Baycol
Drug
Baycol
Drug FAQs
Baycol
is a statin, a cholesterol-lowering drug that was originally
marketed in order to help reduce the incidence of heart
attacks and strokes. Very simply put, statins block
an enzyme that creates cholesterol. Baycol drug is one
of the less known of the statin drugs currently available
on the U.S. market. Other statins include Zocor, Mevacor,
Pravachol, Lipitor, and Lescol. The use of Baycol can
cause a dangerous condition called Rhabdomyolysis, which
can lead to kidney failure and even death.
Why
was the drug taken off the market?
From
1998 until August of 2001, Baycol was linked with 31
deaths in the U.S., 12 of which occurred with patients
who were also on the drug gemfibrozil. The drug Baycol
was taken off the market on August 8th, 2001,
at the urging of the FDA and other public advocacy groups
such as Citizen Group. Baycol was manufactured by Bayer
AG and prescribed to nearly 700,000 Americans.
Is
Baycol drug still available?
The
drug giant Bayer recently announced it would stop sales
of Baycol in all countries with the exception of Japan,
where gemfibrozil is not available and Baycol is not
prescribed in such high dosages.
What
can Baycol do to you?
Baycol
can cause side effects for certain patients, the most
serious side effect of the drug is Rhabdomyolysis. This
disease involves myoglobin, a protein found in skeletal
muscle. When the skeletal muscle is damaged, myoglobin
is released into the bloodstream. Normally, the kidneys
would filter out the myoglobin. However, if too much
myoglobin is in the bloodstream, it can block the blood
flow to the kidneys and impair its ability to function.
In extreme cases, it can result in kidney failure. The
shift of body fluids that accompanies this process can
send the body into shock. If certain steps are not taken,
kidney failure can result in death.
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Are
there any other side effects associated with the drug
Baycol?
Yes.
Other Side Effects of Baycol include peripheral neuropathy
(the loss of sensation in the hands and feet), gastrointestinal
side effects, allergic reactions, and problems with
liver enzymes that can cause hepatitis-like conditions.
Is
anyone more “at risk” for Baycol side effects?
The
risk of fatality involved with Baycol deals with three
general population groups. The first are those patients
taking Baycol in combination with another cholesterol-lowering
drug, gemfibrozil. The introduction of these two drugs
together seems to significantly heighten the incidence
of Rhabdomyolysis. In fact, 12 of the 31 fatalities
that have occurred in this country involved patients
taking these two drugs together. The second group is
older patients. The third and final group is anyone
who is on a high dosage of Baycol. Baycol remains available
in Japan, where gemfibrozil is not available and the
drug is prescribed in lower dosages.
What
is a statin?
Statins
block one of the liver enzymes that causes cholesterol.
In certain instances and for small populations of users,
statins can cause a condition known as Rhabdomyolysis,
a serious disease in which myoglobin enters the
bloodstream and can cause kidney failure. While Rhabdomyolysis is a condition to
be wary of, it is only fatal in a very small percentage
of cases. As of 08/2001, there have not been any fatalities
linked to other statins beside Baycol (cervistatin).
Statins
are prescribed to some 8 million Americans and have
proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels. This
class of drugs is a thriving slice of the drug industry,
with experts predicting sales to reach the $25 billion
mark by the year 2005. Within the statin class of drugs,
Baycol had but a small part of the market, which is
dominated by Zocor and Lipitor.
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What
is gemfibrozil?
Gembfibrozil
is a drug that has caused death to patients who had
also been prescribed Baycol. Like Baycol, gemfibrozil
is used to lower cholesterol and triglyceride (fatty
substances) levels in the blood.
Gemfibrozil
can react with other medicines to create dangerous drug
interactions. Anyone taking gemfibrozil who is taking
the following should discuss the possibilities with
their physician.
- Statins—of
particular concern is Baycol or Cervistatin. 12 deaths
have been attributed to the use of the combination
of these two drugs. Muscle and kidney problems can
result in serious medical conditions or even death.
- Anticoagulants
(blood thinners)—Use with gemfibrozil may increase
the effect of the anticoagulant.
What
should I do if I was taking Baycol?
If
you were on the prescription drug Baycol, contact your
doctor or physician about switching to one of the other
available statin. For those individuals taking another
statin such as Zocor, Mevacor, Pravachol, Lipitor, and
Lescol, you should not be overly concerned. Many of
these drugs have proved very safe for the vast majority
of patients. However, if you are taking a statin, talk
with your physician about what to be looking for as
far as side effects. If you are on one of these statins
together with gemfibrozil, speak with your doctor about
the potential health risks, particularly muscular disorders.
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