Simvastatin

Brand Names

Simvastatin, Zocor

What is Simvastatin

Simvastatin is a prescription medication that related to a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors. It is beneficial for treating different conditions linked to heart disease such as high cholesterol and high triglycerides. Simvastatin works by reducing levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein or HDL).

There are 2 forms of Simvastatin: Zocor and Simvastatin tablets.

Side effects of Simvastatin

The most common side effects of Simvastatin:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• A general feeling of weakness, known medically as asthenia
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Indigestion, known medically as dyspepsia
• Flatulence
• Nausea
• Upper respiratory infections
• Muscle pain, known medically as myalgia

Indication

Simvastatin is used to treat the following conditions:

• high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
• high triglycerides
• heart or blood vessel disease (known as cardiovascular disease)

Precautions

You should inform your doctor before taking it 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
• Seizures
• Hypothyroidism

It is also not recommended to take Simvastatin if you:

• Are of Chinese descent
• Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Will be undergoing a procedure or surgery
• Drink alcohol frequently
• Have any allergies

Dosage forms

Adult dose for Hyperlipidemia

Initial dose: 10 -20 mg orally once a day in the evening.

Maintenance dose: 5-40 mg orally once a day in the evening.

For people who have a great risk of a CHD event due to existing CHD, diabetes, peripheral vessel disease, history of stroke or other cerebrovascular disease, the recommended starting dose is 40 mg orally once a day.

Adult dose for Cardiovascular risk reduction

Initial dose: 10 -20 mg orally once a day in the evening.

Maintenance dose: 5-40 mg orally once a day in the evening.

For people who have a great risk of a CHD event due to existing CHD, diabetes, peripheral vessel disease, history of stroke or other cerebrovascular disease, the recommended starting dose is 40 mg orally once a day.

Adult dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Adolescents 10-17 years: 10 mg once daily in the evening. Your doctor may increase your dose in intervals of 4 weeks or more to a maximum of 40 mg/day

Children less than 10 years: 5 mg once daily in the evening increasing to 10 mg once daily after 4 weeks and to 20 mg once daily after 8 weeks as tolerated.

Children greater than or equal to 10 years: 10 mg once daily in the evening increasing to 20 mg once daily after 6 weeks and to 40 mg once daily after 12 weeks as tolerated.

it is very important to know that a lower dose may be necessary in people exposed to myopathy including patients of Chinese descent or those concurrently receiving other lipid-lowering medicines (e.g., niacin, fibric acid derivatives), amiodarone, amlodipine, ranolazine or verapamil.

Pediatric dose for Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

10-17 years: Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day in the evening.

Maintenance dose: 10 to 40 mg/day (the maximum recommended dose is 40 mg/day). Your doctor may increase your dose at intervals of 4 weeks or more.