Lack of Benefit for PAH Latest Issue for Zocor Cholesterol Drug

Denver, COA recent study in which researchers determined that neither aspirin nor simvastatin (Zocor) proved effective in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is just the latest issue for the cholesterol drug Zocor.

According to MedPage Today, the study, which examined performance in the six-minute walk test, found no evidence to support the use of Zocor in treating the condition, despite the fact that it has been proven to lower cholesterol.

Dr. Steven Kawut, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, explained that "surprisingly, we found no evidence that aspirin or simvastatin had beneficial clinical effects."

In fact, the results of the study suggested that Zocor may have actually been detrimental to some patients, as the placebo appeared to be more effective during the six-minute walk test, Kawut and his colleagues said.

The new study is the latest issue to pop up for Zocor, which has been linked to side effects such as liver damage and the development of myopathy, according to the US Food and Drug Administration. Such Zocor side effects have been the center of a number of lawsuits over the past few years.

In a March 2010 release, Dr. Eric Colman, deputy director of the FDA's Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products (DMEP), said that patients need to consider the potential risks of Zocor and other similar medications prior to taking them.

"Review of simvastatin is part of an ongoing FDA effort to evaluate the risk of statin-associated muscle injury and to provide that information to the public as it becomes available," he said. "It's important for patients and healthcare professionals to consider all the potential risks and known benefits of any drug before deciding on any one therapy or dose of therapy."

Despite this warning, the medication is still used and an FDA panel recently recommended a new study that would determine the effectiveness of Abbott Laboratories' Trilipix in reducing the risk of heart attack when combined with drugs such as Zocor or Lipitor, according to The Associated Press.

According to WebMD, Zocor, which is used to lower "bad" cholesterol in patients, can also lead to the development of a number of less serious side effects, including allergic reactions, stomach pain and nausea.