Zocor's Harmful Side Effects
Zocor (generic Simvastatin) is a drug prescribed to lower cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol. The drug was first introduced on the market in 1991 by major pharmaceutical company Merck. But nearly 10 years later, after studies showed a risk of patients developing severe muscle damage, or rhabdomyolysis, the FDA required Merck to put a warning on Zocor’s label explaining the risk for muscle injury in patients taking 80mg, the highest dosage of the drug.
Further studies since then have shown that the higher the dosage of Zocor a patient takes, the more likely he or she is to develop some form of muscle damage. Patients who develop rhabdomyolysis, the most severe form of muscle damage, are at risk for kidney failure and even death.
If you are currently taking Zocor, Vytorin, or one of Zocor’s generic equivalents, and you develop sudden unexplained muscle pain, you should contact your healthcare professional immediately.
Other signs of rhabdomyolysis include dark or red urine, weakness, muscle stiffness or aching, and muscle tenderness. Additionally, patients with the condition may experience fatigue, weight gain, seizures, and joint pain.
If you or a loved one took or are taking Zocor, Vytorin, or any generic equivalent of Simvastatin and have experienced severe muscle pain or have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, contact Van Wey Law today.
