Simvastatin is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. Simvastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.
Simvastatin is used to reduce the total amounts of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Simvastatin (Zocor) is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions may reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
Simvastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my doctor before taking simvastatin?
Do not take simvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking simvastatin, tell your doctor if you
have kidney disease,
drink alcoholic beverages,
have a chronic muscular disease, or
have a blood disorder.
You may not be able to take simvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Simvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that simvastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take simvastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether simvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take simvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take simvastatin?
Take simvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
For the greatest effect, simvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with simvastatin and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with simvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To realize beneficial effects from simvastatin, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.
It is important to take simvastatin regularly to get the most benefit.
Do not stop taking simvastatin without first talking to your doctor. Simvastatin may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with simvastatin to monitor progress and side effects.
Store simvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
Symptoms of a simvastatin overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.
What should I avoid while taking simvastatin?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with simvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.
Alcohol and simvastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.
What are the possible side effects of simvastatin?
Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of simvastatin and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.
If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking simvastatin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:
an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or
blurred vision.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take simvastatin and talk to your doctor if you experience
Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What drug(s) may interact with simvastatin?
Do not take Simvastatin with any of the following:
amprenavir
atazanavir
clarithromycin
delavirdine
erythromycin
grapefruit juice
indinavir
itraconazole
ketoconazole
lopinavir; ritonavir
mibefradil
nefazodone
nelfinavir
ritonavir
saquinavir
went yeast
Simvastatin may also interact with the following medications:
medicines to lower cholesterol or triglycerides (examples: fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, niacin)
medicine used to stop early pregnancy (mifepristone, RU-486)
nicardipine
oxcarbazepine
phenytoin
rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine
St. John's Wort
telithromycin
troleandomycin
verapamil
voriconazole
warfarin
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
Toll Free Phone
Can a huge dental abcess harm my unborn baby?
Im 14 weeks pregnant and had a rough pregnancy so far (high risk due to Extrachrionic Haemorrhage and 8 previous miscarriages) and ive been put on antibiotics (Amoxycillin 500mg) and have been on them for about 3 months due to a small abcess (was on the waiting list for a dentist) I have been allocated a dentist and went to see them last week where i got told (as i suspected) that i needed to have a tooth extracted, this should of been done tomorrow, However this morning i woke up this morning with a huge lump on the right hand side of my face (looks like im smuggling golf balls!!) the infection has clearly spread. I have been back to my dentist this morning who have said i need to have my gum slit to release the infection and still have the tooth extracted. Anyways my appointment isn't for another week and i was wondering if this is ok or will the infection spread and harm baby? I know this sounds silly to ask but i dont know if it can
Thanks people - The Amoxycillin has been prescribed by both my Doctor and Dentist. As for a Gynacologist though i dont have one. Am in UK and have a midwife who has said that the tablets are ok to take too
What will happen if i postpone my root canal?
I was experiencing a severe pain in my tooth and went to see a dentist. The dentist recommended me a root canal and gave me some pain killers and Amoxycillin capsules 500mg. But I want to do the root canal in my home town in two months. What are the consequences of postponing the root canal treatment? Thanks.
Sexual desire and cymbalta / anti-depressants?
I recently met up with my long-distance boyfriend; I find him immensely cute and definitely am attracted to him, but found I had zero sexual attraction. I've been extremely confused since it isn't an issue of him being unhealthy or ugly or dirty; I enjoyed cuddling, but things like kissing disgusted me and I was entirely surprised by my own reaction. We made out a few times and each time I felt no reaction at all and just wished he would stop, but felt so bad for him. Could this be a side effect of my anti depressant, cymbalta? I'm really hoping it isn't just him because I want to be with him but have no sexual desire. I know medicines can affect sex drive, but I didn't think to the extent of creating 0 sexual attraction to someone you like a lot and find physically attractive.
Seriously, why should I be proud of this for?
Ok, so I'm one of those less than intelligent people that decided that I would be gung ho and join the Marine Corps right out of high school at age 18. Seriously, why should I be proud of the fact that I served in the Marine Corps. No, I did not receive a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge from the Marine Corps and did indeed serve for my entire enlistment. The problem is the fact that I am ugly and women won't give me the time of day. Now, the reason that my last sentence is important is because of this. That is the fact that I haven't been able to get a job that pays a living wage since leaving the Marine Corps back in 2005. Even though I was an air wing Marine, companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin won't consider me because I don't have a college degree. The only people that will hire me are b.s. minimum wage jobs such as Home Depot and Wally World. Since I am still single because I'm an ugly guy, I can't afford to live on my own on Home Depot pay and have been living as a roommate with my sis because I don't want to be one of those guys holding a "homeless veteran" sign. So now, I am in my sophmore year of college as an "old" 28 y/o, my car is tearing up due to high mileage, and now my sister wants to live on her own so I'm basically up s*it creek now. Also, I can't get back into the military now because I have been diagnosed with depression since leaving the Marine Corps and have to take anti-depressants. I didn't expect to be able to leave the Marine Corps and make six figures a year, but my God, my five years in the Marine Corps aren't even worth $25K/YR out here in the real world. I am no better off in the eyes of civilian employers than a recent high school graduate. I'm sorry, but I feel that my time spent in the Marine Corps was a complete waste of what could have been five good years of my life. I should have smoked some pot while I was in, popped positive on the urinalysis, and gotten out early with a BCD. At least then I could have gotten out early, got my pell grants and loans, would have had a college degree, and would have been working by now.
Where can i find more info on Blue Lotus?
Well as the title says there is a legal drug you can buy called "Blue Lotus" and im looking to research it im wondering the effects and its origin does anyone know any sites that would be helpful? :)
How do i survive this family problem?
well, my half brother who i have always lived with makes the most stupidest mistakes in the world. he drinks and later on he gets stupid likes to yell and everything then he gambles all the money away and when he does he always promises me he wont ever do it again but he still does. when he's sober he's the best person in the world but when he is drinking he isn't the same person. his gambling makes my mom upset and my dad (his stepfather) upset also. were broke cause of him he says he stopped gambling but i know he hasn't he's always on his phone on that stupid gambling site. i can't take it anymore it hurts me to see him continue this way. im scared to confront him about this cause of what he will say. he gets depressed he's on anti depressants(i think) he always goes out to a bar at night when he's off of work and when he comes home he promises me he wont go back but he does 3 DAYS LATER! . has anyone else been through this problem Can someone help me PLease!
