Zocor (simvastatin) is produce by Merck & Co. and belongs to a class of prescription drugs known as statins, which are used to help lower cholesterol levels. Zocor lowers cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol production within the patient's liver.
Recently, some patients who have been prescribed the 80mg dosage of the drug have filed Zocor lawsuits alleging that the pill has increased their chance of forming rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially deadly disease of the muscle that has been known to cause severe kidney damage & failure
Zocor's Profitability
With close to 24-million Americans currently being prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, Zocor is big business for Merck & Co.
In addition to Rhabdomyolysis, Zocor has been potentially linked to another muscular disorder, myopathy. Myopathy occurs when there is an interference in the proper function of the fibrous tissue in muscles. The severity of myopathy can range from mild to severe, with the more extreme cases making even day-to-day tasks next to impossible.
In a recent clinical study, the occurence of myopathy was examined in 24,747 patients who were treated with Zocor for no less than 4 years. The reported incidents of myopathy reached levels of nearly 0.02%, 0.08% and 0.53% at 20, 40 and 80 mg./day.
Additionally, the FDA took a closer look at the results of a clinical trial which had evaluated the level of serious cardiovascular incidents in 6,031 persons taking simvastatin 80mg compared to a group of 6,033 taking only 20mg of the same drug. Their initial findings were that more persons in the 80 mg. group contracted myopathy when compared to patients in the 20 mg. group.
FDA's Zocor Findings
The FDA's initial analysis is suggesting that 11 patients in group that was taking 80 mg developed rhabdomyolysis. This finding is startling when you take into consideration that no patients from the 20 mg group developed the disorder.
If you or a family member has developed rhabdomyolysis or suffered as the result of the Zocor side effects, you may wish to seek legal counsel. You may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Zocor and receive compensation for damages
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