Zocor Side Effects

Zocor is a cholesterol-lowering medication, which blocks the production of cholesterol in the body. Zocor reduces low-density lipoprotein (also known as “bad cholesterol”) as well as total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions which can lead to heart attack, stroke and vascular disease.

Any medication has side effects. However, Zocor is a high-dosage cholesterol medication, whose side effects can be potentially deadly. Patients should not use Zocor if they are pregnant or breast-feeding. You should also tell your doctor if you have diabetes, an underactive thyroid (or hypothyroidism), kidney disease or muscle disorder before using Zocor. If you do have these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Zocor. This medication also has the potential to cause birth defects.

Zocor side effects are well-documented. Zocor and other cholesterol lowering medications are heavily marketed, leading people to believe that they are the answer to lowering cholesterol levels. Drug companies make billions of dollars from the sale of Zocor and similar statins. Here are some of the most common side effects reported as a result of using Zocor:

  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Memory loss
  • Personality change
  • Irritability
  • Muscle pain
  • Kidney damage
  • Death

A USA Today news report states that 72 fatal and 772 non-fatal cases of muscle breakdown have been linked to statins sold between 1997 and 2000. Prior to 1997, there were 29 fatalities. It has also been known for a long time that statins can lead to kidney failure. Your doctor should be ordering a blood test before prescribing Zocor, and during treatment with Zocor to check for any existing health problems.

Although all statins, including Zocor, currently contain a warning that rhabdomyolysis or muscle damage is a possible side effect, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in March 2010, warned that the severe condition may be related specifically to Zocor’s high dosage. The warning from the FDA states that a clinical trial has released data which found that 80mg of Zocor, the highest approved dose, can carry a higher risk of muscle injury than taking lower doses. It can cause muscle fibers to break down and release myoglobin, which can damage the kidneys and cause renal failure and even death.

If you or a loved one has suffered kidney damage, muscle damage or other serious side effects as a result of taking Zocor, please contact the Pennsylvania personal injury lawyers at Cherry Injury Law for a free consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim. Proving drug injury or side effects cases can be extremely complicated. We can help.

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