Baycol Recall
Frequently Asked Questions about Baycol
Baycol, known
under the drug name Cerivastatin (se-RIV-a-stat-in), is a cholesterol
and triglyceride-lowering medicine. The drug works by lowering
cholesterol and fatty substance levels in the blood. The idea,
of course, is to help individuals reduce the levels of cholesterol
in the blood vessels that can lead to stroke and heart attack.
Baycol has been available in the U.S. since 1997. Click
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Baycol was
pulled from the U.S. market on August the 8th, 2001
after causing over 30 patient deaths. In these cases, patients
taking Baycol developed a debilitating muscle disease known
as Rhabdomyolysis. Some 700,000 Americans were taking
Baycol in order to help lower cholesterol. Baycol is still
available in smaller dosage in Japan. Click
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Rhabdomyolysis
is a very serious condition (even life-threatening) where muscle
cells are destroyed and then released into the bloodstream.
The conditions can be very painful in the lower back and calves.
Fatal
rhabdomyolysis is the most severe example of this
condition in which a severe muscle adverse reaction occurs
as a reaction to a cholesterol-lowering (lipid-lowering)
product. There is a disintegration of the striated muscle
cells that causes myoglobin to be excreted into the urine.
This, in turn, causes a toxic reaction that can lead to kidney
failure. It is also known as crush syndrome. Click
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- Seizures
- Pain in the joints
- Unintentional weight gain
- Body fatigue
- Body weakness
- Muscle necrosis
- Abnormal urine color
- Weakness of the muscles
- Tender muscles
- Stiff or aching muscles
- Chills
- Shakes
- Trauma from fluid loss
- Heatstroke
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Patients
who develop rhabdomyolysis often have muscle aches in their
calves, lower back, etc. Muscle pain may occur along with fever,
nausea, vomiting, as well as darker than normal urine. Click
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There are
three high risk populations for Baycol health problems, including
older patients, patients who were taking high doses of Baycol,
and those patients taking Baycol in conjunction with gemfibrozil,
another cholesterol-lowering drug. Of the 31 deaths that have
occurred in this country, 12 involved patients who were taking
Baycol in combination with gemfibrozil. Although Baycol has
been removed from the U.S. market, it remains available in
Japan, where the doses of the drug are lower and gemfibrozil
is not available. Click Here for
a Baycol Recall Lawyer!
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Statins are
the most widely prescribed type of cholesterol lowering drug
(of which Baycol is a type). These drugs work by blocking a
liver enzyme that causes cholesterol. Another way to say this
is that statins reduce cholesterol production in the liver.
Statins lower LDL (the bad found in blood vessels and arteries).
In addition, they raise HDL (the good cholesterol in the body).
For the most part, statins have a good track record reducing
heart attacks and strokes in those patients who take them. In
a small number of cases, statins has been linked to a disease
called Rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life threatening disease
in which muscle cells are destroyed and released into the blood
stream. In the worst-case scenario it causes patients to develop
kidney failure and can be fatal. Click
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Yes. Pregnant
women and nursing mothers should not use statins because fetuses
and small infants need cholesterol for brain and body development.
Cerivastatin or Baycol can deprive them of needed substances. Click
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Consult with
your physician if you are taking one of more statin and experience
muscle pain or discomfort. If you are currently taking Baycol,
talk with your doctor about whether a different statin medication
is right for you. Any patient who is taking Baycol in combination
with gemfibrozil should immediately speak with your doctor
about the health risks. Click
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If
you were prescribed Baycol to lower your cholesterol, these
levels may go back to where they were before you
received the drug. These changes
will not occur immediately but will most
likely occur over a couple of days
to weeks. If you stop Baycol, be
sure to consult your physician to discuss
alternative therapies for lowering
your cholesterol. Click
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There are
five cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) on the U.S. market.
These include atorvastatin (Lipitor),
fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor),
pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor). There are also other drugs
approved for lowering cholesterol that are not statin drugs. Consult with your
physician to find out which is right for you. Click
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For
the most part, statins have a good track record reducing heart
attacks and strokes in those patients who take them. In a small
number of cases, statins has been linked to a disease called
Rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life threatening disease in which
muscle cells are destroyed and released into the blood stream.
In the worst-case scenario, as with Baycol, it causes patients to develop kidney
failure and can be fatal. Click Here for a Baycol
Recall Lawyer!
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