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How should I take Simvastatin properly?
Simvastatin comes in tablets to take by mouth. It
usually is taken once a day at bedtime. 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.
Continue to take Simvastatin even if you feel well. Do
not stop taking Simvastatin without talking to your
doctor.
What is Simvastatin used for?
Simvastatin is used with diet changes (restriction of
cholesterol and fat intake) to reduce the amount of
cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood.
Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of
your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis)
decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply
to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body.
Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may
help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain),
strokes, and heart attacks.
Precautions of using Simvastatin
Before taking Simvastatin,
• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to
Simvastatin or any other drugs.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and
nonprescription medications you are taking, especially
antacids, anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as
warfarin (Coumadin), cholestyramine (Questran),
clarithromycin (Biaxin), clofibrate (Atromid-S),
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), digoxin (Lanoxin),
erythromycin, fenofibrate (TriCor), gemfibrozil (Lopid),
HIV protease inhibitors such as ritonavir (Norvir) and
saquinavir (Invirase), itraconazole (Sporanox),
ketoconazole (Nizoral), nefazodone (Serzone), niacin
(nicotinic acid), and vitamins.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver,
kidney, or heart disease; a severe infection; low blood
pressure; or seizures.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become
pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant
while taking Simvastatin, stop taking Simvastatin and
call your doctor immediately. Simvastatin can harm the
fetus.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery,
tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking
Simvastatin.
• talk to your doctor about the safe use of alcohol
while taking this drug. Alcohol increases the side
effects caused by Simvastatin.
• plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to
sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses,
and sunscreen. Simvastatin may make your skin sensitive
to sunlight.
What dietary instructions should I follow when taking
Simvastatin?
Avoid drinking large quantities of grapefruit juice
(more than 1 quart a day) while taking Simvastatin.
Eat a low-cholesterol, low-fat diet. This kind of diet
includes cottage cheese, fat-free milk, fish (not canned
in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg whites, and
polyunsaturated oils and margarines (corn, safflower,
canola, 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, lard,
pastries, cakes, cookies, gravy, peanut butter,
chocolate, olives, potato chips, coconut, cheese (other
than cottage cheese), coconut oil, palm oil, and fried
foods.
What should I do if I forget a dose of Smivastatin?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it.
However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip
the missed dose and continue the regular dosing
schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a
missed one.
Simvastatin side effects
Although side effects from Simvastatin are not common,
they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these
symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• gas
• stomach pain or cramps
• diarrhea
• constipation
• heartburn
• headache
• blurred vision
• dizziness
• rash or itching
• upset stomach
If you experience the following symptom, call your
doctor immediately:
• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with or without a
fever
When should I not use Simvastatin?
• Simvastatin should not be used by patients who are
allergic to any of its ingredients. In addition to the
active ingredient simvastatin, each tablet contains the
following inactive ingredients: cellulose, lactose,
magnesium stearate, iron oxides, talc, titanium dioxide,
and starch. Butylated hydroxyanisole is added as a
preservative.
• Patients with liver problems: simvastatin should not
be used by patients with active liver disease or
repeated blood test results indicating possible liver
problems.
• Women who are or may become pregnant: Pregnant women
should not take simvastatin because it may harm the
fetus.
• Women of childbearing age should not take simvastatin
unless it is highly unlikely that they will become
pregnant. If a woman does become pregnant while on
simvastatin, she should stop taking the drug and talk to
her doctor at once.
• Women who are breast-feeding should not take
simvastatin.
Patients who are also taking the prescription drug
Posicor (mibefradil) should not take simvastatin.
Storage of Simvastatin
Keep this medication in the container it came in,
tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it
at room temperature and away from excess heat and
moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any
medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to
your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your
medication.
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Disclaimer:
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Information
on this page is provided for general information
purposes. You should not make a clinical treatment
decision based on information contained in this page
without consulting other references including the
package insert of the drug, textbooks and where
relevant, expert opinion. We cannot be held responsible
for any errors you make in administering drugs mentioned
on this page, nor for use of any erroneous information
contained on this page.
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