Zocor Side Effects Could Spell Trouble for Merck

Merck is the manufacturer of the popular prescription anti-cholesterol medication Zocor, a drug that was prescribed to two million patients across the United States last year alone. Although the initial success and sustained momentum of the drug since it was released a few years ago have looked good for the drugmaker, recent developments have put a different spin on the story, especially since the Food and Drug Administration’s latest press release.

The FDA made an announcement regarding Zocor recently, linking the drug to serious side effects such as increased likelihood of muscle injury, liver disease, kidney problems, and rhabdomyolysis. The press release also advised doctors to discontinue the practice of dispensing 80 milligram doses of Zocor, the highest possible dose. Higher doses of the drug have been linked to higher rates of side effects, with about ten percent of Zocor patients who have been taking the drug for a year or less experiencing side effects.

                It has also been proven that Zocor is linked to several drug and chemical interactions that can cause side effects. Zocor was proven in 2008 to react poorly with the heart arrhythmia drug Amiodarone, and patients who are taking both could experience kidney failure as a result of Zocor side effects. Another study has shown complications with Zocor and grapefruit – the fruit and its juice can impede metabolization of the drug, which can leave higher concentrations of it in a patient’s bloodstream.

                

With these studies, and the Food and Drug Administration’s recent press release, it seems that Zocor lawsuits will become a problem for drugmaker Merck in the coming months. A significant number of patients have already been affected by side effects, but it is still unknown how many lawsuits will be filed against the company. The Food and Drug Administration’s recent press release will serve as powerful ammunition for plaintiffs. It is likely that plaintiffs will file suit against the drugmaker in order to win damages that can cover costs such as medical bills and lost wages, helping to assuage the financial strain the side effects have put on them.

                

Litigation has not yet begun, but the likelihood is increasing that lawsuits against the drugmaker will be significant.