Simvastatin, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: HMG CoA reductase inhibitor

Generic and brand names: simvastatin, oral; Zocor

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels when diet and exercise alone have not lowered them enough. It may also be used for other conditions such as:

• to reduce the risk of heart attack
• to prevent stroke and other heart disease
• to treat chest pain.

Your health care provider will explain why you are taking this medicine.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any HMG CoA reductase inhibitor
• kidney or liver disease
• problems with alcohol abuse.

Females of childbearing age: Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant because it may harm the baby. Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or if you plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your health care provider for the length of time prescribed. Take it regularly every day. Do not change your dosage or stop taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

You need to follow a low-fat diet and a regular exercise program to help reduce your cholesterol level. Follow your health care provider's directions.

You must take this medicine every day for it to be effective. If do you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

While you are taking this medicine, report any unusual muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness to your health care provider right away, especially if you also have a fever or feel ill.

Your health care provider will want to see you regularly while you are taking this medicine. You will need blood tests to see if the medicine is working. You will also have liver function tests to see how the medicine may be affecting your liver. Keep all your appointments.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

This medicine may interfere with your sleep. Talk with your health care provider about this.

You should stop taking this medicine a few days before surgery or certain other medical procedures. Discuss this with your health care provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat); chest pain; unusual muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever or vision changes; yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, urinary tract infection, gas, constipation, rash, itching, headache, dizziness, minor muscle pain, runny nose, fatigue, trouble sleeping.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• cholestyramine (Questran) (Take this medicine 1 hour before or 4 hours after Questran.)
• colestipol (Colestid)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
• clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• digoxin (Lanoxin)
• erythromycin (Erythromycin, E-Mycin, E.E.S., EryPed)
• gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• nefazodone (Serzone)
• nicotinic acid (niacin)
• other cholesterol lowering medicines such as clofibrate (Atromid-S), fenofibrate (Tricor), lovastatin (Mevacor), and pravastatin (Pravachol)
• protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), amprenavir (Agenerase), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase)
• verapamil (Calan, Calan SR, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan, Verelan PM)
• warfarin (Coumadin).

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your health care provider.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.