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The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) todayannounced new limitations to the use of high-dose simvastatin, dueto the increased risk of muscle pain and weakness (myopathy) and inrare cases, kidney damage and failure. The American Heart Association recommends that all physicians andpatients follow the FDA's recommendations regarding high-dosesimvastatin. Simvastatin is prescribed, along with a healthy diet and exerciseto lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") in the blood, and to decrease the risk of heart attack , stroke , and cardiovascular death. It is used in doses ranging from 10 mgto 80 mg. per day. The changes are based on the FDA's recent review of the SEARCHtrial, a seven-year, randomized double-blind clinical trialcomparing patients with a previous heart attack taking 80 mg ofsimvastatin daily vs. 20 mg. daily. The trial found that theincidence of major vascular events was 25.7 percent for thosetaking 20 mg vs. 24.5 percent taking 80 mg. Approximately 52patients in the study taking the 80 mg. dose experienced myopathy.About 60 percent of those experiencing myopathy had a geneticdifference making it more likely. A rare but serious form of myopathy, called rhabdomyolysis, candamage the kidneys and lead to potentially fatal kidney failure. The American Heart Association supports the FDA recommendationsfor: - Patients who have taken the 80 mg. dose of simvastatin for a yearor more without myopathy to remain on their current dose, unlessrecommended otherwise by their healthcare provider. - Patients with any symptoms of muscle pain or weakness, dark orred urine, or unexplained tiredness to contact their healthcare provider immediately. - Patients taking 80 mg. of simvastatin for less than a year totalk to their provider about changing their dose, and not todiscontinue their dose on their own. - Healthcare providers not to write new prescriptions for 80 mg.simvastatin or increase patients' dosage to 80 mg. - Providers to reduce the dosage or try an alternative drug tolower LDL cholesterol for patients taking 80 mg. simvastatin dailyfor less than a year. According to the FDA, in 2010, 2.1 million Americans were takingthe 80 mg. dose of simvastatin. Source: American Heart Association Additional References Citations. I am an expert from polysolarpanel.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Decorative Solar Light Manufacturer , Poly Solar Panels, Portable Solar Panel Chargers,and more.
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