Zocor Side Effects

Zocor Side Effects: The drug’s generic name is simvastatin (See simvastatin side effects). Zocor is a medication used to lower cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol, and is a member of the class called statins. Zocor is available in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, and 80 mg doses. The 80 mg dose of Zocor is no longer recommended for patients who have not previously been prescribed Zocor 80 mg for a year or more without side effects because of the higher incidence of myopathy in patients on Zocor 80 mg than on other statin regimens. The statin class of medications is primarily used to lower LDL cholesterol and therefore reduce the chances of developing vascular disease from atherosclerosis. Zocor additionally has FDA approval for the indications of mixed hyperlipidemia, dysbetalipoproteinemia, type for hyperlipidemia, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and for prevention of adverse cardiovascular events in patients who are deemed to be high risk for cardiovascular events like heart attack due to diabetes, previously known coronary artery disease, or peripheral arterial disease. The risk of Zocor side effects is quite similar to the side effects of the Statin class in general.

Zocor 80 Mg Restriction of Use: Since June 2011, FDA recommendation restricts Zocor 80 mg dosing to patients already taking Zocor 80 mg daily for a period of more than one year who have not already had myalgia side effects. The FDA now recommends limiting dosing of Zocor to 40 mg daily. This FDA recommendation was arrived at largely because of studies showing a higher incidence of serious muscle disease in patients taking 80 mg Zocor than in patients using other available statins. When patients on 40 mg Zocor are not at their goal LDL cholesterol, adding a second lipid lowering medication or switching to a more potent statin is not recommended. Considerations for these patients not at goal on Zocor 40 mg might be changing to Crestor, Lipitor, or adding a second medication such as niacin, Zetia, or non-pharmacologic management including more aggressive efforts at weight loss, diet and exercise.

Common Zocor Side Effects: Myalgias are felt by many physicians to be the most common Zocor side effects. The severity of the myalgias may range from minor aching and pain to quite serious inflammation of the muscles, rhabdomyolysis with the potential for renal failure and even death. Zocor side effects of the gastrin trustable tract can include pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, flatulence, and constipation. URI symptoms and asthenia are additional common Zocor side effects.

Serious Zocor Side Effects: Serious myopathy is the most common of the serious Zocor side effects. As is mentioned above this can be very serious indeed. In less severe cases the myopathy is usually reversible and transient. Varying degrees of hepatotoxicity from minor elevation of the liver transaminase is AST and ALT to more serious degrees of drug-induced hepatitis. As a general rule if the elevation of liver transaminase is more than thrice baseline levels Zocor dosing should be reduced or the medication stopped. Acute renal failure (rhabdomyolysis related in most cases) pancreatitis, angioedema, anaphylaxis, and a type of lung disease called interstitial lung disease are potential Zocor side effects that can be serious. Serious skin related Zocor side effects may be Stevens Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, photosensitivity and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Disorders of the rheumatologic system can include polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus erythematosus, vasculitis and dermatomyositis. Serious hypersensitivity syndromes have been reported. Leukopenia, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia are among the serious Zocor side effects of the hematologic system.

Cautions and drug interactions: Zocor is contraindicated for lactating or pregnant women or in women who are of childbearing age for which pregnancy is considered at all likely. Many physicians choose not to treat women of childbearing age with Zocor or other statin medications. Active liver disease including hepatitis and significant alcohol use are cautions for Zocor use. Already existing disease of the muscles like myopathy raises caution for the use of Zocor because it can also cause myopathy itself. Concurrent use of azole antifungal medications, medications in the erythromycin class of drugs, numerous antiviral drugs used to treat HIV infections and cyclosporine are only a partial list of the medications we are drug interactions with Zocor are significant concerns. To see a more complete list of cautions and contraindications the reader should refer to the manufacturer’s prescriber information.

Pregnancy and lactation: Zocor is pregnancy category X. Category X means there is positive or confirmed evidence indicating fetal risk in humans that outweighs all potential benefits and so Zocor is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy. Zocor use is considered possibly unsafe for use during lactation and is usually avoided.

Unusual Zocor side effects: Although common myalgia is an uncommon medication side effect quite specific to Zocor as well as other statins, being also among the common Lipitor side effects. Patients may notice minor symptoms like weakness excessive aching with physical exertion, vague pain all over their body, or sore muscles.