Government
Pfizer sued by two men over Lipitor's side effects
By John Soltes
Jun 10, 2006 - 2:08:00 PM

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June 10 (foodconsumer.org) - In the latest string of lawsuits against large pharmaceutical companies, two men have sued Pfizer, Inc. due to alleged side effects from the cholesterol-fighting drug Lipitor. The men claimed they suffered from memory loss and muscle damage due to the drug's side effects.

The two plaintiffs, Michael Mazzariello and Charles Wilson, are both suing the pharmaceutical giant in separate lawsuits.

Wilson, 67, a Georgia native, claims the cholesterol drug caused severe fatigue, memory loss, and even nerve damage. His lawsuit was filed on June 7 in New York State’s Supreme Court.

Mazzariello, 47, a New York trial attorney, claims he suffered from similar side effects at the expense of taking Lipitor. In addition to memory loss and nerve damage, Mazzariello is claiming Lipitor gave him muscle damage as well.

Pfizer, Inc. released a statement that there is no direct link between Lipitor and the side effects these two men experienced - namely, dementia (memory loss) and peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).

"Any potential risk factor involving Lipitor has been reported and added to the drug's label," Bryant Haskins, a Pfizer, Inc. spokesperson, said, according to Reuters.

"Doctors widely prescribe this medication because the benefits of this drug are well known to outweigh any potential risks," Haskins said.

Haskins is correct. Pfizer, Inc. claims on its Web site to all people taking Lipitor: "Tell your doctor if you feel any new muscle pain or weakness. This could be a sign of rare but serious muscle side effects." Additionally, Haskins claims less than 1 percent of Lipitor users suffer from muscle side effects.

According to The Washington Post, Mazzariello even went as far as saying that Lipitor "ruined his life." Allegedly the drug caused Mazzariello severe pain when walking, moving, or trying to pick up things.

Though Wilson was on Lipitor for over a year, Mazzariello only took the drug for two months. Mazzariello also claims that once he stopped taking Lipitor, much of his strength returned. However, both men claim they still suffer from fatigue, pain, and a tingling sensation in their legs.

Pfizer, Inc. was quick to debunk the lawsuit as false. "To create undue concern and doubt about Lipitor is a real disservice to health-care professionals who prescribe Lipitor and the patients who depend on Lipitor to reduce heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States and around the world," Dr. Michael Berelowitz, a Pfizer, Inc. physician, stated, according to Market Watch.

Lipitor is the nation's top-selling drug, expecting to net nearly $13 billion in sales in 2006 alone. Since announcing the lawsuit, Pfizer, Inc.'s stock dropped 44 cents.

Lipitor is a type of drug called a s tatin, which doctors in the field claim is one of the best types of drug to fight cholesterol. Since cholesterol is linked with heart disease, Lipitor and other st atin drugs claim to help fight the deadly disease as well.