Zocor

Zocor® (Simvastatin) and Myopathy

Zocor® is a drug which is manufactured by Merck & Company. Zocor was approved by the FDA in 1991 and in 2005 when Merck’s patent expired was the best selling prescription in the U.S., generating nearly $5 billion in annual revenues. Since the expiration of the patent in 2005 this drug has been available under the generic name Simvastatin, or paired with ezetimibe it is available under the name Vytorin®, and paired with Niacin it is available under the name Simcor®.

Zocor or Simvastatin is part of a class of drugs known as statins. Statins work in the liver to reduce the cholesterol levels in the body. Statins have come under scrutiny for a variety of side effects. Lipitor, a statin manufactured and marketed by Pfizer, had the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issue a Safety Notification regarding evidence that it contributed to higher risks of diabetes among users.

Zocor Legal Action

The Richard Harris Personal Injury Law Firm is interested in reviewing potential claims for patients who were treated with the high 80 mg dose of Zocor or simvastatin, and had side effects of myopathy or thabdomyolysis. If you or a family member has experienced the side effects listed above after being treated with high dose Zocor, call the firm today for a no-cost consultation, at (702) 444-4444, or fill our our Free Consultation Form.

Zocor Side Effects

Zocor, or the generic form simvastatin, has a different set of side effects that are at least as serious. In 2011 the FDA completed a seven year study of statin side effects, and issued statements regarding Zocor causing muscle injury, in particular when a high dosage is administered to a first time user. On June 8, 2011, Eric Coleman, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research stated:

“We want to ensure that patients and health care professionals are aware of the new labeling changes to simvastatin, including the increased risk of myopathy when using the 80 mg dose of simvastatin.”

The 80mg dosage of Zocor, given to first time users, can cause deterioration of the muscles, a condition called myopathy. Myopathy symptoms include muscle cramps, spasms, stiffness or pain..

At its worst level, it becomes a life threatening condition, known as rhabdomyolysis, where the muscle fibers themselves break down releasing a protein called myoglobin, which can then damage the kidneys as they attempt to filter the bloodstream. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include dark urine, red urine, fatigue, and the symptoms of myopathy, and is most common in patients over 65, who have renal impairment or untreated hypothyroidism.

In November 2013, the Journal of the American Medical Association, Ophthamology, published a study which found that statin use increased the likelihood of developing cataracts by as much as 27%.

You should not discontinue taking any prescribed medication without consulting with your doctor

Zocor® is a registered trademark of Merck & Company and is used here only to identify the product in question.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Merck & Company.