Simvastatin – Oral, Zocor
Medication Uses: Simvastatin is used with a proper diet to lower "bad" cholesterol and fats (LDL, triglycerides) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. It belongs to a group of drugs known as "statins." It works by reducing liver-produced cholesterol, which decreases the risk of heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks. In addition to a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet, other lifestyle changes may help improve the effectiveness of this medication, including exercise, weight loss (if overweight), and quitting smoking. Consult your doctor for more details.
How to Use: Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually once daily in the evening. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and other medications you may be taking. Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use, including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products. Chinese patients taking niacin may require lower doses of simvastatin. Ask your doctor for more details. The usual maximum dose for this medication is 40 milligrams a day. If instructed by your doctor to take more than 40 milligrams, continue with the same dose and discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Do not increase your dose or take this medication more frequently than prescribed. Your condition will not improve faster, and the risk of serious side effects may be increased. Avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice while using this medication unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. Grapefruit can increase the amount of this medication in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Take this medication regularly at the same time each day to receive the most benefits. Continue taking this medication even if you feel well, as most individuals with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not experience symptoms. Follow your doctor’s advice about diet and exercise. It may take up to 4 weeks to experience the full benefits of this drug.
Side Effects: Your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects. Memory problems or confusion may occur in a small number of people taking simvastatin. If these rare effects occur, talk to your doctor. This drug may infrequently cause muscle problems, which can rarely lead to serious conditions such as rhabdomyolysis and autoimmune myopathy. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment and if they persist after your doctor stops this drug: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), change in urine output. This medication may rarely cause liver problems. If you notice rare but serious side effects, such as yellowing of the eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, or persistent nausea/vomiting, contact your doctor immediately. A serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including rash, itching, swelling of the face/tongue/throat, severe dizziness, or difficulty breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you observe other effects not listed here. In the US, call your doctor or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects. In Canada, call your doctor or Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Precautions: Before taking simvastatin, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other issues. Consult your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, disclose your medical history, especially if you have liver or kidney disease, or consume alcohol. Before undergoing surgery, inform your doctor or dentist about all products you use, including prescription, nonprescription, and herbal products. Limit alcohol consumption. Daily alcohol use may increase the risk of liver problems, especially when combined with simvastatin. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Older adults may be more susceptible to the side effects of this drug, particularly muscle problems. Do not use this medication during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. Prevent pregnancy while taking this medication by using reliable methods of birth control. Inform your doctor immediately if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk, and therefore, it is not recommended to breastfeed while using this drug. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions: For more information on drug interactions, refer to the "How to Use" section. This document does not include all possible interactions between medications. Maintain a list of all products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not alter your medicines’ dosage or halt any treatments without your doctor’s authorization. Some products that may interact with simvastatin include blood thinners (such as warfarin), cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil, and certain azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), among others. Do not take any red yeast rice products while taking simvastatin, as they may contain lovastatin, another statin. Combining simvastatin with red yeast rice products can increase the risk of serious muscle and liver problems.
Overdose: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. In the US, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. In Canada, call a provincial poison control center.
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Notes: Do not share this medication with others. Regularly monitor your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels through laboratory and/or medical tests. Consult your doctor for more details. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose. Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Consult your pharmacist for specific storage information. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines out of reach of children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details on safe product disposal. Last revised in February 2014. Copyright(c) 2014 First Databank, Inc.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration:
If you experience negative side effects from prescription drugs, report them to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as authorized by the applicable terms of use.
Conditions of Use: The information in this database is intended to supplement the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals and is not a substitute for their knowledge. The information does not cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects, nor does it indicate that the use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you or anyone else. Consult a healthcare professional before taking any drug, changing your diet, or starting or discontinuing any course of treatment.
