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Reporting a Medication Error

Muscle Problems with Cholesterol Medications

a63cd9e38964634741a5a3fe89055308 MCholesterol-lowering medicines can cause a variety of muscle problems. These side effects can range from mild soreness to a potentially deadly condition called rhabdomyolysis (pronounced rab-doe-my-o-ly-sis).

Rhabdomyolysis is a breakdown of muscle fibers in the body. The damaged muscles release harmful by-products that clog the kidneys, causing kidney failure.

The risk of rhabdomyolysis is greater when patients take more than 20 mg daily of simvastatin (Zocor) along with another medicine, amiodarone. Simvastatin is a common cholesterol-lowering medicine, and amiodarone is a heart medicine used to control irregular beats.

Medicines that contain simvastatin can also lead to this problem, including Vytorin (ezetimibe and simvastatin) and Simcor (extended-release niacin and simvastatin). Many cholesterol-lowering medicines taken with other drugs can also increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis:

  • Medicines used to lower triglyceride levels, such as Lopid (gemfibrozil)
  • Medicines used to treat fungal infections, such as Diflucan (fluconazole) and Sporanox (itraconazole)
  • Certain antibiotics, such as Biaxin (clarithromycin) and erythromycin

If you or family members take simvastatin and other medicines listed, call your doctor if you develop symptoms of rhabdomyolysis such as pain, muscle cramps, tenderness, stiffness, and muscle spasms.

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One drug pair name that often results in confusion

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Do Not Take Medicine in the Dark!

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Insurance Letter: “Your Medicine Is No Longer Covered”

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Free Samples of Medicine May Not Be Problem-Free

Medicines are costly. So it's no surprise that most people are thankful when they leave the doctor's office with a bagful of medicine samples. Of course, doctors don't have samples of every medicine.They only have samples of certain medicines that drug companies decide to offer, hoping to boost sales. But when your doctor wants you to try a new medicine, he may be able to give you a small supply of samples to take home. This way, he can make sure that you tolerate the medicine and that it's working as expected before you have to pay for a prescription.

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