Personal Injury Law

FDA issues warning on popular cholesterol medication Zocor

By LaBovick Law

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to patients and healthcare providers about the potential for increased risk of muscle injury from the cholesterol-lowering medication Zocor (simvastatin) 80 mg.

Zocor, manufactured by Merck & Co, is sold in combination with ezetimibe as Vytorin, and in combination with niacin as Abbott Laboratories Simcor. Simvastatin also is available as a single-ingredient generic medication.

Myopathy, a muscle injury, is a commonly known side effect with all statins. However, the recent FDA warning highlights the greater risk of developing muscle injury, including rhabdomyolysis, for patients when they are prescribed and use higher doses of this drug.

Rhabdomyolysis is the most serious form of myopathy and can lead to severe kidney damage, kidney failure, and sometimes death.

Eric Colman, M.D., Deputy Director of FDA's Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products (DMEP) stated the following:

'Review of simvastatin is part of an ongoing FDA effort to evaluate the risk of statin-associated muscle injury and to provide that information to the public as it becomes available. It's important for patients and healthcare professionals to consider all the potential risks and known benefits of any drug before deciding on any one therapy or dose of therapy.'

Merck stock closed at $38.06.

Click on the following links  to read more on the FDA warning on Zocor and potential increased risk of muscle injury.

FDA issues warning for high doses of Zocor - Reuters
FDA warning on cholesterol drug Zocor - ABC News
Merck falls on Zocor warning - Investors.com

Full post as published by LaBovick Injury Law Blog on March 19, 2010 (boomark / email).