A group of 14 woman filed a Lipitor diabetes lawsuit against Pfizer Inc., alleging they developed type-2 diabetes after starting Lipitor cholesterol treatments.

Plaintiff Carolyn Ackroyd of Illinois and the 13 other women were all prescribed Lipitor “to lower their levels of low-density lipoprotein (‘LDL’) and as a primary prevention measure to decrease their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (‘CVD’),” according to their Lipitor diabetes lawsuit. None of the plaintiffs were diabetic or at risk of developing diabetes in the near future, before they began their Lipitor treatment, their Lipitor lawsuit says.

After developing diabetes, Ackroyd and the other plaintiffs have reportedly had to change their lifestyles. Changes include regular blood tests, a restrictive diabetic diet, and continued use of diabetes medication. Because of the development of diabetes, Ackroyd and the other plaintiffs are also subject to a higher risk of developing blindness, neuropathy, kidney disease, and heart disease.

The Lipitor type-2 diabetes lawsuit accuses Pfizer of negligence, strict product liability, failure to warn, negligent manufacturing, misrepresentation, fraud, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and loss of consortium. Ackroyd and the participating Lipitor diabetes sufferers named in the lawsuit are seeking compensation for medical and legal expenses and damages.

The Lipitor Diabetes Lawsuit is Carolyn Ackroyd, et al. v. Pfizer Inc., Case No. 2:14-cv-02079-RMG, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Lipitor Diabetes Risk

In 2011, Pfizer was ordered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to alter Lipitor marketing labels and advertisements in light of various medical reports linking Lipitor use with increased development of type-2 diabetes, especially in women. Investigative medical reports have found that many otherwise healthy female patients with no previous history of blood sugar problems had a high rate of type-2 diabetes after taking Lipitor. In 2012, Pfizer complied with the FDA mandate and included a type-2 diabetes warning on Lipitor labels and ads.

Some plaintiffs participating in ongoing Lipitor class action lawsuits allege that Pfizer was aware of the that consumers were at risk of developing diabetes as a side effect of taking Lipitor, but did not make this medical suspicion widely known to any female consumers, doctors or clinics.

Many women have reported other major and minor side effects aside from developing type 2 diabetes after taking Lipitor. These side effects include:

• Muscle problems, pain, or weakness
• Fever and tiredness
• Liver problems
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach
• Joint pain
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Myopathy