Muscle Damage Risk Higher in Women
With the new warnings released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about Simvastatin, marketed under Zocor and Vytorin, some doctors are questioning the rates of occurrence of muscle damage in patients taking the 80mg dose.
Rhabdomyolysis, a condition which breaks down muscle and releases dangerous proteins into the blood stream, affects an estimated five out of every 100,000 people taking an 80mg dose of Zocor for a year. Based on studies, researchers say that the condition is rare, but that it can lead to kidney failure and even death.
Despite the latest statistics, some doctors believe that Simvastatin may cause muscle pain more frequently than what the statistics show. All statins can cause muscle pain and weakness. Researchers estimate that five to 10 percent of patients taking 80mg of Simvastatin experience muscle pain and weakness, but they concede that as many as a third of these patients could be suffering with these side effects.
Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, dark or red urine, and unexplained tiredness. If you are taking Simvastatin and are experiencing or have experienced any of these symptoms, experts say you should contact your healthcare professional immediately.
Consumer Reports advises anyone taking cholesterol-lowering drugs to start out at the lowest necessary dose. If you have high cholesterol, and your doctor recommends you take a statin, you should discuss any side effects of the drug with him.
The danger for rhabdomyolysis is greater in older women and in those who are taking Simvastatin with other drugs for blood pressure. Consumer Reports gives the following advice for people who are taking other prescriptions along with Simvastatin:
- Take no more than 20mg of Simvastatin with amlodipine (market name Norvasc)
- Take no more than 20mg of Simvastatin with diltazem (market name Cardizem) or verapamil (market name Verelan)
- Take no more than 20mg of Simvastatin with amiodarone (market name Cordarone)
- Take no more than 20mg of Simvastatin with ranolazine (market name Ranexa)
- Never use Simvastatin with cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil, or posaconazole.
Of course, you should always consult your doctor before you stop taking any of your medicines. If you are worried about your medicines interacting, tell your doctor.
