Rhabdomyolysis Lawsuits
Last Updated: April 2009 • 8 Comments
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A serious and potentially fatal muscle condition, known as Rhabdomyolysis, could be caused a number of different prescription medications.
The use of statin drugs, such as Baycol and Crestor, have been linked to side effects of Rhabdomyolysis, and the combination of drugs containing simvastatin, such as Zocor, Vytorin and Simcor, with heart drugs containing amiodarone, such as Cordarone and Pacerone, could increase the risk of the disorder. Recent reports also suggest that the dietary supplement Hydroxycut is associated with reports of rhabdomyolysis.
STATUS OF RHABDOMYOLYSIS LITIGATION: Lawsuits have been pursued for several years on behalf of individuals diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis after taking Baycol or Crestor. Many medications contain warnings about the potential side effect, but potential cases are being evaluated for individuals diagnosed with this serious muscle condition after taking a statin.
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OVERVIEW: Rhabdomyolysis is a rare muscle condition in which the skeletal muscle is damaged and releases myoglobin into the bloodstream. When it is filtered out by the kidneys, it could cause severe kidney failure or death.
Symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis side effects could include:
- Muscle Cramps
- Tenderness
- Stiffness
- Pain
- Spasms
HYDROXYCUT RHABDOMYOLYSIS REPORTS: On May 1, 2009, the FDA issued a Hydroxycut recall for the popular over-the-counter weight loss aid due to reports of serious liver failure, including some users who required a liver transplant or died. According to a statement released at the time of the recall, use of Hydroxycut has also been associated with cases of rhabdomyolysis.
CRESTOR AND BAYCOL RHABDOMYOLYSIS: The cholesterol drugs Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) and Baycol (cerivastatin) are part of a class of drugs known as statins. They have been associated with an increased risk of Rhabdomyolysis, which has resulted in a number of deaths for users of the medications. Baycol was withdrawn from the market in 2001 as a result of the link to Rhabdomyolysis.
All statin cholesterol drugs currently carry warnings about the risk of rhabdomyolysis.
RHABDOMYOLYSIS FROM COMBINED SIMVASTATIN AND AMIODARONE: In August 2008, the FDA issued a renewed warning about the increased risk of Rhabdomyolysis when cholesterol drugs containing simvastatin, such as Zocor, Vytorin and Simcor, are combined with heart drugs containing amiodarone, such as Cordarone and Pacerone. The risk increases even further when individuals using amiodarone are given doses over 20 mg/day of simvastatin.
The FDA previously warned about Rhabdomyolysis side effects associated with the combination of these drugs in 2002, but they have continued to receive reports of the serious and potentially fatal muscle condition since then.
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Comment by Jay on 10 November 2008:
I took simvastatin and ended up with high TSH levels, and Ramdomylosis and high cholestrol levels(around 430 from25). Now I am undregoing the pain of getting treated for Ramdomylosis.
Comment by Dennis on 21 December 2008:
I was switched to simvastatin from Lipitor in January to save $10 dallars a month in copay.. I was on a small dose and in July I was put on a larger dose to reduce my higher colestrol. The results were substantial and distructive. I ended up with high colestrol, ramdomylosis, severe rejection with one of my main arteries in my heart going through rejection and now have a 40 to 50% blockage.. I’ve been in the hospital for three days and it will take me 6 months of drugs and an operation to mitagate some the symtoms that I’ve incountered
Comment by Linda on 27 January 2009:
I took Cordarone for almost a year with doses as high as 700mg along with Zocor 20mg. I had multiple side effects including nausea, vomiting every day, vision and cornea changes, arrythemia that worsened, thyroid changes, malaise, fatique, constipation, extremely dry mouth,involuntary muscle movements, acute renal failure with possibility of dialysis in the near future.
Comment by Sue on 5 March 2009:
My husband was put on Simcor for his cholestrol. He took an asprin 1/2 hour before (as told by his dr to do). Within one hour he was bright red and itching uncontrolably. I administered 2 benadryls and he laid back down. Not being able to take the itching he got out of bed and felt real lighheaded. After sitting for a minute he got up again and passed out and started seizing. I called 911 and his brother to help. He awoke and he had cut his nose and was still shaking. His brother got him to the stairs to make it more accessible for the ambulance. He sat at the top of the stairs and was going to ease his way down when he passed out and seized again. Being guided down the stairs the EMT administered oxogen and took vitals. His BP was real low and they kept him on Oxogen and transported to the hospital. He stayed the night shaking the whole night. It has been a week tomorrow and he still is not feeling good from this. He hurt his back and face from the fall and hurts all over. WHy is this drug still on the market? What would of happened if I wasn’t home when he took it? It was the most scared I have ever been in my life, I really thought he was dying.
Comment by patti on 30 April 2009:
I took Zocor for 4 months. I had muscle pain in my legs that my doctor said was from regular workouts at the gym. Lab work done 2 weeks prior to feeling ill were normal. I had severe rhabdomyolysis with a CPK count of ONE MILLION. I was hospitalized two months and was on dialysis daily for weeks then 3 times per week for months. I had a stroke, I hadspeach therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy, but I lived which is a miracle. My attorneys spent o$100,000 and then told me they could not continue with my case and I got nothing and neither did they,
I have between 30-60% kidney function depending on my health and huge medical bills even after insurance and the medicare. Regardless of age medicare kicks in after 3 months of ESRD. (end stage renal failure.
Comment by Michelle on 1 May 2009:
Wow…I’ve been taking Hydroxycut Hardcore for about 5 months now and its worked great for me. I’ll stop taking it though now…:-(
Comment by JIm on 8 June 2009:
After taking simvastin for a couple of weeks, I had intense and crippling muscle pain in my legs. I was hospitalized for 4 days, the doctor’s could not explain what had happened to me, but was told to never take a statin drug again. Since then my leg muscles have never been normal, and I have developed skeletal necrosis in my hips and again there is no explanation why and no cause can be found. Is there any help out there for people who are hurt by this drug and have life altering consequences after taking this “medicine”!!!