Houston
Lipitor Lawyer

A number of studies have linked statins including Lipitor (atorvastatin), Crestor (rosuvastatin), as well as Zocor (simvastatin, produced by Merck) to an increased risk of diabetes. In fact, a Lipitor FDA diabetes warning was required to be included on the Lipitor label following a safety announcement on February 28, 2012 that warned of the Lipitor diabetes risk as well as other Lipitor side effects.

A study published in BMJ on May 23, 2013 confirmed the Lipitor FDA diabetes warning and earlier research when it concluded that statins, such as Lipitor, had a higher incident of diabetes risk than pravastatin. The study analyzed patients in Ontario, Canada treated with Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor. The team of researchers examined the healthcare records of more than 1.5 million patients aged 66 or older without diabetes who started statin treatment between August 1997 and March 2010. Overall, a 10-22% increased risk of diabetes was found.

The BMJ study follows a Women’s Health Initiative study published on January 23, 2012, which found a nearly 50% increase in new onset diabetes for postmenopausal women with statins compared with a placebo.

In addition to the risk of diabetes, a BMJ research paper published on March 19, 2013 noted that users of “high potency statins” (including Lipitor) were 34% more likely to be hospitalized with acute kidney injury within 120 days after starting treatment, again confirming the need for the Lipitor FDA diabetes warning.