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Simvastatin 40 mg Tablets
Simvastatin (Zocor®) is a prescription medicine approved for treating high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It can also be used to prevent cardiovascular disease.
The drug comes in tablet form and is available in five different strengths, including:
- 5 mg tablets
- 10 mg tablets
- 20 mg tablets
- 40 mg tablets
- 80 mg tablets.
Most people with high cholesterol typically begin treatment with the 20 mg or 40 mg simvastatin tablets (one tablet, once daily). If your cholesterol goals have not been reached after several weeks, your healthcare provider may increase your dose as needed, but not more than 40 mg a day. The 80-mg dosage carries a higher risk for serious side effects and is reserved only for people who have already been taking 80 mg daily for more than a year without any evidence of muscle problems.
The recommended starting dosage for children ages 10 to 17 is simvastatin 10 mg once a day. If needed, your child's healthcare provider can increase this dosage up to a maximum of 40 mg daily.
(Click Dosing With Simvastatin for more detailed dosing guidelines for this medication and to find out what factors your healthcare provider will consider before making a dosage recommendation.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD