. Pfizer will earn over $13 billion this year from Lipitor. They funded a study that would broaden the indications for their blockbuster drug. After all, they surely could use a few more billion dollars. They also have been having some recent PR problems with Lipitor and there have been a few lawsuits they have had to battle. Two important lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer, Inc. claiming its cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor caused lasting muscle damage -- and the company didn't adequately inform the public about the potential side effects.
The men behind the separate lawsuits both said they experienced debilitating pain, weakness and memory problems after taking Lipitor, a statin drug. The symptoms subsided after the drug was stopped, but pain, fatigue and a tingling sensation in the hands and feet still remains, one of the men said. Pfizer maintains that the number of Lipitor users who experience such symptoms is well under 1 percent, and that the potential side effects are included on the drug's labeling and in advertisements. However, it is really questionable whether Lipitor really does decrease the risk of strokes. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/353/3/238
As a patient, one needs to read between the lines of this one to uncover what the study really says, which is not quite what Pfizer claims it says. For one thing, although the risk of a second stroke was reduced for the study participants, there was no difference in mortality rates. While you might not die of a stroke, you'll still have the exact same chance of dying as you would if you never took the drug. Therefore, no benefit.
Considering studies funded by drug companies, more often than not, highly favor the drug being tested, it should come as no surprise Pfizer found a silver lining in this study to keep the attention off future legal battles that could detract from the reputation of its prized cash cow, on track to make $13 billion in 2006. When you read a study, remember to pay careful attention to who funded it. It's been shown that drugs are repeatedly given positive reviews in 80 percent of studies funded by the company that makes the drug -- as opposed to 50 percent of studies not funded by industry and 30 percent of studies conducted by competitors of the drug's maker. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-24-drug-studies_x.htm
Cholesterol can be regulated quite successfully with diet. Radically reducing sugars and grains, even whole grains, will reduce insulin levels, which drive the liver to produce cholesterol. Additionally, taking high-quality omega-3 fats like krill oil will not reduce your cholesterol level, but it can radically reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. Meanwhile, taking a drug like Lipitor can harm your immune system and cause many other dangerous side effects. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Nephrology/GeneralNephrology/tb/1396
