Generic Zocor

What is Zocor (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 is the most important information I should know about Zocor (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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Zocor (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.

How should I take Zocor (simvastatin)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take simvastatin with a full glass of water. Simvastatin is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal. If you take simvastatin several times daily, take it with meals. Follow your doctor's instructions.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

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.

Simvastatin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

You may need to take simvastatin on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

Store simvastatin at room temperature, protected from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

An overdose of simvastatin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.

What should I avoid while taking Zocor (simvastatin)?

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.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with simvastatin and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Zocor (simvastatin) side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using simvastatin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild stomach pain, gas, bloating, stomach upset, heartburn;
• nausea;
• constipation; or
• diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Zocor (simvastatin)?

Many drugs can interact with simvastatin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• danazol (Danocrine);
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
• niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
• nefazodone (Serzone);
• cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); or
• amiodarone (Cordarone), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), or verapamil (Verelan, Calan, Isoptin);
• erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, others), clarithromycin (Biaxin), or telithromycin (Ketek);
• an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• drugs that weaken your immune system such as cancer medicine or steroids, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf), sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf), and others;
• HIV or AIDS medication such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).

This list is not complete and there may be 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.