Food and Drug Administration has issued a public notice regarding a rare kind of muscle injury which may result as a combination of two common drugs. FDA officials said that combination of cholesterol drug Simvastatin with anti-arrhythmia medicine Amiodarone can lead to a muscle injury which can result in kidney failure.

Officials added that the medical experts should not prescribe combination of these two medicines. The combination of these two medicines can lead to Rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle injury that can lead to kidney failure and even death in certain cases.

According to reports, 20-milligram doses of Simvastatin (Zocor or Vytorin) along with Amiodarone can lead to Rhabdomyolysis. Simvastatin is an ingredient in Merck & Co's, Zocor and Abbott Laboratories Inc.'s Simcor. Amiodarone is an ingredient in Wyeth's Cordarone. This drug is used to control excessive heart beat. Both the drugs are sold generically.

FDA officials said that medical experts should prescribe statins other than Simvastatin for patients who are taking the heart rhythm drug, Amiodarone in order to control cholesterol levels.

Officials added that despite various warnings, a number of people are suffering from Rhabdomyolysis. Officials said that the patients taking these medicines should keep a constant watch on any kind of unexplained muscle cramps, pain, tenderness, stiffness or spasms. Patients should immediately contact doctor in case of these symptoms.