Rhabdomyolysis Lawsuits

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.

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.

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

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 Baycol was withdrawn from the market in 2001 as a result of the link to Rhabdomyolysis.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.