Simvastatin

Simvastatin Tablets

What Is Simvastatin?

Simvastatin is a prescription medicine used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease, including high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It is sold under the brand name Zocor^®. It is also available as a generic, which is sold under the name Simvastatin tablets.

Are There Side Effects?

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with simvastatin.

However, not everyone who takes it will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate the drug well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Even if side effects do develop, most people do not need to stop taking the medicine. In previous research studies, up to 1.4 percent of people stopped taking simvastatin because of side effects.

The most common side effects thought to be related to the medicine were:

Headache
Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
Constipation
Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia (see Zocor and Muscle Pain).

Rare side effects, occurring in less than 1 percent of people, include but are not limited to:

Muscle aches (see Zocor and Muscle Aches)
Serious breakdown of muscle (known as rhabdomyolysis)
Joint pain (see Zocor and Joint Pain)
Memory loss (see Zocor and Memory Loss)
Depression (see Zocor Side Effect-Depression)
Increased liver enzymes (see Zocor and Liver Problems).

Weight gain is not a known side effect of the drug (see Zocor and Weight Gain).

Keep in mind that if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, (especially if you also have a fever or feel ill), it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately. This could be a sign of a serious, life-threatening muscle problem.

(Click Simvastatin Side Effects to learn more, including additional serious side effects you should report to your healthcare provider.)

What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking simvastatin if you have:

Heart disease
Liver disease or liver failure
Kidney disease or kidney failure
Diabetes
A family history of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
A history of a heart attack or stroke
Hypothyroidism
Seizures
Any allergies.

Let your healthcare provider know if you:

Are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant (see Zocor and Pregnancy)
Are breastfeeding
Will be undergoing a procedure or surgery
Drink alcohol frequently.

Also, tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you are already taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

(Click Precautions and Warnings of Simvastatin to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)

What Is Simvastatin Used For?

Simvastatin has been licensed for several uses, including:

Treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
Treatment of high triglycerides (the most common form of fat in the body)
Prevention of heart or blood vessel disease (known as cardiovascular disease).

The medication has also been approved for use in children ages 10 to 17 for the treatment of high cholesterol.

How Does Simvastatin Work?

Simvastatin is part of a class of drugs called statins. The medication works by blocking a particular enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. Simvastatin also:

Increases the liver's ability to collect and get rid of LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol")
Increases HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol")
Decreases triglycerides.

Clinical Effects

In previous research studies, people taking simvastatin 20 mg were able to, on average:

Decrease LDL cholesterol by 38 percent, total cholesterol by 28 percent, and triglycerides by 19 percent
Increase HDL by 8 percent.

The effects were even greater with simvastatin 40 mg and simvastatin 80 mg.

When and How to Take Simvastatin

Some general considerations for when and how to take simvastatin include the following:

The medication comes in a tablet form that is taken once a day. You should take your dose with a glass of water. You may take it with or without food.
Simvastatin should be taken in the evening.
For simvastatin to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. The medication will not work if you stop taking it.

Dietary Instructions

You should not drink grapefruit juice while taking simvastatin, because it can increase the levels of the medication in the blood -- which increases the risk of developing serious muscle problems. If you are being treated with simvastatin and want to continue drinking grapefruit juice, talk with your healthcare provider about other cholesterol-lowering medications you can take.

(Click Grapefruit Juice and Zocor for more information.)

As with any cholesterol medication, you should continue to eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet as part of your cholesterol-lowering treatment program.

Dosing Information

The dose of simvastatin your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:

Your age
The medical condition being treated
Other medical conditions you may have
Other medications you may be taking.

As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.

(Click Dosing With Simvastatin for more information.)

Drug Interactions

Simvastatin can potentially interact with a number of medications (see Drug Interactions With Simvastatin for more information).

Alternatives to Simvastatin

In general, cholesterol treatment begins with lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, exercise, and diet). If lifestyle changes alone do not lower cholesterol to a desirable level, medication may be necessary.

The main goal of high cholesterol medication is to lower LDL cholesterol levels enough to reduce your risk of developing associated problems, such as heart disease or a heart attack (see Effects of High Cholesterol). The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal will be.

(Click High Cholesterol Risk to see what your risk is and find out your ideal LDL cholesterol level.)

Because simvastatin can lower LDL cholesterol (along with lowering total cholesterol and increasing HDL), a person can lower his or her risk of developing problems by taking it.

For most people, the medication is quite effective at lowering cholesterol. It is also generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur, and people may wish to consider a substitute. These substitutes could include other statins or other cholesterol medicines.

(Click Substitute for Zocor to learn more.)

What If I Take an Overdose?

If you happen to take too much simvastatin, seek immediate medical attention.

How Should Simvastatin Be Stored?

Simvastatin should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children.

What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?

If you do not take your simvastatin as scheduled, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never take a double dose.

Who Makes Simvastatin?

Simvastatin 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg tablets are manufactured by IVAX Pharmaceuticals, while simvastatin 80 mg tablets is made by Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals.

Available Strengths

Several strengths of simvastatin are available. These include:

Simvastatin 5 mg
Simvastatin 10 mg
Simvastatin 20 mg
Simvastatin 40 mg
Simvastatin 80 mg.