If statins are safe, why was the drug Baycol recalled?
Baycol was recalled by its manufacturer because of 31 deaths related to a dangerous but rare side effect of the drug. The side effect, rhabdomyolysis, is a rare condition where damage to muscles in the body results in release of muscle cell contents into the bloodstream. When this happens, the kidneys and other organs can be damaged, sometimes enough to be fatal. While this muscle damage is a known side effect of all statins, especially when they are taken in conjunction with other drugs called fibrates, it is an extremely rare side effect. It appears that rhabdomyolysis may be more common with Baycol, so it was withdrawn from the market. For most patients, the benefits of statin drugs in reducing the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular events far outweigh the risks of serious side effects.
