Vytorin Lawsuits for Rhabdomyolysis, Heart Attack, and Stroke
Last Updated on June 26, 2017
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At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Vytorin users who have developed rhabdomyolysis, cancer, or liver disease, or who have suffered a heart attack or stroke.
- Damages
- Reportedly, users taking this drug have an increased risk of developing rhabdomyolysis and liver disease. The drug also reportedly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer.
- Company(ies)
- Merck
- Additional Details
- Vytorin users who have developed rhabdomyolysis, cancer, or liver disease, or who have suffered a heart attack or stroke.
- Date
- Although the drug has reportedly been linked to increased health risks, a Vytorin recall has not yet been issued.
Vytorin is a drug manufactured by Merck intended to lower cholesterol. The drug is a combination of Merck’s Zocor and Zetia. Zocor is a statin designed to block the production of cholesterol in the liver. Zetia is a cholesterol inhibitor that blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive track. The FDA approved Vytorin in 2004 to treat high cholesterol.
Zocor had been a huge blockbuster for Merck, with $4.3 billion in sales for Merck in 2005. Many in the financial press speculated that Vytorin was intended by Merck to preserve Zocor’s revenue stream because Zocor’s patent was scheduled to expire in 2006.
Vytorin May Be Ineffective
In January of 2008, Merck released a study suggesting that Vytorin was no more effective at treating cholesterol than Zocor. The results of this study, known as the ENHANCE study, were originally expected to be released in 2006, but Merck claimed it was unable to release the study because of problems with the data. Faced with allegations that Merck tried to bury the results of the study and delay its release date so as to not affect Vytorin sales, Merck settled shareholder lawsuits for approximately $688 million in 2012.
Vytorin May Cause Rhabdomyolysis, Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Other Disorders
Not only is the drug apparently no more effective than the less-costly generic version of Zocor, but it also may cause serious harm. Studies have shown that Vytorin may increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, cancer, and liver disease. Vytorin may also cause rhabdomyolysis, a condition associated with atrophying skeletal muscle tissue. The risks of Vytorin causing serious muscle problems are reportedly increased when the drug is taken in combination with certain other prescription pharmaceuticals.
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