Zocor

Do not take Zocor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Special warnings about Zocor

Because Zocor may damage the liver, your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver enzyme levels before you start taking the drug. Blood tests will probably be done before your treatment is started and at periodic intervals for a year after your final dosage increase. If your liver enzyme levels rise too high, your doctor may tell you to stop taking Zocor.

Since Zocor may cause damage to muscle tissue, be sure to tell your doctor of any unexplained muscle tenderness, weakness, or pain right away, especially if you also have a fever or feel sick. Your doctor may want to do a blood test to check for signs of muscle damage.

If you are scheduled for major surgery, your doctor will have you stop taking Zocor a few days before the operation.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Zocor

Zocor tends to enhance the effects of the blood-thinning drug Coumadin and the heart medication Lanoxin. Combining it with the following drugs increases the chance of muscle damage:

Amiodarone (Cordarone)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Clofibrate (Atromid-S)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Erythromycin (PCE and others)
Fenofibrate (Tricor)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Nefazodone (Serzone)
Nicotinic acid or niacin (Niaspan)
Protease inhibitors (used in the treatment of HIV), including Agenerase, Crixivan, Fortovase, Invirase, Norvir, and Viracept
Verapamil (Calan)

If you are taking Zocor with any of these drugs (or with large quantities of grapefruit juice) alert your doctor immediately at the first sign of muscle pain or weakness. If you need to take erythromycin, Biaxin, Nizoral, or Sporanox, the doctor may temporarily take you off Zocor.

Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding

You must not become pregnant while taking Zocor. This drug lowers cholesterol, and cholesterol is needed for a baby to develop properly. If you do become pregnant while taking Zocor, notify your doctor right away. Based on studies of other cholesterol-lowering drugs, it is assumed that Zocor could appear in breast milk and could cause severe adverse effects in a nursing baby. Do not take Zocor while breastfeeding your baby.