Question

A patient has been taking simvastatin (Zocor), 40 mg, two times per day for the past 2 weeks. He returns to the clinic with complaints of muscle pain and tenderness. Which of the following should the nurse practitioner do?

a. Tell the patient that it is normal to have these side effects when taking a new medication and they should resolve within 4 weeks.
b. Prescribe 600 mg/day of ibuprofen to improve pain.
c. Prescribe physical therapy for 4 weeks.
d. Send the patient to the emergency room for immediate evaluation.

Answer 1

Muscle pain and tenderness in a patient taking simvastatin (Zocor) should be taken seriously. Immediate medical evaluation is necessary to rule out serious conditions like myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. NSAIDs and physical therapy are not the first line of action without proper assessment.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient taking simvastatin (Zocor), 40 mg, two times per day is experiencing muscle pain and tenderness, it is important for the nurse practitioner to take these complaints seriously rather than dismissing them as normal side effects. While non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain, they are not advisable immediately after the injury due to their interference with blood clotting. It is also not recommended to prescribe physical therapy without first evaluating the cause of the muscle pain.

In the context of simvastatin use, muscle pain can be a sign of a potentially serious side effect such as myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. The appropriate action would be to send the patient for immediate medical evaluation to rule out these serious conditions. If the medication is causing the muscle pain, a dosage adjustment or a change in medication may be necessary.