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(G72.0) Drug-induced myopathy

Glucocorticoid myopathy is caused by this class of steroids increasing the breakdown of the muscle proteins leading to muscle atrophy.

(G72.1) Alcoholic myopathy

(G72.2) Myopathy due to other toxic agents

The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that physicians restrict prescribing high-dose Simvastatin (Zocor, Merck) to patients, given an increased risk of muscle damage. The FDA drug safety communication stated that physicians should limit using the 80-mg dose unless the

patient has already been taking the drug for 12 months and there is no evidence of myopathy. “Simvastatin 80 mg should not be started in new patients, including patients already taking lower doses of the drug,” the agency states.