Merck’s widely-prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug Mevacor (generic: lovastatin) has recently been linked to severe muscle damage, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, kidney failure, liver damage, and type 2 diabetes. Mevacor belongs to the statin class of medications that prevent the metabolic creation of cholesterol by blocking critical enzymes. Despite a growing body of scientific evidence linking Mevacor and other statin medications to serious side effects, the FDA has yet to recall the drugs, and they remain for sale on the U.S. market.

Mevacor Overview

Manufactured and marketed by Merck, Mevacor is designed to be used together with diet and exercise to reduce the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood. The drug belongs to a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors that work by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body. Mevacor was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in September 1987.

In addition to Mevacor, other prescription medications from the statin class include:

• Zocor
• Lescol
• Crestor
• Vytorin
• Simcard
• Simcor
• Simlup
• Simvacor
• Lipitor
• Altoprev
• Livalo
• Pravachol
• Advicor

Mevacor Side Effects

Unfortunately, Mevacor and other similar statin drugs have been increasingly linked to the following serious side effects:

• muscle damage
• myopathy
• kidney damage
• kidney failure (also known as renal failure)
• liver damage
• rhabdomyolysis
• diabetes
• death

Mevacor & Myopathy

Knowledge of the devastating damage that Mevacor and other statin medications can have on human muscle is nothing new to the pharmaceutical industry. It has been known for at least 12 years that anti-cholesterol drugs impair the synthesis in the human body of the vital Coenzyme q10. This can result in extremely serious side effects, one of which is a severe form of muscle damage known as myopathy. Signs and symptoms of Mevacor-induced myopathy may include:

• muscle weakness
• cramps
• stiffness
• tetany (involuntary contraction of the muscles)

Mevacor & Kidney Damage

The kidneys serve as the body’s natural filtration system, removing waste products and fluids from the bloodstream and excreting them through the urine. The organs maintain the body’s salt and water balance, which is essential for regulating blood pressure. When the kidneys are damaged by prescription medications like Mevacor, they no longer function properly, and lose their ability to remove wastes and fluids from the bloodstream. Fluids and waste products building up in the body can cause a number of serious complications to the respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems. Signs and symptoms of Mevacor-induced kidney damage may include:

• vomiting
• nausea
• weight loss
• nocturnal urination
• more or less frequent urination habits
• itching
• bone damage
• muscle cramps
• abnormal heart rhythms
• muscle paralysis
• swelling of the legs, ankles, feet or hands
• dizziness
• low blood pressure

Mevacor & Rhabdomyolysis

Perhaps the most severe form of kidney damage resulting from the use of Mevacor is rhabdomyolysis, a condition caused by the toxic effects of the contents of the stomach muscle. Since its approval by the FDA, Mevacor has been increasingly linked to rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. Signs and symptoms of rhabdomyolysis may include:

• muscle pain
• tenderness, weakness or swelling of the affected muscles
• low blood pressure
• shock
• nausea
• vomiting
• confusion
• coma
• abnormal heart rate and rhythms