On August 8, 2001, German drug manufacturer Bayer AG announced that Baycol would be withdrawn from the U.S. market after reports of severe and sometimes fatal adverse muscle reactions. Although Bayer has acknowledged that over 100 deaths have occurred in people who were using Baycol, Bayer continues to deny that these deaths were related to the use of Baycol. Zimmerman Reed, appointed Lead Counsel of the Baycol litigation, represents individuals who have experienced injuries after using the drug and is seeking recovery for the injuries they sustained from Baycol.

According to FDA reports, Baycol is associated with more frequent occurrences of fatal muscle reactions, known as rhabdomyolysis, than other similar cholesterol lowering drugs. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition that results in muscle cell breakdown and release of contents of muscle cells into the bloodstream. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include, but are not limited to: Muscle Pain, Weakness, and Cramps, Fever, Dark Urine, Nausea and Vomiting, Abdominal Pain, Ankle, Feet, or Leg Swelling, Chest Pain, Skin Rash, Kidney Damage