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Simvastatin
Simvastatin is licensed to treat conditions related to heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. It is also used to prevent cardiovascular disease. It works by blocking an enzyme that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. You should not drink grapefruit juice while taking this drug, as doing so can increase your risk of developing serious muscle problems.
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.
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.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD