prescription drug manufactured by Bayer A.G. pharmaceuticals. Baycol belongs to the Statin class: drugs that lower cholesterol by blocking enzymes that are essential to the production of cholesterol in the body.">
Baycol is
a prescription drug manufactured by Bayer A.G. pharmaceuticals.
Baycol belongs to the Statin class: drugs that lower cholesterol
by blocking enzymes that are essential to the production of cholesterol
in the body. Baycol as a medication is very effective in reducing
cholesterol levels and therefore reducing the chances of a patient
suffering a heart attack. If you or a family member has experienced
a problem associated with Baycol, please contact an Seattle area
Baycol attorney.
Statin drugs
have been known to cause muscle cell damage and, in some cases,
Rhabdomyolysis -- a muscle condition that can cause kidney failure.
Rhabdomyolysis occurs ten times more often with Baycol and has lead
to over 30 deaths. Combining Baycol with gemfibrozil, a drug that
lowers triglyceride levels, further increases the level of risk.
After receiving
reports of increased cases of serious Rhabdomyolysis, Bayer recently
adjusted the recommended dosage level of Baycol drug tablets for
the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Bayer claimed that patients were
taking Baycol in doses not consistent with Baycol's product labeling
and sent out a letter to doctors recommending that they more closely
monitor their patients' doses. Bayer assumed that patients were
to blame rather than Baycol, reaffirmed that proper use of Baycol
was safe, and said that no serious side effects should occur.
Bayer voluntarily
recalled Baycol August 8, 2001 as a result of 31 deaths linked to
the popular drug. In 1997, after the Food and Drug administration
(FDA) approved Baycol for the purpose of lowering cholesterol, Bayer
began to market the drug heavily. However, Bayer only acknowledged
the increased risk of Rhabdomyolysis associated with Baycol in May
of 2001, and may have recommended lower dosages to avoid the inevitable
recall of Baycol.
