Earlier this year, the FDA issued a safety communication regarding the risks associated with use of 80mg doses of the anti-cholesterol drug, Zocor. However, even after the agency’s warning, patients continued to report side effects from taking only low or moderate doses of the medication.
Zocor, also known as simvastatin, is on of the top-selling statin drugs, along with other products like Lipitor and Crestor, all of which have proven to be successful in lowering cholesterol. Despite the health benefits associated with using Zocor, patients are reporting dangerous side effects such as, liver damage, muscle injury, kidney failure and type 2 diabetes.
The FDA’s warning was prompted by the receipt of several adverse event reports from the agency’s Medwatch system, as well as its review of data from a clinical trial on the effectiveness of anti-cholesterol medications. The study found that patients taking the highest doses of Zocor were at increased risk for muscle injury and other serious side effects, as compared to those taking other statins.
As a result, many patients have suffered from rhabdomyolysis, an extreme from of Zocor muscle injury, which can potentially be a life-threatening condition.
