Baycol, a cholesterol reducing drug, was first approved by the Food and Drugs Administration in 1997. This drug, one of a group of cholesterol reducing drugs known as statins, was manufactured by the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, and following FDA approval was prescribed to many people with high cholesterol levels. However, within just a few years it became apparent that there was something wrong – analysis of data and research linked the drug to serious health problems and even a number of fatalities. In fact, the link was so strong that Bayer, the manufacturer of Baycol, withdrew the drug from the market in 2001, just four years after it had been initially approved for general prescription to patients in the US.
One of the most worrying problems associated with taking the drug was a disease called rhabdomyolysis. This is a disease that seriously affects the muscles, killing off muscle cells and causing muscle protein to be released into the blood stream where it can cause blockage and result in kidney and renal failure. To some degree, all statin drugs are associated with mild or moderate muscle problems. However, Baycol was the statin that became linked to the most serious and deadly muscle disorder, rhabdomyolysis.
Baycol was once a popularly prescribed drug in the United States, and many prescriptions were issued to patients with high cholesterol. However, as the effects of this drug became more and more apparent it became clear that a recall had to be initiated to curb any further damage or death. Bayer recalled Baycol from the market voluntarily, and by the time it was withdrawn in 2001 it had been linked to around 30 to 50 deaths as well as serious illness.
Upon the withdrawal of Baycol in 2001, patients who were taking this drug were advised to stop the use of Baycol immediately. These patients were advised to see their healthcare providers as soon as possible to find an alternative treatment for their cholesterol problems. Patients were also warned to remain vigilant for signs of any ill-effect that could have been caused by the drug, as this would also need to be dealt with by the doctor.
However, although the recall of Baycol inevitably saved many people from ill health and even death, for some people the damage had already been done. Although research had indicated otherwise, Bayer had previously insisted that Baycol was as safe a statin as any other, and patients had therefore continued to use the drug. However, in 2001, Bayer apparently admitted defeat in the face of increasing evidence with regards to the health effects of this drug, and this is when they finally decided to initiate a drug recall.
Once the recall of Baycol was announced by the FDA and Bayer, it was not long before the lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giant began to pile up. There were soon thousands of cases filed by those that had been injured and suffered serious health effects. There were also lawsuits from those that had lost a loved one through health problems caused by the drug, and the families of these victims filed for compensation for wrongful death.
Anyone that had been affected by Baycol through personal injury or the death of a loved one was advised to seek immediate legal assistance to improve the chances of getting compensation from Bayer. This led to the lawsuits piling up, and in the aftermath of the mass drug recall Bayer had to face an ever-increasing stream of lawsuits from those affected by Baycol.
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