Simvastatin is mainly a hypolipidemic medicine, which is used to treat patients with high triglycerides and high cholesterol. It also plays an important role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and reduces the risk of strokes and a heart attack. Simvastatin is highly recommended to the patients with diabetes, heart diseases and peripheral vascular diseases. This drug is also effective in treating children and young adults (10 years - 17 years) with high cholesterol level. Simvastatin is not only available under the generic name but also it is available under the brand names viz. Simlup, Zocor, Simvacor and Simcard.
Side Effects of Simvastatin
Likewise any other medicine, Simvastatin also has some side effects. However, this does not mean that anyone who takes it will certainly experience its side effects. It is seen that most of the patients withstand Simvastatin quite well. Medical research has shown that the side effects of Simvastatin were so minor that its consumers did not go for any medical treatment. Nonetheless, in some cases, side effects were easily treated by a medical practitioner.
Headaches, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea and asthenia (a feeling of weakness) are a few side effects, which can be easily cured. Some patients who are using Simvastatin have also reported constipation, flatulence, nausea and minor upper respiratory infections.
Furthermore, very rare side effects of this particular drug include memory loss, joint pain and muscle cramps. In exceptional cases, a muscular pain medically known as Myalgia is also witnessed in patients who are taking Simvastatin. In case, if a patient experiences inexplicable muscle pain, weakness or tenderness (particularly if it is supplemented by a feeling of infirmity or fever), health provider should be immediately contacted. A continuous usage of this drug has also reported Cholestatic Hepatitis, Myositis, Rhabdomyolysis and Hepatic Cirrhosis in few patients.
Avoid Grapefruit juice while using Simvastatin
Grapefruit juice sometimes impinges on some heart medicines and cholesterol-lowering agents as it obstructs the work of enzymes in the intestines that metabolize quite a number of drugs. This does not mean that all citrus fruits have this enzyme. However, Grapefruit contains an active element that generates this effect. One should avoid Grapefruit juice during the treatment of heart disease especially with some heart medicines. Some of the popular cholesterol-lowering agents have shown negative outcomes when consumed with grapefruit juice. These include simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and lovastatin (Mevacor).
Last Word
Although, Simvastatin has very few and rare side effects, it is advisable to contact the doctor in case of a backlash.
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