One of the fastest-growing health problems of the previous decade has been the troubling rise in the cholesterol levels of millions of Americans. As a result of this growing public health concern, pharmaceutical companies began to produce medications that were designed to help lower these cholesterol levels and reduce the dangers faced by people who suffered from this condition. One of the leading medications in this regard is known as Crestor, which is manufactured by the corporate giant that is AstraZeneca.
Unfortunately for many people across the country, reports of dangerous Crestor side effects eventually began to surface. Below you’ll find information regarding the nature, history and use of Crestor, specifics regarding the Crestor lawsuits that began to arise, the general response to these reports of Crestor side effects and finally how you should proceed if you or someone you love has been harmed by this medication and you need the help of experienced Crestor lawyers.
A Brief Description of Crestor
Crestor was originally approved by the FDA for sale and distribution in the United States in 2003, and since that time this medication has been used by an estimated 4.5 million people in the United States alone. AstraZeneca helped to improve its penetration into the market with an enormous advertising campaign that spanned national television, radio and the Internet, and it generated enormous revenues for the company.
Crestor is available via prescription, and it works by penetrating the liver and lowering the amount of a substance known as LDL, which is commonly referred to as the ‘bad’ cholesterol that can lead to serious heart damage, heart attacks and strokes. In addition, Crestor was seen by many as one of the main reasons that those who used it were able to avoid heart bypass surgery, which is a common step necessary to remove plaque that builds up in the heart’s arteries as a result of high cholesterol levels.
Crestor Injuries
Unfortunately, Crestor was only on the market for a few months before the first reports of the development of dangerous Crestor side effects began to surface in patients. These side effects were common enough in different patients that the public began to take at least a limited amount of notice, and below you’ll find a description of each condition that has been linked to the use of Crestor.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is an otherwise rare condition whereby a patient experiences the pain of having his or her muscle fibers deteriorate. When this deterioration occurs, the substance that helps form these muscle fibers, known as myoglobin, is released into the patient’s circulatory system. Eventually, this substance will reach the kidneys, and its presence there can inflict an enormous amount of damage to them, with some patients requiring surgery or even more radical steps to curb the process.
Chronic Bleeding
Other users of Crestor reported that they had developed a chronic bleeding condition that continued to the point where they needed medical help to stop it. Initially, few doctors understood how this could be happening until the common thread – the use of Crestor – was discovered.
Acute Kidney Failure
There were still other users of Crestor who simply suffered through the process of acute kidney failure. When kidneys fail, it creates in instantly dangerous condition. Several corrective steps need to be executed immediately to avoid the risk of death, and these steps include the removal of a kidney, kidney dialysis therapy and other radical steps.
Common Symptoms of Dangerous Crestor Side Effects
It should be noted that anyone who is using Crestor and experiences any symptoms or notices any abnormalities should seek immediate medical attention. Some drugs produce new and different side effects for years with different symptoms, but below you’ll find examples of the symptoms that patients who had suffered from Crestor side effects experienced:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Chronic bleeding
- Discolored urine
- Muscle fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- General fatigue
If you have been using Crestor and you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, waste no time whatsoever in seeking immediate medical attention, as the earlier these problems are discovered the better the chances are to prevent them from causing permanent damage. After medical attention is received, contact our Crestor injury attorneys to discuss possible compensation for injuries.
Our Defective Drug Lawyers Can Represent You in a Crestor Lawsuit
After being campaigned diligently by several different consumer advocacy groups, the FDA decided to act in response to the reports of Crestor side effects in 2009. The agency issued a public health warning that detailed the potential risks associated with Crestor. As of now, the medication remains on the market.
However, this does not mean that those who have suffered as a result of using Crestor have no outlet for justice. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using this medication, contact the Arizona defective drug lawyers at Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation. You may be eligible to pursue compensation in a Crestor lawsuit.
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