A trustworthy doctor or pharmacist can protect us from unknowingly inflicting a lot of damage on our bodies. It’s all too easy to take our daily medications for granted and forget that we are ingesting a batch of ingredients that could harm us as much as help us if taken improperly. Zocor (generically known as simvastin) is one of the drugs with potentially fatal consequences, especially when taken with antifungal medication.
_.jpeg "Zocor")
Image Source: Drug3K.com
What Is Zocor?
Zocor (simvastatin) is a cholesterol-lowering drug in the statin class that gained FDA approval in December of 1991. Similar drugs include popular TV drugs Crestor and Lipitor. Statins work to reduce cholesterol by inhibiting a liver enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that typically produces bad cholesterol. Lowering bad cholesterol in the body can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and slow the progression of the disease for people who already have it.
What Drugs Does Zocor Interact With?
One should NEVER take Zocor with:
- Cyclosporine (immunosuppressant, psoriasis treatment)
- Itraconazole (antifungal) – Sporonox, Onmel
- Ketoconazole (antifungal) - Nizoral, Xolegel, Extina
- HIV protease inhibitors (HIV/AIDS treatment)
- Nefazodone (antidepressant)
- Grapefruit juice
Image Source: Good-Legal-Advice.com
How Does Zocor Interact With Antifungals?
Patients who take Zocor with antifungal medication are at an increased risk of developing a condition called “rhabdomyolysis,” a severe form of muscle breakdown that can lead to red urine, kidney failure and even death. Patients who are in their first year of taking a high dose of the medication (80 mg/day) are most at risk for adverse side effects, according to FDA warnings.
Image Source: CMapsPublic3.ihmc.us
What Can People On Zocor Use For Foot Fungus Treatment?
The dangerous toxicity of Zocor and antifungals like itraconazole and ketoconazole doesn’t mean that people must suffer with toenail fungus or athlete’s foot. There are many alternative therapies to consider.
Instead of intraconazole, a doctor may prescribe a terbinafine drug like Lamisil, which has no known interactions with Zocor. People who are not good candidates for oral medication can also try laser treatment for fungal nails. Instead of ketoconazole, a doctor can recommend a tolnaftate drug or a number of other medications used to treat athlete’s foot.
Since foot fungus ailments tend to come back easily if the foot is exposed to fungus again, podiatrists often recommend that you sanitize your footwear with the SteriShoe UV shoe sanitizer — the only clinically proven germicidal UV lamp for shoes. A 45-minute cycle kills up to 99.9% of harmful microbes in the shoes, providing more protection against the spores that cause re-infection. Please contact us if you have any further questions about UV shoe sanitizers.
The post Zocor Linked To Deadly Muscle Degeneration When Taken With Antifungals appeared first on SteriShoe Blog.