Medicines That Increase the Risk for Muscle Pain
While serious muscle problems are more common when
Zocor is first started or when the
Zocor dosage is increased, problems can develop at any time. There are also certain medicines that can increase the risk of serious muscle problems when taken with Zocor. These medicines include:
- Cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, Sandimmune®)
- Danazol (Danacrine®)
- Fibrates (Lopid®, Tricor®, Triglide®, Antara®, Lofibra®, LipofenTM)
- Niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor®, Nicolar®)
- Erythromycin
- Clarithromycin
- Telithromycin
- HIV protease inhibitors
- Nefazodone (Serzone®)
- Amiodarone (Cordarone®)
- Verapamil (Calan®, Calan SR, Verelan®, Verelan PM, Isoptin®, Covera-HS®)
- Antifungals, such as ketoconazole (Nizoral®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), and itraconazole (Sporanox®).
You should also avoid grapefruit juice and grapefruit products (including grapefruit supplements) while taking Zocor.
Zocor and Muscle Pain: Final Thoughts
Muscle pain and aches are a common problem for people taking Zocor, especially during the beginning phases of treatment or when the dosage is increased. Unfortunately, it is impossible for your healthcare provider to know whether you will develop these problems if you have never taken Zocor. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider if muscle pain becomes a problem during treatment. He or she may be able to give you suggestions for dealing with muscle pain. If the pain continues, he or she may recommend adjusting the Zocor dosage or switching to another
cholesterol medication.
You should call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience muscle aches, weakness, pain, or tenderness along with a fever or feeling of sickness. These could indicate a serious problem.
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