Baycol:
Baycol was approved by the Food and Drugs Administration in 1997. This drug, also known by its generic name of cerivastatin, was prescribed to patients that suffered from high cholesterol levels. Baycol came under a group of drugs known as ‘statins’, and the drug worked through blocking one of the enzymes in the body. The blocked enzyme was one that was partly responsible for the build-up of cholesterol. For a while, Baycol proved very popular with medics and patients alike, which was great news for the pharmaceutical giant that manufactured this drug, Bayer Pharmaceuticals. However, within four years of approval the drug was withdrawn from the US market after some very worrying potential side effects came to light.
One of the serious side effects was kidney trouble in those taking Baycol. An even more worrying side effect that could stem from the drug was rhabdomyolysis, which is a potentially deadly disease. In patients suffering from rhabdomyolysis the muscles within the body are broken down, and muscle cells are ‘leaked’ into the blood stream. Potential risks associated with this process include organ and renal failure, resulting in death. The side effects of rhabdomyolysis include:
Muscle pains and aches
Weakness
Tenderness
Fever
Discolored, dark urine
Nausea and vomiting
The manufacturer of Baycol, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, recalled the drug from the US market following the discovery of these potential side effects and the concern that surrounded them. The withdrawal was initiated in August 2001, only four years after the drug was approved and welcomed onto the market. The drug has been linked to a number of muscle and kidney disorders throughout the US, as well as over 50 deaths in the US alone. When the drug was withdrawn, the FDA issued a warning about the potential dangers of the drug; however, many people had already suffered from the side effects of Baycol, so the warning came too late for those people.
Patients that had been taking the drug were advised to seek immediate medical advice and assistance after the drug was withdrawn. In addition to this, those that had been affected by Baycol, or the family members of those that had died from the side effects of the drug, were advised to seek legal assistance. This was to claim compensation from Bayer for medical expenses, loss of income, pain, suffering, and in some cases, wrongful death.
Anyone that has experienced harm or injury from taking this drug, or those that have lost a loved one due to Baycol, should seek the assistance of a trained and experienced Baycol lawyer as soon as possible. There are now many lawyers that specialize in Baycol lawsuits and other types of drug litigation. Wherever possible, it is best to go for an experienced Baycol lawyer, as the more experienced legal experts in this field will already have established links and resources to help with your case. You can increase your chances of success and speed up the whole claims process by going through a lawyer that already has experience within this field.
An experienced Baycol lawyer will be able to advise you with regards to the potential success of your lawsuit, as well as drawing on past experience to give you an idea of how much you might be looking at by way of compensation. As many drug litigation lawyers now offer an initial free consultation, you can find out about the viability of your case without paying anything upfront. Even if you are not sure whether you have grounds for compensation, this free initial consultation will enable you to determine whether you can file a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Baycol.
It is important to take legal action as early as possible, as statues of limitation can otherwise prevent you from making what could be a valid claim. With many law firms now employing specialist drug litigation staff, you shouldn’t have a problem finding the appropriate Baycol lawyer to deal with your case. If you have any doubts about whether a lawyer is right for your case, ask whether he or she has dealt with Baycol cases before and what the success rate has been with Baycol and other drug litigation cases. This will give you a better idea of whether you should take your Baycol claim to any one particular lawyer.
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