Zocor

Product Information
Zocor, the brand drug for the generic name Simvastatin is a statin or cholesterol- lowering medicine. It is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor which works by blocking the production of cholesterol by the liver. Besides lowering the overall blood cholesterol, Zocor especially helps in lowering the LDL 'bad' cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B (a protein facilitating cholesterol production) in your blood. Zocor has also proved to be helpful in increasing the level of HDL 'good' cholesterol in your blood.

LDL cholesterol is primarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. Thereby, lowering LDL cholesterol levels retards progression and may even reverse coronary artery disease. This function of Zocor is also beneficial in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Drug Class - Statins

Brand Name - Zocor

How to Use

• Take Zocor exactly as prescribed and directed by your doctor.
• Take each dose with a glass of water; and for maximum effect, Zocor is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening meal.
• Monitor your blood cholesterol levels and liver function at regular intervals so that the doctor can change your dosage if necessary.
• For best effect, eat low-fat, low cholesterol diet when the treatment is in progress with Zocor.
• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zocor causing potentially hazardous effects. Therefore, consult your doctor about including grapefruit in your diet if you are using Zocor.
• Once treatment is initiated with Zocor, take the doses regularly and do not stop taking the drug without consulting your doctor.

Side Effects
The Initial Adjustment: As your body adjusts to the medication, you may have some side effects for first few days

• Gas
• Nausea
• Stomach Upset
• Heartburn
• Abdominal Pain
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Cough
• Headache
• Insomnia

Consult a Doctor
Consult your doctor if these effects persist or you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives); blurred vision and decreased urine or rust-colored urine.

Contact your doctor in eventualities of irrelevant muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness; especially if accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unnecessary fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems arising out of Zocor use.

Drug Interaction

• Use Zocor after judging all possibilities of drug interaction.
• Consult your doctor and inform about all the prescription and nonprescription drugs you use including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.
• Zocor interacts with antifungal medications such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• It also interacts with protease inhibitor such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);
• Zocor should not be taken if you are using drugs such as
  • Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
  • Erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin)
  • Niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others
  • Gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor)
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
  • Cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid)

Precautions

• Precautions should be taken to guard against harmful side-effects if you are suffering from liver disease. Inform your doctor in such cases.
• Avoid or limit the use of alcohol while taking Zocor; as alcohol may spur unwanted side effects.
• This drug is not recommended for use in children.
• Zocor has been included in the FDA pregnancy category X which means that the drug is known to cause birth defects in an unborn child. So it is recommended that you should not take Zocor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.
• Zocor should also not be used by lactating mother as there are chances that the drug may pass on to the breast milk.

Dosage

• The usual starting dose of Zocor is 40 milligrams once a day in the evening or as prescribed by the doctor. The dosage can be adjusted every 4 weeks.
• Patients with severe, hereditary high cholesterol may be prescribed as much as 80 milligrams a day, taken in doses of 20, 20, and 40 milligrams, along with other treatments.
• Those suffering from kidney disease are usually recommended to start off with an initial dose of 5 milligrams per day.
• Zocor is strictly advised to be used only under medical supervision so as to prevent probable drug interaction and possible side-effects.
• The dosage for the drug varies from person to person depending upon the body metabolism.

Overdose
Seek emergency medical attention immediately. Symptoms of a Zocor overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion.

Missed Dose
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is too late or almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Never take a double dose of this medication.

Storage
Zocor should be stored at room temperature in a cool and dry place. Keep away from the reach of children.

Important Note
The following information is intended to supplement and not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be interpreted to indicate that use of the drug is safe, apt, or effectual for you. It is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before using this drug.