Information about Simvastatin (Generic Zocor) :


Simvastatin (Zocor) is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor that is used for reducing the total amounts of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Simvastatin blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body and increases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. It helps to reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Simvastatin may be also administered to treat other conditions as determined by your physician.

Before taking Simvastatin you should tell your doctor: if you have kidney or liver disease; if you drink alcoholic beverages; if you have a chronic muscular disease, or have a blood disorder.

In such cases you may not be able to use Simvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

Simvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. It may cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. It is not allowed to take Simvastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

It is not clear whether Simvastatin passes into breast milk. You should consult with your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How to use Simvastatin:
Simvastatin is taken once a day at the same time (at bedtime or with an evening meal) with or without food. Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water.

In some cases it may be necessary to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Simvastatin and every six months after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

Try not to eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice at the same time you take Simvastatin. It may increase the risk of possible side effects. You should consult with your doctor before including grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet.

You should keep to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Try to avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

Try not to miss any dose and take it according to regular scheduler.

Do not give up taking Simvastatin even if you feel well. It may need to be taken on a long-term basis for the complete treatment.

Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with Simvastatin to monitor progress and side effects.

Simvastatin should be kept at indoor temperature away from moisture and heat.

In case you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next intake, skip the missed dose and take it according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take double doses at once.

Seek emergency in case of overdose suspicion. Signs of a Simvastatin overdose are nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

Drinking alcohol daily or in large amounts may increase the risk of liver problems while taking Simvastatin. Consult with your doctor before drinking alcohol.

Possible side effects of Simvastatin:
Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems are likely to occur. You should consult with your doctor if you have any of side effects especially bothersome listed below: unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools.

Seek emergency in case you have any of these severe side effects: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or blurred vision.

Other, less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Do not stop taking Simvastatin and consult with your doctor in case you have gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea; cough; headache; or insomnia.

You may also have other side effects not listed here. Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

You should not take Simvastatin with any of the following: amprenavir; atazanavir; clarithromycin; delavirdine; erythromycin; grapefruit juice; indinavir; itraconazole; ketoconazole; lopinavir; ritonavir; mibefradil; nefazodone; nelfinavir; ritonavir; saquinavir; went yeast;

Simvastatin may also have interactions with the following medications: alcohol, amiodarone, barbiturates (examples: phenobarbital, butalbital, primidone), bosentan, carbamazepine, cyclosporine, danazol, digoxin, diltiazem, efavirenz, fluconazole, medicines to lower cholesterol or triglycerides (examples: fenofibrate, gemfibrozil, niacin), medicine used to stop early pregnancy (mifepristone, RU-486), nicardipine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, rifampin, rifabutin, or rifapentine, St. John's Wort, telithromycin, troleandomycin, verapamil, voriconazole, warfarin.

What is the expiration date of the pills?
This information is mentioned on each blister. The expiration date is 2 years from the date of manufacture. It may be different for various batches.