Zocor, a prescription medication taken to treat high
cholesterol, has been found to cause serious side effects in certain
situations. Myopathy, or muscle injury, is a potentially life threatening
condition that may result from high dosages of Zocor. It may result in a
breakdown of muscle tissue that may lead to kidney failure. This can be severe,
permanent, and debilitating for some, and has led to an increased number of
Zocor lawsuits. However, many patients have reported that the Zocor side effects and disease diminish when they stop taking Zocor.
Myopathy normally starts with temporary muscle cramps, along
with pain. It can then rapidly evolve into a much more serious muscle condition,
known as rhabdomyolysis. This is a potential Zocor side effect caused by muscle
fibers releasing myoglobin, a protein, into a patient’s blood. Most patients’
kidneys cannot filter myoglobin, and the result may be kidney failure, or even
death in certain cases. Symptoms include muscle tenderness and weakness,
fatigue, and dark urine. Treatments vary, but usually involve elimination of
myoglobins by flushing them from the body through use of electrolytes and fluid
intake, or, if the condition has progressed, dialysis, or kidney transplant.
Implications of Zocor Side Effects and FDA Involvement
The eighty milligram dosage of Zocor may be the cause of
rhabdomyolysis. In June, 2011, the FDA announced a direct link between high
Zocor doses and muscle injury risk. The FDA also prohibited physicians from
prescribing Zocor for new patients at this higher dosage.
Many Zocor lawsuits have recently been filed. This is, at
least in part, based on the FDA announcement concerning serious Zocor risks.
Even patients who have recovered from rhabdomyolysis may be filing Zocor
lawsuits. They may be compensated for pain and suffering, lost wages, and
related medical expense. Patients who have suffered more permanent injuries, or
have lost relatives and loved ones due to Zocor use, may also want to file a
lawsuit. Zocor attorneys should
interview potential clients quite carefully to determine what Zocor dosage was
taken, and what injuries have been suffered.
