Zocor Reduces Cholesterol But Raises Other Serious Risks

Statins are among the best-selling drugs in the United States, with $14.5 billion in combined sales in 2008. They use the liver to block the body’s creation of cholesterol, which is a key contributor to coronary artery disease. Statin is used in a number of other popular cholesterol controlling drugs, including Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor, Lescol, Pravachol and Zocor. Although information about Zocor side effects has been on its label, the manufacturer failed to adequately warn about the extent of the risk when 80 mg doses of simvastatin are taken. The FDA recommended on June 8th that no new patients be started on an 80 mg Zocor regimen, due to the risk of developing myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, kidney damage and other muscle injury.
The use of statins is associated with a condition known as statin myopathy, in which the patient experiences muscle pain and tenderness. This condition is reportedly linked to the dose size, meaning the higher the Zocor dose (80mg being the highest recommended dose), the higher the likelihood of experiencing muscle pain. In extreme cases, the muscle cells can break down (a condition known as rhabdomyolysis) and release myoglobin into the patient's bloodstream, which can cause damage to the kidneys as the kidneys try to filter the protein out of the bloodstream. Zocor rhabdomyolysis is treatable and patients can recover if the disease is caught in its early stages. But if the disease is left untreated, acute kidney failure develops in 30-40 percent of patients.
Public Citizen has indicated that the FDA did not go far enough and should have issued an outright ban on the high dose version of Zocor, according to a statement made in its Worst Pills, Best Pills newsletter. The consumer group has designed Zocor 80mg as a “Do Not Use” medication, and urged all consumers, including those who had taken Zocor 80 mg without any problem so far, to consider switching to another medication or lower Zocor dosage. However, the organization cautioned that patients should check with their doctors before ending any drug treatment. Victims suffering from the adverse effects of Zocor are filing Zocor lawsuits nationwide.