report also comes at a time when women throughout the country are pursuing Lipitor lawsuits and Crestor lawsuits, alleging that the companies responsible for manufacturing and selling these drugs failed to provide sufficient warnings about the risk of diabetes linked to statin treatment, especially among women.
Statin drugs like Lipitor are among the best-selling medications in the United States, designed to block the body’s creation of cholesterol, which is a key contributor to coronary artery disease. However, mounting research has linked Lipitor and other popular statin medications to an increased risk of serious side effects, including diabetes, muscle damage and kidney problems. If you have developed Type 2 diabetes or another serious health problem, which you believe to be linked to the risks of Lipitor use in women, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by dangerous medications, and can put you in touch with a reputable attorney who has experience handling Lipitor diabetes cases today.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/05/a-new-womens-issue-statins/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=2&[/box]
