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Rhabdomyolysis, Kidney Disease, and 80 mg. Zocor Lawsuits
Rhabdomyolysis (often abbreviated as rhabdo) is the most serious form of muscle weakness and can lead to severe kidney damage, kidney failure, and death.
Muscle damage can be caused by a crushing injury, chemical or biological injuries. 80 mg. Zocor would be considered a chemical injury.
The destruction of the muscle leads to the release of the breakdown of products of damaged muscle cells into the bloodstream. Damaged muscle cells like myoglobin, a protein, can damage the kidneys which filters blood out of the body. Kidney damage from rhabdo can be so severe that patients may develop kidney failure.
Known risk factors for developing rhabdomyolysis are being 65 or older, low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism), and taking 80 mg. of Zocor or a simvastatin.
The most reliable test in the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is the level of creatinine kinase (CK) in the blood. This enzyme is released by damaged muscle, and levels above five times the upper limit of normal (ULN) indicate rhabdomyolysis. Depending on the extent of the rhabdomyolysis, levels up to 100,000 units are not unusual.
According to Zocor prescribing info:
As with other statins—the risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis is dose related.
All patients starting therapy with simvastatin, or whose dose of simvastatin is being increased, should be advised of the risk of myopathy and told to report promptly any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness. Simvastatin therapy should be discontinued immediately if myopathy is diagnosed or suspected.
If you or a loved one were prescribed 80 mg. Zocor and developed rhabdomyolysis, you may qualify for a Zocor lawsuit for unsafe drugs. Please inquire now.
