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What Is Simvastatin Used For?

Simvastatin (brand name "Zocor") is used as part of a healthy lifestyle to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol is affected by dietary choices (coming from saturated fats in dairy products, meat, poultry) and heredity. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels are linked to substantially increased risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), heart attacks and strokes. When diet and exercise do not lower your levels enough, your doctor may consider beginning treatment with a medication like simvastatin.

  1. Indications

    • If you've exhausted your non-drug treatment options (diet, exercise) and still have high cholesterol; simvastatin, along with a balanced diet, can assist in lowering blood cholesterol and triglycerides in patients at risk for heart disease or stroke. It works by inhibiting certain enzymes (HMG-CoA) and reduces total cholesterol, lowers LDL, and raises HDL. Diet alone cannot always get your numbers into a safe zone. Family heredity plays a significant factor in cholesterol profiles.

    Usage

    • The medication is administered orally and usually taken once a day, in the evening. Dosages range from 5 to 80mg depending on the individual patient needs. Simvastatin should be taken at the same time each day and should be continued even if you are feeling healthy. High cholesterol/high triglycerides do not usually produce physical symptoms of being sick. Full benefits may not be realized for up to four weeks after beginning the medication.

    Drug Interactions

    • Taking certain medications while on simvastatin could pose a significant risk for a serious interaction. To minimize the potential risk, it's best to avoid the following: erythromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, clarithromycin, cyclosporine, HIV protease inhibitors, Gemfibrozil, danazol, nefazodone, and Itraconazole. Users should also avoid ingesting large quantities of grapefruit juice (more than quart daily). If you are taking certain blood thinners or digoxin, your doctor will need to give you special instructions and monitor you for possibly toxic side effects.

    Side Effects

    • Common side effects include constipation, upper respiratory infection, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, muscle pain, abdominal pain and abnormal liver tests. Some patients also report experiencing hypersensitivity. Some of the more serious side effects include myopathy (muscle pain/tenderness) and rhapdomyolysis (a potentially lethal side effect in which your muscles break down, releasing proteins into the blood stream). Rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney failure and death. It's important to contact your doctor immediately if you experience severe muscle aches, weakness or dark-colored urine.

    Warnings

    • *Be sure to let your doctor know if you have any other conditions like heart, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, alcohol use, or an underactive thyroid.
      *Simvastatin should only be prescribed for women of childbearing age when it is unlikely that the woman will become pregnant.
      *Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid using simvastatin since it could pose a threat to a developing fetus or infant.
      *Using alcohol on a daily basis may increase your chance for side effects.

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