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On August 8, 2008, the FDA published an alert about an increased risk for rhabdomyolysis in patients who are taking more than 20 mg per day of simvastatin and also taking amiodarone. According to the FDA document, the risk increases with the simvastatin dose; however, no specific data are provided, and no data are available about how amiodarone dose might also contribute to the hazard. Although all statins raise the risk for rhabdomyolysis, the amiodarone-related effect is specifically enhanced with simvastatin, which is metabolized by an enzyme (cytochrome P450 3A) that amiodarone inhibits. In May 2002, simvastatin labeling was revised to warn about the elevated risk associated with concomitant use of amiodarone, but the FDA has since cont…