Charfoos & Christensen, P.C. attorney, J. Douglas Peters, is investigating a state-wide class action lawsuit involving serious injury or death concerning the drug Crestor (rosuvastatin).

The FDA approved Crestor, a member of a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs commonly referred to as “statin”, on August 13, 2003. AstraZeneca, a Swedish/English pharmaceutical company, manufactures Crestor.

The FDA issued a Public Health Advisory on June 9, 2004, notifying doctors of a revised package insert released by AstraZeneca for use in 22 member states of the European Union. The changes in the European labeling are in response to adverse reports in patients receiving Crestor, specifically those patients who may be at an increased risk for serious muscle toxicity (myopathy).

The FDA advisory alerted U.S. physicians to carefully read the product label and follow the recommended dosage instructions to minimize the risk of rhabdomyolysis and/or myopathy in patients. This advisory reminds doctors that patients should be told to promptly report to their physician signs or symptoms of muscle pain and weakness, malaise, fever, dark urine, nausea, or vomiting.

The FDA has received reports of rhabdomyolysis, a destruction of muscle tissue that can lead to kidney failure, in association with Crestor and is currently evaluating these reports.

The total number of new cases of adverse reactions after approval in the U.S., Canada and England combined include seven patients with rhabdomyolysis, four patients with acute kidney failure, five patients with kidney damage, and six patients with bleeding or abnormal bleeding tests who were also using blood-thinning drugs.

Patients who could be at a higher risk are those of advanced age and individuals diagnosed with hypothyroidism, renal insufficiency, myopathy and/or liver disease.

Michigan men and women who took or take the prescription drug Crestor for more than three months and who have developed kidney failure, severe muscle pain and/or muscle deterioration and would like more information regarding this investigation, please contact Barbara Makowski, Complex Litigation Paralegal, at (313) 875-8080 or send an email to Bamakowski@c2law.com with the following information:

Name:

Address:

Daytime Phone Number:

Evening Phone Number:

Email address:

Crestor dosage:

Date started taking Crestor:

Date ceased taking Crestor:

Have you experienced any of the following symptoms:
Kidney failure;
Muscle weakness;
Muscle pain;
Dark urine;
Changes in Liver Function Tests.

While taking Crestor, were you taking any of the following medications:
Other cholesterol lowering drugs (e.g. Baycol, Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor);
Cyclorsporine (Neoral, Sandimmune);
Gemfibrozil (Lopid – anti-hyperlipidemic blood fat reducer);
Niacin;
Warfarin.

Have you been previously diagnosed with:
Hypothyroidism;
Renal insufficiency;
Liver disease;
Myopathies (diseases of muscle tissue)