Simvastatin

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (sim' va stat in)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Simvastatin is used together with diet, weight-loss, and exercise to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke and to decrease the chance that heart surgery will be needed in people who have heart disease or who are at risk of developing heart disease. Simvastatin is also used to decrease the amount of fatty substances such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (''bad cholesterol'') and triglycerides in the blood and to increase the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (''good cholesterol'') in the blood. Simvastatin may also be used to decrease the amount of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the blood in children and teenagers 10 to 17 years of age who have familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally). Simvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats with simvastatin has been shown to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.


How should this medicine be used?

Simvastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day in the evening. Take simvastatin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take simvastatin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor may start you on a low dose of simvastatin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 4 weeks.

Continue to take simvastatin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking simvastatin without talking to your doctor.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking simvastatin,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to simvastatin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in simvastatin tablets. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor if you are taking antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil) and voriconazole (Vfend); boceprevir (Victrelis); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); cobicistat-containing medications (Stribild); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); danazol; erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); gemfibrozil (Lopid); HIV protease inhibitors such as atazanavir (Reyataz), darunavir (Prezista), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and tipranavir (Aptivus); nefazodone; telaprevir (Incivek); and telithromycin (Ketek). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take simvastatin if you are taking these medications.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); amlodipine (Norvasc, in Caduet, in Lotrel); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); colchicine (Colcrys); digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxicaps, Lanoxin); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); dronedarone (Multaq); other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fenofibrate (Tricor), lomitapide (Juxtapid), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan); ranolazine (Ranexa); and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). . Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Other medications may also interact with simvastatin, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
  • tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will order blood tests to see how well your liver is working even if you do not think you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take simvastatin if you have liver disease or if the tests show that you may be developing liver disease.
  • tell your doctor if you drink more than two alcoholic beverages per day, if you are 65 years of age or older, or if you are Asian, especially if you are Chinese. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an underactive thyroid gland, diabetes, seizures, muscle aches or weakness, low blood pressure, or kidney disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant during your treatment with simvastatin. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking simvastatin, stop taking simvastatin and call your doctor immediately. Simvastatin can harm the fetus.
  • tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while you are taking simvastatin.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking simvastatin. If you are hospitalized due to serious injury or infection, tell the doctor who treats you that you are taking simvastatin.
  • ask your doctor about the safe use of alcoholic beverages while you are taking simvastatin. Alcohol can increase the risk of serious side effects.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Simvastatin may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
  • constipation
  • stomach pain
  • nausea
  • headache
  • memory loss or forgetfulness
  • confusion
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical help.
  • muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
  • dark red urine
  • decreased urination
  • lack of energy, tiredness, or weakness
  • loss of appetite
  • pain in the upper right part of the stomach
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • dark colored urine
  • fever or chills
  • flushing
  • blisters
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • hoarseness
  • joint pain
  • sensitivity to light

This medication may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Drugs Used in Diabetes
  • HMG CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Lipid Modifying Agents, Plain
  • Lipid Modifying Agents
  • Blood Glucose Lowering Drugs, Excl. Insulins
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19 Inducers
  • Combined Inhibitors of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C8 Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450
Prescribed For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and for the reduction in the risk of cardiac heart disease mortality and cardiovascular events. It can al...
Weight :418.5662
Structure Simvastatin
Generic Drug Simvastatin prescribed For the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and for the reduction in the risk of cardiac heart disease mortality and cardiovascular events. It can al...
Formula

C25H38O5

Simvastatin has 66 Brands listed


Alvastin (10 mg)Biosim (10 mg)
Biosim (20 mg)Biosim (5 mg)
G Sim (10 mg)G Sim (20 mg)
Satin (10 mg)Satin (20 mg)
Sim (10 mg)Sim (20 mg)
Sim (5 mg)Simaid (10 mg)
Simbest (10 mg)Simcard (10 mg)
Simcard (20 mg)Simcard (5 mg)
Simchol (10 mg)Simchol (20 mg)
Simchol (5 mg)Simi (10 mg)
Simlip FC (10 mg)Simlip FC (20 mg)
Simlo (10 mg)Simlo (20 mg)
Simlo (5 mg)Simlup (10 mg)
Simstat (10 mg)Simstat (20 mg)
Simstat (5 mg)Simvas (10 mg)
Simvas (20 mg)Simvas (5 mg)
Simvastol (10 mg)Simvastol (20 mg)
Simvastol (5 mg)Simvax (10 mg)
Simvax (20 mg)Simvin (10 mg)
Simvin (20 mg)Simvin (5 mg)
Simvo (10 mg)Simvo (5 mg)
Simvofix (10 mg)Simvofix (20 mg)
Simvofix (40 mg)Simvotin (10 mg)
Simvotin (20 mg)Simvotin (5 mg)
Sin (10 mg)Sin (20 mg)
Sin (5 mg)Starstat (10 mg)
Starstat (20 mg)Starstat (5 mg)
Stisit (10 mg)SVT (10 mg)
SVT (20 mg)SVT (5 mg)
Vastatin (10 mg)Vastatin (20 mg)
Zocor (20 mg)Zocor (40 mg)
Zosta (10 mg)Zosta (20 mg)
Zosta (40 mg)Zosta (5 mg)

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