Maker of Crestor Revises Warning Label for Its Controversial Cholesterol Medication but Consumer Groups Are Not Satisfied
LawyersandSettlements.com continues to facilitate free case evaluations for Crestor users affected with kidney damage and muscle weakness.
Wilmington, North Carolina (PRWEB) August 8, 2005 -- Greg Jones &
Associates, a North Carolina-based law firm, in association with www.lawyersandsettlements.com, continues to offer free case
evaluations for those taking the cholesterol-lowering medication, Crestor.
Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) claims to lower the amount of total
cholesterol in the bloodstream, including LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
After several reports of negative side effects including death from Crestor
users, the FDA issued an alert and asked the drug’s manufacturer, AstraZeneca,
to revise the warning label.
The Crestor warning label now states that
“unexplained muscle pain and weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side
effect and should be reported to your doctor right away.” The FDA and
AstraZeneca warn against use of Crestor for consumers with liver or kidney
problems, Chinese or Japanese decent, pregnant or nursing, or in combination
with alcohol use or certain prescription medicines.
The drug’s initial
launch was delayed when the FDA questioned AstraZeneca’s clinical trial reports
of kidney damage and muscle weakness in patients taking 80 milligrams of Crestor
per day. Even in lower doses, the side effects continue with reports of death,
life-threatening muscle deterioration, and kidney failure or damage, all
potential symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that can
occur when a large number of skeletal muscle cells die, as with exposure to
drugs, toxins, trauma, or severe burns.
Although the Public Citizen
consumer group asked the FDA to recall and ban the medication after only five
months on the market, Crestor continues its worldwide distribution, earning $908
million in sales in 2004, a major boost from $129 in 2003.
Currently, the
risk of Rhabdomyolysis from Crestor is very similar to another
cholesterol-lowering medication, Baycol (cerivastatin) which was completely
recalled in 2001. Due to the drug’s negative effects, more than 12,000 lawsuits
were filed against Baycol’s maker, Bayer. Bayer settled 5% of these cases which
totaled $872 million.
Physicians urge patients using Crestor to seek
immediate medical assistance if experiencing any adverse side effects. Patients
and their loved ones can also complete a free complaint form. For more details
about the Crestor’s warnings and the potential class action lawsuit, visit
https://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/case/crestor
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prweb269496.htm