This website provides legal and medical information about the Baycol drug recall. Baycol (cerivastatin sodium) is a cholesterol reducing drug known as a statin that is manufactured by the Bayer Corporation. This is the company that makes Bayer Aspirin. Baycol was removed from the market on August 8, 2001 after it was disclosed by Bayer that 40 people developed a muscle weakening disease and died as a result of taking Baycol.
The deaths from Baycol were caused by the muscle disease Rhabdomyolysis.
The symptoms of rhabdomyolysis are:
muscle pain
muscle weakness
coca-cola colored urine
malaise
fever
nausea
fast heartbeat
Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by other conditions beside the use of Baycol. Heat stroke, or a genetic predisposition combined with overly exertional exercise are other possible causes of rhabdomyolysis.
The risk of rhabdomyolysis is increased if Baycol users are also taking gemfibrozil (Lopid). However, Baycol can cause fatal rhabdomyolysis even if taken alone.
Rhabdomyolysis can cause life threatening complications such as:
acute renal failure
heart attack
cardiac arrhythmias
intravascular coagulation
compartment syndrome
We believe that Bayer will be found to be legally liable to pay money damages to users of Baycol who can prove injuries or deaths that are medically caused by Baycol.
We believe that Baycol is a legally defective product because the other statin drugs such as Mevachor, Lipitor, Pravachol, and Lescol have the same effectiveness at lowering cholesterol as Baycol without the dangerous and deadly side effect of rhabdomyolysis.
In 1999, the Bayer Corporation was warned by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, that Bayer’s advertising of Baycol violated the Federal Food, Drug,and Cosmetic Act. The FDA ordered Bayer to cease and desist advertising that the FDA considered misleading, including Bayer’s failure to properly warn of the risk of rhabdomyolysis.
Our law firm has already begun representing clients injured by Baycol and our investigation will be continuing and expanding. We are accepting new clients on a contingent cost and fee basis. (If there is no money recovery to you there will be no costs or attorney fees to you)
We are representing clients nationwide. Call us at 1-800-748-7115 or contact us here.
Please contact us for further information concerning your legal rights to make a claim or if you would like our attorneys to represent you.
