Simvastatin

Conditions Treated

Simvastatin is used together with lifestyle changes (diet, weight-loss, exercise) to reduce 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 10-17 years of age who have familial heterozygous hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally). Simvastatin is also used to decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and death, and to decrease the need for surgery to improve blood flow in people who have medical conditions that put them at high risk of developing heart and blood vessel problems. Simvastatin is in a class of medications called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). It works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body so that the cholesterol cannot buildup on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Possible Side Effects

What Side Effects Can This Cause?

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

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately. If you experience any of the first 3 symptoms on this list, do not take any more simvastatin without talking to your doctor:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• dark red urine
• lack of energy, tiredness, or weakness
• fever
• 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.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Usage Instructions

How Should This Medication Be Used

Simvastatin comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day in the evening but is sometimes taken three times a day. Take simvastatin at around the same time(s) 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 Dietary Instructions Should I Follow

Avoid drinking large quantities (more than 1 quart [1 liter] a day) of grapefruit juice while taking simvastatin. Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet, which includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish, vegetables, poultry, and egg whites and increase the amount of soluble fiber in your diet with foods such as oatmeal, kidney beans, and apples. Use monounsaturated oils such as olive, peanut, and canola oils or polyunsaturated oils such as corn, safflower, soy, sunflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils. Avoid foods with excess fat in them such as meat (especially liver and fatty meat), egg yolks, whole milk, cream, butter, shortening, pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter, chocolate, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried foods. Talk with your doctor or dietitian if you have any questions or would like more information about low-fat, low-cholesterol diets.

Are There Any Special Instructions

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) and ketoconazole (Nizoral); clarithromycin (Biaxin); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase); nefazodone (Serzone); 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); anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin); cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral); danazol; digoxin (Lanoxin); other cholesterol-lowering medications such as fenofibrate (Tricor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), and niacin (nicotinic acid, Niacor, Niaspan); and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have liver disease. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take simvastatin. tell your doctor if you drink large amounts of alcohol, if you are 65 years of age or older, and if you are Asian, especially if you are Chinese. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had an underactive thyroid gland or kidney disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist 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.