Zocor

About Zocor

Zocor® (simvastiatin) is in a class of medications called statins. The purpose of Zocor® is to prevent buildup of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries that may lead to reduced blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Zocor® is prescribed to patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Zocor® reduces the triglycerides and Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol often called "bad" cholesterol while increasing the High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol considered "good" cholesterol. Zocor® may also be prescribed to Patients with the medical conditions such as narrowing of the small blood vesseles (Coronary heart disease or CHD) or children and teenagers 10-17 years of age who have an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally.

Zocor® blocks the enzyme in the liver that manufactures cholesterol. This can result in a muscle injury called Myopathy. Patients experience muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, and an elevation of a muscle enzyme in the blood (creatine kinase). The most serious form of Myopathy is Rhabdomyolysis. The release of the protein myoglobin causes muscle fibers to break down which can lead to kidney damage, failure and death. Myoglobin may also damage the kidneys as they filter the body’s blood.

Zocor® was developed by Merck & Co. and released in 1992. In 2004 Merck funded a Study in an effort to encourage treating patients early and aggressively with a cholesterol-lowering drugs. Patients were followed for six months to two years. Half were given a sugar pill followed by 20 milligrams of Zocor®. The other half were given 40 milligrams of Zocor® and then switched to 80 milligrams. Patients getting Zocor® instead of a placebo for the first four months were not helped at all. 11% fewer people in the high-dose group had suffered heart attacks. But there was a 14% chance that the result could have happened randomly. Nine patients had elevated enzymes and muscle-weakening symptoms.

The FDA now encourages healthcare professionals to weigh the risks and benefits of simvastatin and carefully review patients' medications for potential interactions before prescribing the drug. Patients are at greatest risk for developing simvastatin associated myopathy during their first year taking the medication. In addition, myopathy may be associated with taking simvastatin in combination with other medications and in some patients, a genetic predisposition may exist. Severe allergic reactions can result in serious complications and even death.

Side Effects & Symptoms

Warnings & Recalls

On June 8, 2011, the FDA announced that the cholesterol-lowering medications, such as Zocor (simvastatin), will be required to add new safety information to the products’ labeling alerting health care professionals and patients of the increased risk for Myopathy and Rhabdomyolysis, associated with daily use of the 80 mg dose of simvastatin. The FDA’s safety recommendations include: only those patients who have taken the daily dose of 80 mg simvastatin for more than a year without experiencing signs of muscle toxicity should be allowed to continue; doctors should not write new prescriptions for the 80 mg dose of simvastatin; and that new contraindications and dose limitations for simvastatin, when taken in combination with other medications, should be added to the label.

Cases, Settlements, & Verdicts

Potential product liability lawsuits are being reviewed by Zocor lawyers for individuals throughout the United States who have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, myopathy or severe muscle problems.

Helpful Information