simvastatin

Brand name(s):

Zocor

What is the most important information I should know about simvastatin?

In rare cases, simvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine. This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not take simvastatin if you have liver disease or if you are breast-feeding.

Before taking simvastatin, tell your doctor if you have diabetes, underactive thyroid, kidney disease, a muscle disorder, or a blood disorder:

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Simvastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking simvastatin. Alcohol can raise triglyceride levels, and may also damage your liver while you are taking simvastatin.

There are many other drugs that can interact with simvastatin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What is simvastatin?

Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Simvastatin reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent heart disease and hardening of the arteries, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Simvastatin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking simvastatin?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to simvastatin, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.

Before taking simvastatin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

diabetes;
underactive thyroid;
kidney disease; or
a muscle disorder.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take simvastatin.

FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use simvastatin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. It is not known whether simvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take simvastatin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Simvastatin is not for use in children younger than 10 years of age.

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