High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, and over 35 million Americans have high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Zocor is an FDA-approved prescription medication indicated for the treatment of high cholesterol. It is in a class of cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins. These drugs lower bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein levels, and they lower triglycerides while slightly raising good cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein levels. Statins are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications, but side effects may occur while taking Zocor.
Side Effects
You should stop taking Zocor and call a doctor immediately if serious side effects occur. These may include unexplained muscle pain or weakness, fever, dark-colored urine, swelling, weight gain, pain while urinating and yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. Less serious side effects of Zocor include headache, joint pain, constipation, mild nausea and indigestion, sleep disturbances and minor skin irritation, according to Drugs.com.
Pregnancy Category X
The FDA developed five categories of risk for medications based upon the potential for harm during pregnancy or lactation. These five categories are labeled as A, B, C, D and X, with the risk of complication generally increasing from category A to X. However, risks versus benefits are also considered in categories C, D and X, according to the FDA. Zocor is a pregnancy category X medication, meaning that pregnant women, women planning on becoming pregnant and breast-feeding women should not take Zocor, as the risks outweigh the benefits of the drug. It may cause harm or birth defects to the unborn baby, and the medication may pass through breast milk, causing harm to the infant, warns Drugs.com.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is a rare condition that may result from the use of statin medications such as Zocor. This condition causes the breakdown of muscle fibers in the body and release of myoglobin into the bloodstream. Myoglobin is a protein found in muscle tissue that, when released, is broken down into substances that are harmful to the kidneys. Possible kidney failure may result, according to MedlinePlus. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include severe muscle pain and weakness and changes in urine color. Older adults, individuals with kidney disease or hyperthyroidism and individuals taking niacin medications in combination with Zocor are at an increased risk of developing rhabdomyolysis, notes Drugs.com.
