Baycol
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.
Baycol Side
Effects
Statin
drugs have been known to cause muscle cell damage and, in some cases,
Rhabdomyolysis -- a muscle condition that can cause kidney failure.
The occurrence of Rhabdomyolysis
is very rare and almost never fatal. However, 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.
Baycol Dosage
and Rhabdomyolysis
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.
Deaths Linked
to Baycol Drug
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.
If you have
used Baycol
If
you have taken Baycol, consult with a physician and ask about the
option of replacing Baycol with another cholesterol-reducing drug.
Please visit our Baycol Frequently Asked
Questions page for more helpful information.
Baycol Lawyers
and Legal Rights
You
may be entitled to compensation if you have suffered an injury as
a result of Baycol. If you fall under this category, you may want
to consider contacting a baycol attorney to discuss your legal rights.
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