AHN -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued another notice to healthcare professionals when simvastatin, a common medication for high cholesterol is used in combination with amiodarone, a drug that manages irregular heart beats. 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.
