Muscle Injury Warning Placed on Zocor by FDA

Recently news which seems highly blockbuster is that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) issues a strict restriction for 80 milligram dosage of cholesterol controlling drug Zocor, chemically called simvastatin. To lower the quantity of low density lipoprotein (LDL) or cholesterol, simvastatin would be used. Also simvastatin reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes greatly. FDA recommended that patients, who have taken Zocor for 12 months or more without any problems can continue with it. Due to higher risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis; severe forms of muscle injury, the agency is asking doctors not to start with such higher dose to any new patients.

Prescribe them for 40 mg Zocor, if patients are not able to achieve cholesterol control on such a dose, agency again urge doctors to guide them for another treatment rather than uplifting the dosage. Rhabdomyolysis is the most severe form of muscle pain which strongly cause kidney failure, kidney damage and death. Its symptoms are like muscle cramps, stiffness, tenderness, pain or spasms. Use of Zocor leads to muscle fibers being break down as well as it releases a protein known as myoglobin that cause damages to the kidneys. Study says that about 4.9 out of every 100,000 people will be hospitalized for rhabdomyolysis who are on 80 mg Zocor dose within the first year of usage.

According to FDA’s report about 2.1 million people were prescribed for some drug which contains simvastatin in 2010. Simvastatin, known by the brand name Zocor is also used in combination with other drugs in Vytorin and Simcor. The FDA advises that patients should not stop taking their statin, a cholestrol controlling drug without consulting their doctor. So always before making any changes to your dose, first talk with your doctor.