Zocor® and Muscle Pain
Zocor® (simvastatin) is a cholesterol-lowering statin and a prescription medication used to reduce the amount of fatty substances such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood and to increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the blood.
According to a warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2011, patients taking an 80 mg dose of Zocor® or the generic form of this drug may be at risk of developing serious muscle side effects. The most common side effects of Zocor® include:
- Muscle pain, tenderness and weakness
- Aching in the shoulders
- Pain in the jaw
- Muscle pain in the legs
More serious muscle effects include myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.
Muscle pain is a result of the muscle breakdown occurring in the body due to the statin drug. While most people who experience muscle pain will return to normal after discontinuing statin use, some patients have reported permanent muscle damage.
Zocor® and Myopathy
All statins including Zocor® carry the risk of myopathy. Myopathy is a muscle disease in which the muscle fibers do not function for any number of reasons. Myopathy is typically characterized by unexplained muscle weakness or pain and can be debilitating. When the muscle tissue breaks down, the body must eliminate the excess waste causing the kidneys to become overloaded. This can result in a more serious form of myopathy called rhabdomyolysis.
Zocor® and Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis occurs when damaged skeletal muscle tissue fibers break down and the muscle fibers are released into the bloodstream. Symptoms of this condition include: muscle pain and dark red or cola-colored urine. Severe instances of rhabdomyolysis may result in death from acute kidney failure due to the kidneys being overloaded with excessive deteriorated muscle tissue.
Contact Zocor® Attorneys Today
If you were prescribed Zocor® and were diagnosed with myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, you should speak to one of our Zocor® attorneys. You may be eligible to file a claim to get compensation for your loss. Our attorneys also represent Zocor® patients who suffer from kidney failure, liver damage and/or other complications caused by the medication.
Our attorneys provide free initial consultations to people who we believe may have a claim. Call today to schedule a free review today.