Zocor (Simvastatin)

General information

Zocor belongs to the group of medications known as HMG CoA reductase inhibitors ('statins'). It is used in addition to diet and exercise to lower cholesterol levels. It is also used to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death regardless of whether cholesterol levels are high or not for people who have coronary heart disease (CHD) or have other arteries in the body that are blocked, or for those who have diabetes and are over the age of 40. It works by blocking an enzyme that helps create cholesterol in the body. It lowers the level of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein and raises high density lipoprotein.

Directions

Take Zocor exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The starting dose of this medication depends on your medical conditions and other medications you are taking, and can range from 5 mg to 40 mg taken once daily in the evening. The maximum recommended daily dose is 80 mg, which may be required for some people who are unable to achieve a desired cholesterol level using lower doses. The recommended starting dose for children (ages 10 to 17) with high cholesterol is 10 mg once a day. The maximum dose is 40 mg. For best results in lowering your cholesterol, it is very important that you closely follow the diet. This medication should be taken in the evening, and may be taken with or without food.

Precautions

Before taking Zocor you should talk with your doctor if you have heart disease, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), heart attack or stroke, hypothyroidism, seizures, any allergies. Drinking more than 1 litre daily of grapefruit juice should be avoided while taking this medication as it can increase the amount of simvastatin in the blood and increase the risk of serious side effects. Avoid drinking alcohol as it can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. If you are 65 years of age or older, you may experience more side effects. It is not recommended in children under 10 years of age.

Contraindications

You should not take Zocor if you are allergic to simvastatin or to any of the ingredients of the medication, breastfeeding, pregnant or plans to become pregnant, if you have active liver disease or unexplained increases in liver function tests.

Possible side effect

Get emergency medical help if you have abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, headache, nausea, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, depression, memory loss, skin rash, yellow skin or eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting, muscle pain (myalgia), weakness, numbness, skin rash, swelling of the face or throat, hives, difficulty breathing, dyspepsia, muscle cramps, depression, insomnia, eczema, impotence. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor.

Drug interactions

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially: antifungals (itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole), blood thinners (warfarin), niacin, danazol, cyclosporine, amlodipine, erythromycin, protease inhibitors (saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, atazanavir, tipranavir), amiodarone, digoxin, verapamil, fenofibric acid, colchicine. Interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Tell your doctor about all prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medications you are taking.

Missed dose

Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose if it is time for your next scheduled dose. Don't take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Overdose

The overdose symptoms are unknown. If you think you have overdosed the medicine seek emergency medical help at once.

Storage

Store the medicine at room temperature between 59-77 degrees F (15-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Keep all drugs away from reach of children and pets.

Note

The information presented at the site has a general character. Note please this information cannot be used for self-treatment and self diagnosis. You should consult with your doctor or health care adviser regarding any specific instructions of your condition. The information is reliable, but we concede it could contain mistakes. We are not responsible for any direct, indirect, special or other damage caused by use of this information on the site and also for consequences of self-treatment.