Baycol Claims Settled >
Baycol Fibromyalgia
Baycol:
Baycol and Fibromyalgia
Baycol and
Fibromyalgia: 2003 has seen a number of Baycol claims settled
in the U.S. - These settlements have been involving injuries related
to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, which the patients developed
after taking the drug. Between 1997 and 2001 the drug was prescribed
for more than 6 million patients worldwide.
Baycol is a prescription
drug manufactured by Bayer A.G. Pharmaceutical. Baycol (cerivastatin)
was initially approved in the U.S. in 1997 to treat patients with
elevated cholesterol levels. Baycol belongs to the family of drugs
reffered to as statins: statins lower cholesterol by blocking a specific
enzyme in the body that is involved in the sythesis of cholesterol.
Baycol was recalled
on August 8, 2001 following the deaths of 31 patients taking the drug
in the U.S. Fifty-two deaths had been reported worldwide. The deaths
had been caused by rhabdomyolysis, a muscle condition/ailment that
had been known to be a possible side effect of all statin drugs, however,
its incidence has been much higher and more serious among Baycol patients.
Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where the muscle cells are damaged,
thus releasing a pigment called myoglobin into the bloodstream. The
kidneys, being a filtering mechanism, suffer excessive stress in attempting
to filter the myoglobin out of the blood. This can possibly lead to
kidney failure. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle pain, weakness,
tenderness, malaise, fever, dark urine, nausea, seizures, and vomiting.
The pain may involve specific groups of muscles or may be generalized
throughout the body.
Fibromyalgia
is a condition which affects approximately 3-6% of the U.S. population.
Fibromyalgia (FM) is an increasingly recognized chronic pain illness
which is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal aches, pain and
stiffness, soft tissue tenderness, general fatigue and sleep disturbances.
The most common sites of pain include the neck, back, shoulders, pelvic
girdle and hands, but any body part can be involved. Fibromyalgia
patients experience a range of symptoms of varying intensities that
wax and wane over time.
As you can see,
symptoms for the two conditions can be quite similar, and it it very
easy to misdiagnose one for the other.
If you have an
interest in the Baycol lawsuits, and need further information, it
is much to your advantage to contact an attorney who advertises having
experience and knowledge in ongoing Baycol litigation.
ref:
Julie Kay, "A Sudden Rush to Settle Suits Over Baycol" Miami
Daily Business Review - 2-26-2003
ref: National Fibromyalgia Association Website
ref: U.S.
National Library of Medicine Medical Encyclopedia
