Simvastatin Side Effects
Simvastatin has been shown to cause common side effects such as:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- headache
- constipation
- abdominal pain
- muscle pain
- abnormal liver tests
Simvastatin has also been shown to cause the following serious side effects:
- fever
- flushing
- hives
- muscle pain or weakness
- dark red urine
- decreased urination
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- jaundice
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- joint pain
- sensitivity to light
If any of these symptoms are serious or persist, contact your doctor immediately.
Warnings & Recalls for Simvastatin
Simvastatin can cause inflammation of the muscles, which can lead to a serious condition known as
rhabdomyolysis, which can cause kidney failure and, in rare cases, death.
Patients who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding should not take Simvastatin as it can affect an unborn child and be passed through breast milk.
Consult your doctor if any of the following apply to you, as these can be factors in how Simvastatin affects you:
- liver disease
- kidney disease
- diabetes
- thyroid disorder
- drink large amounts of alcohol
- are of Asian descent, specifically Chinese
- 65 years of age or older
- having surgery, especially dental surgery
Certain drugs can interact with Simvastatin an cause an increased risk for serious muscle problems. Do not use any of the drugs listed below with Simvastatin:
- danazol
- cyclosporine
- nefazadone
- gemfibrozil
- clarithromycin
- erythromycin
- telithromycin
- itraconazole
- ketoconazole
- posaconazole
- atazanavir
- darunavir
- fosamprenavir
- nelfinavir
- ritonavir
- saquinavir
- tipranavir
Patients should avoid drinking large quantities of water or grapefruit juice, and should follow a low-cholesterol, low fat diet diet while taking Simvastatin.
Simvastatin Treatment and Use
Simvastatin is a generic HMG CoA inhibitor medication, or statin, that is manufactured as a brand name medication known as Zocor. Simvastatin works to reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides by blocking HMG CoA enzymes that are found in the liver.
Simvastatin is used to reduce cholesterol in patients who suffer from the following conditions:
By assisting patients with these conditions, Simvastatin is able to reduce the risks of conditions such as:
Simvastatin is manufactured as an oral tablet in doses ranging from 5 mg to 80 mg, and is taken once daily in the evening, with or without food.
Other Names for Simvastatin
Brand Name:
Generic:
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Simvastatin
