Simvastatin Side Effects

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and a general feeling of weakness are a few of the common side effects of Simvastatin. Some rare Simvastatin side effects include joint pain, memory loss, and muscle cramps. It is important to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects of Simvastatin, as well as anything that "just does not seem right."

Simvastatin Tablets

Simvastatin Side Effects: An Introduction

As with any medicine, there are possible side effects with Simvastatin tablets. Yet not everyone who takes Simvastatin will have Simvastatin side effects. In fact, most people tolerate Simvastatin well. When Simvastatin side effects do develop, they are typically minor, meaning they either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. In previous research studies, up to 1.4 percent of people taking Simvastatin stopped their medicine because of side effects.

If while taking Simvastatin you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness (especially if it is accompanied by a fever or feeling of illness), it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

(The Simvastatin side effects discussed below are not a complete list of side effects reported with Simvastatin. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Simvastatin side effects with you.)

Common Simvastatin Side Effects

Simvastatin has been studied extensively in clinical trials, with over 21,000 people having been evaluated.

In these studies, side effects are always documented. Based on these studies, common Simvastatin side effects (occurring in more than 1 percent of people) include:

Headache (3.5 percent of people)
Abdominal pain (3.2 percent of people)
A general feeling of weakness, known medically as asthenia (1.6 percent of people)
Constipation (2.3 percent of people)
Diarrhea (1.9 percent of people)
Indigestion, known medically as dyspepsia (1.1 percent of people)
Flatulence (1.9 percent of people)
Nausea (1.3 percent of people)
Upper respiratory infections (2.1 percent of people)
Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia (1.2 percent of people) -- (see Zocor and Muscle Pain).

(Simvastatin Side Effects Continued: Page 2)