Simvastatin is the generic name for the drug. It is sold under brand names Zocor, generic Zocor, or Vytorin and should be cautiously given to patients who are also taking amiodarone, a heart rhythm drug marketed as Cordarone or Pacerone.
The combination of two medications can cause rhabdomyolysis or severe muscle damage that can lead to kidney failure or death because of a problem in the way the drugs interact.
Risks of muscle injury associated with simvastatin have been listed on the drug's label since 2002. Physicians should avoid prescribing doses of simvastatin greater than 20 mg a day in patients taking amiodarone, the government said.
The FDA said anyone taking simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, who experiences cramps, pain, tenderness, stiffness or spasm in their muscles should contact their doctors immediately.
