Zocor Side Effects | Zocor Lawyer Advises About Litigation

Zocor side effects litigation continues amidst ongoing reports of Zocor muscle injury, Zocor rhabdomyolysis, and other issues. In many cases, plaintiffs request compensation for pain and suffering and medical expenses, among other claims against Merck, the drug’s manufacturer.

FDA Updates Zocor Side Effects Warning

In June 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered Merck to update Zocor’s warning label to reflect an increased risk of side effects in patients taking high dosages of the anti-cholesterol drug. The new label also concedes that Zocor, which is part of the statin drug class, has several contraindications, and should not be combined with certain antidepressants, antibiotics and hypertension drugs, which could cause increased risk of Zocor muscle injury and other Zocor side effects. A main contention of Zocor lawsuits is that, prior to the FDA’s updates, the Zocor label did not provide adequate warning regarding the drug’s risk of side effects.

Zocor Muscle Injury Can Cause Kidney Failure

William C. Shiel Jr., M.D. is a rheumatologist and the co-founder of MedicineNet.com. According to Dr. Shiel, “There are many other medications (aside from statins) and diseases that can cause muscle aching. Of all causes, however, statin drugs are what I see as the most common culprits.” Zocor side effects allegedly include muscle pain and injury, liver damage, gastrointestinal issues, and Zocor rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis is a form of severe muscle injury that can lead to liver damage and, if left untreated, possible death. Zocor rhabdomyolysis is a common allegation in Zocor lawsuits.

Zocor Lawsuit Must Demonstrate Inadequate Warning

Patients seeking Zocor settlements must be able to demonstrate that the Zocor warning label did not properly warn them of potential Zocor side effects. This may be difficult, as one Zocor lawyer discovered: in a 2009 Zocor lawsuit headquartered in Texas, the presiding judge concluded that the drug’s warning label was sufficient, and that the plaintiff’s Zocor lawyer had not demonstrated a proper exception. However, a current Zocor in Ohio makes the same claims, and only time will tell whether the judge sides with the plaintiff.