Maker of Crestor Revises Warning Label for Its Controversial Cholesterol Medication but Consumer Groups Are Not Satisfied

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 8 million in sales in 2004, a major boost from 9 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 2 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

About Online Legal Services Ltd (OLS) and www.lawyersandsettlements.com


OLS is a privately held Internet marketing company. Lawyersandsettlements.com offers up-to-date information on legal news, class action lawsuits, personal injury cases, settlement details, product recalls, and more. Consumers can complete free case evaluations and subscribe to free newsletters.

Visit us at:

http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/

Contact us at:

604-608-3435

###