FDA: Heart drug combo may harm muscles

updated 12:22 p.m. ET Aug. 8, 2008

WASHINGTON - U.S. health officials warned the public on Friday about the risk of a rare type of muscle injury seen when the cholesterol drug simvastatin is combined with the anti-arrhythmia medicine amiodarone.

The Food and Drug Administration said it continued to receive reports of rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle injury that can lead to kidney failure or death, despite a 2002 warning about combining the drugs.

Simvastatin is an ingredient in Merck & Co's Zocor and Abbott Laboratories Inc's Simcor, and is sold generically. It also is one of two components in Merck and Schering-Plough Corp's Vytorin.

Amiodarone is an ingredient in Wyeth's Cordarone and is also sold generically.

Don't miss this on msnbc.com Health Untangling the truth about crazy hair Protecting yourself against quiet cancers Worst nightmare: Babies stolen from their beds Vitamins, family style: What to take when Teen suicides dip, but rate remains high

MORE FROM HEART HEALTH

Heart health Section Front

Study: New heart drug can cut stroke risk Bypass may be better than stents long-term Smoking riskier for women's hearts than men's Fish oil helps patients with chronic heart failure U.S. probes possible Vytorin link to cancer Sleepless nights can hike teens’ blood pressure Best way to a clogged heart? Through the wrist Drugs as good as stents for many heart patients Looking for heart disease? The eyes have it Being skinny is no guarantee of a healthy heart Heart health Section Front   Add Heart health headlines to your news reader: