The Effects of Zocor

Zocor, or simvastatin, is a medication that is used to treat high cholesterol. It works by stopping the formation of cholesterol in the body. It can also be used by people with heart disease. As with any medication, it is important to weigh the rewards of taking it versus the risks.

What is Cholesterol?

• Cholesterol can be literally defined as a fat, or a lipid. Just as there are two main types of cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, and high-density lipoproteins, or HDL), there are two sides to what cholesterol does to the body. Cholesterol is so important that the body manufactures it, regardless of how much people may try to avoid having it in their diet. Cholesterol helps the body create bile to aid in digestion. It assists in forming the outer protective covering of the body's cells. It also helps with the formation of Vitamin D, estrogen and testosterone. However, too much cholesterol can lead to blocked arteries and heart attacks.

LDL and HDL

• LDL is generally thought of as the bad cholesterol, while HDL is considered the good cholesterol. Both of them have important jobs, but there must be a balance. LDL is responsible for taking the cholesterol to whichever part of the body needs it. If there is too much cholesterol in the body, the LDL simply leaves the cholesterol in the arteries, which is where the blockages come from. In a way, HDL works as a maid. It is responsible for picking up the excess cholesterol and taking it to the liver to be turned into bile. In most cases, the body can work out a balancing system on its own. When it cannot, medication may be necessary.

How Zocor Works

• Zocor is an enzyme blocker. In particular, it works to block the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase since that is the enzyme that determines how much cholesterol the body will make. The liver is the organ that is most affected by taking Zocor since that is where the majority of the body's cholesterol is made. Zocor also helps the liver to get rid of LDL, while increasing the amount of HDL. In addition, this helps to keep the arteries clear since there will not be as much LDL available to deposit there.

Side Effects

• The most common side effects of Zocor include headaches, stomach pains, nausea, gas, constipation, diarrhea, rashes, muscle pain and feeling weak. For most people, the side effects are not troubling enough to outweigh the benefits of taking Zocor.

  However, in some cases, Zocor has caused the skeletal muscle tissue to break down, which results in kidney failure. Effects such as dark colored urine, fever or flu symptoms, and muscle pain or tenderness should be reported to a doctor immediately.

Warnings

• A doctor should be consulted to determine if Zocor is safe to take. Women who are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or who are breastfeeding should not take Zocor. People who are diabetic, have kidney disease, any muscle disorder, or an underactive thyroid should not take Zocor unless a doctor has determined that it is safe.