HEYGOOD, ORR, REYES, PEARSON & BARTOLOMEI
2331 W. Northwest Hwy., 2nd Floor • Dallas, TX 75220 • Phone: 214.526.7900 • Fax: 214.526.7910 • Toll-Free: 877.308.7900
Baycol
Although Baycol has now been recalled from the U.S. market, it was a prescription-only drug designed to lower cholesterol. Baycol is one of a class of drugs called statins, which lower cholesterol by blocking one of the body's enzymes that synthesizes
cholesterol.Baycol was first approved for use in the United States in 1997. Since that time, it has been used by approximately 700,000 people in the United States, and over 6 million worldwide.
In August, 2001, the manufacturer of Baycol, Bayer Pharmaceutical, withdrew the drug from the market due to over 100 deaths and numerous debilitating ailments linked to Rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis is a serious and sometimes fatal illness that causes muscle cells to breakdown, then release the muscle's contents directly into the bloodstream. Symptoms include weakness, tenderness, fever, dark urine, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. The most affected areas of the body are the lower back and calves. In certain cases, patients develop renal or other organ failure, which could result in death.
According to the FDA (Federal Drug Administration), the two groups most at risk of Rhabdomyolysis are the elderly, and those using Baycol in conjunction with the drug, Gemifibrozil.
National lawsuits have been filed against Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and others in 50 federal courts. These lawsuits cite the recent deaths and injuries caused by Baycol.
If you or someone you care about has been taking Baycol and experienced any symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis, please fill out our Case Review Contact Form to the right on this page to find out what your case is worth.
NEWS ARTICLES
Panel May Issue Subpoenas Related to FDA Approval
on Antibiotic Drug Ketek
1/28/08 - FDA
The House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will
vote Tuesday on subpoenaing Food and Drug Administration criminal
investigators and documents related to a potentially deadly drug the FDA
approved despite receiving fabricated data, according to a subcommittee memo
obtained by CongressDaily. (read more..)
Second Safety Warning on Fentanyl Skin Patch
12/21/07 - FDA
FDA issued its second safety warning on Dec. 21, 2007, about the fentanyl transdermal system, an adhesive patch that delivers a potent pain medicine through the skin. (read more..)
F.D.A. Investigates Quit-Smoking Drug
11/20/07 - Associated Press
New York Times (AP)
Government scientists are investigating whether a drug from Pfizer used to help
smokers quit cigarettes also increases suicidal thoughts and violent behavior. (read
more..)
Merck to Pay $4.85 Billion To Settle Most Vioxx Cases
11/09/07 - AngelReyesBlog.com
In a very significant announcement today, Merck has released that it will agree to pay about $4.85 billion to settle a significant portion of the 27,000 cases against it's painkiller Vioxx. (read
more..)
Cephalon Drug Is Tied to Several Deaths
9/14/07 - The Wall Street Journal
Drug maker Cephalon Inc. sent letters to doctors this week warning them
that several deaths have been linked to Fentora, its powerful narcotic to
treat acute cancer pain. (read
more..)
$5.5 Million Award in First Federal Fentanyl (Duragesic) Pain Patch Trial
6/19/07 - Press Release
The family of a Florida man has won a $5.5 million wrongful death verdict
against two subsidiaries of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson in
the nation's first federal trial involving a patch form of the narcotic painkiller
fentanyl. (read
more...)
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