Crestor and Type II Diabetes Side Effects

Researchers have identified a potential connection between the use of the statin drug Crestor, and the development of severe side effects, including type II diabetes. Crestor (rosuvastatin) has been available in the U.S. since 2003, and is currently manufactured by drug maker, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. Crestor is one of a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins, which work by reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. Crestor is also used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart problems in patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes. Unfortunately, Crestor may actually be linked to an increased risk of type II diabetes, according to new Crestor side effect information. If you took Crestor and have since suffered from one or more serious side effects, contact a Crestor attorney to discuss your legal options.

Type II Diabetes Symptoms

Diabetes is a serious disease affecting the way the body makes or uses insulin, which is required to move sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. In people with type II diabetes, the liver, fat and muscle cells do not respond properly to insulin, which prevents blood sugar from entering the cells to be stored for energy. The inability of sugar to enter cells causes high levels of sugar to build up in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia. Early symptoms of type II diabetes may include:

• Fatigue
• Hunger
• Bladder, kidney or skin infections
• Increased urination
• Increased thirst

Type II Diabetes Treatment and Prognosis

The main goals of type II diabetes treatment are to lower high blood glucose levels and to prevent additional complications of diabetes from occurring. The most common treatment for type II diabetes is diet and exercise, which can help prevent problems and the need for medical care. If type II diabetes cannot be adequately controlled with diet and exercise, medications may be prescribed to keep blood sugar at or near normal levels. These medications can also reduce the risk of developing eye disease, kidney disease and other conditions that are more common in people with diabetes. Diabetes is a debilitating condition that can eventually lead to severe problems with your kidneys, eyes, heart, nerves, blood vessels, and other areas of the body. Diabetes also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death.

FDA Warnings and Crestor Side Effect Studies

According to researchers, most patients with elevated cholesterol have only mild or moderate elevations, which typically require only modest doses of statin drugs like Crestor. Unfortunately, the standard starting dosage for Crestor is so high that AstraZeneca claims the drug can reduce bad cholesterol by 46-52%, when most patients with high cholesterol require only a 20-30% reduction. Experts fear that the potency of even the starting doses of Crestor may expose patients to unnecessarily high levels of the drug, which may subsequently expose patients to severe side effects. In 2005, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning patients and healthcare providers about the risk of kidney failure and rhabdomyolysis, or severe muscle damage, in patients taking statin drugs like Crestor. In response to this information, the FDA required AstraZeneca to change the Crestor label to include important information on the safe use of Crestor to reduce the risk of rhabdomyolysis. Despite these dangers, the FDA approved a wider use of Crestor in 2010, allowing the drug to be marketed to patients with only slightly elevated cholesterol levels, a population previously considered at low risk for developing cardiovascular disease.

Crestor Attorneys for Type II Diabetes Side Effects

The side effects potentially associated with Crestor are serious and can have life-altering consequences for affected patients. If you or a loved one has suffered from a side effect which you believe to be linked to the cholesterol drug Crestor, contact a Crestor attorney to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a Crestor lawsuit against AstraZeneca in order to seek financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and pain and suffering. The main goal of Crestor attorneys is to help victims of potential Crestor side effects protect their rights and hold the allegedly negligent drug company accountable for their injuries. Pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca are responsible for the safety of their medications, and should be held liable for any adverse side effects sustained by consumers of their products. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. With the help of a qualified Crestor lawyer, injured victims can collect the compensation they deserve and protect themselves and their family from further harm.