Zocor Lawsuit

A Brief Guide to Filing a Zocor Lawsuit:

What is Zocor?

Zocor is the brand name for Simvastatin--a popular diet drug that when combined with exercise and diet is effective in reducing the amount of fatty substances such as triglycerides and LDL’s (bad cholesterol) while increasing the amount of HDL’s (good cholesterol) in the blood. IN addition to sparking weight loss, Zocor is also administered to patients to decrease the risk of strokes, heart attacks and blood flow problems. Zocor belongs to a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. It is effective by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body the limit the amount of cholesterol that builds up on the walls of the arteries and other areas of the body.

Zocor Side Effects:

Use of Zocor may yield side effects (these side effects may form the basis of Zocor lawsuits). Please inform your doctor if the following symptoms are severe or persistent:

• Common Zocor side effects include: Stomach pain; constipation; nausea; memory loss; confusion and/or migraines
Some Zocor side effects may be classified as severe. If you experience the following symptoms, please contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical assistance:

• Severe Zocor side effects include: Tenderness, weakness or muscle pain; dark urine; lack of energy; decreased urination; loss of appetite; pain in the upper right part of the stomach; dark colored urine; flushing; blisters; hives; itching; swelling of the face, throat, lips, tongue, eyes, hands, feet, lower legs; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hoarseness; joint pain, and or sensitivity to light.

Zocor FDA Regulations:

The United States Food and Drug Administration, on June 8th of 2011, instituted a recommendation to limit the use of the most potent approved dose (80 mg) of Zocor due to increased risk of muscle damage. The FDA recommended that the 80 mg dose be administered only to patients who have been taking the max dose for one year or more without evidence of myopathy (muscle damage). The 80 mg dose of Zocor should not be started in new patients.

In addition to the above regulations, the FDA ordered a change to the Zocor label to reflect new contraindications and dose limitations for using Zocor with certain medications.

Zocor Litigation History:

In reference to the above FDA regulation: The FDA noted that development of rhabdomyolysis was observed in 4.9 people out of 100,000 patients using Zocor. For this reason, the prescription information warns patients to report Zocor side effects such as dark urine, muscle pain or soreness, fatigue or weight gain unrelated to diet to their respective doctors. These Zocor side effects are possible indications of rhabdomyolysis—a dangerous medical condition that requires emergency attention. Left untreated, such Zocor side effects can lead to kidney failure or death. If you experience the above reactions, the grounds for filing a Zocor lawsuit are secured. That being said, the ability to win Zocor lawsuits requires an adherence to civil procedure; Zocor lawsuits can only be won if you can definitely prove that regular use of the drug caused some sort of damage.
Patients may file a Zocor lawsuit to secure compensation for damages arising from Zocor use; an individual may file a Zocor lawsuit as a means to secure money for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Patients who developed rhabdomyolysis prior to the FDA warning may have grounds for a Zocor lawsuit. The charges an attorney could bring forth in a Zocor lawsuit are primarily based on allegations that the manufacturer did not provide sufficient warning of these particular Zocor side effects.
The key to filing a successful Zocor lawsuit revolves around dosage strength; if you or a loved one is diagnosed with the above conditions after taking the regulated 80 mg Zocor tablet, it is imperative that you contact an attorney to discuss potential Zocor lawsuits.

The FDA has not demanded additional information regarding the development of diabetes as part of potential Zocor side effects. One 2010 study published in The Lancet concluded that use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (known as statins) could increase the possibility of developing diabetes by nine percent. Such correlations can serve as the basis for a Zocor lawsuit by patients who developed diabetes during or after a course of treatment.

There are no widely reported examples of successful Zocor lawsuits. However, the lack of strong warning regarding the risk of diabetes can form the foundation of Zocor lawsuits. People who wish to file Zocor lawsuits (primarily muscle injury) should act quickly—the statute of limitations concerning Zocor lawsuits may have expired in your state. Regardless, to initiate a Zocor lawsuit, please contact a qualified pharmaceutical lawyer in your area. The bulk of these legal specialistsZo will provide free consultations to evaluate the strength of your Zocor lawsuit.

Sources:

1.United States National Library of Medicine “Simvastatin” retrieved from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000911

2. FDA Drug Safety Communication: New Restrictions, contraindications and dose limitations for Zocor retrieved from:

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm256581.html