What Is Simvastatin?
Simvastatin is a drug that was first released back in the late 1980s as a strong hypolipidemic statin drug. If you’re like me, you probably have little or no clue what hypolipidemic means, but essentially they are pharmaceuticals that decrease Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), what we normally call bad cholesterol. LDL is the primary cause of cardiovascular diseases, and Simvastatin fights this by controlling high levels of cholesterol in the blood, a condition known as hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia in itself is not a disease; it is a disorder that usually starts as an effect of other diseases, especially those that take place in the cardiovascular system. It is the first statin drug that is widely used by the medical community and can lower LDL by up to 50%. It appears as a white crystal-like powder in its pure form, although nowadays many tablets and pills of Simvastatin are given a pinkish hue.
When Should You Take Simvastatin?
Simvastatin is one of the most popular drugs for preventing and treating cardiovascular problems, and it is now available as a generic oral medication in several countries. Recognized brand names of Simvastatin are Liponorm, Simlup, Simvahexal, Simvastatin-Teva, Simvotin, Sinvacor, Sivastin, Zimstat, Zocor, Zocord, and countless others, depending on the country.
However, I should inform you that since Simvastatin is quite a strong and special drug, you should not take it without the consent of your doctor. It may be a generic drug in most countries, but I would suggest taking it only when its properties are beneficial to your health. Simvastatin is primarily used for treating elevated cholesterol, which can happen as a result of obesity, unhealthy diet, diabetes, excessive alcohol drinking, anorexia nervosa, hypothyroidism, and side effects of medicines like diuretics, beta blockers and glucocorticoids. High levels of LDL can also be a hereditary trait, such as familial hypercholesterolemia. Simvastatin and other statin drugs are said to be not as effective in treating people with high cholesterol but who have no certain cardiovascular problem.
How Much Simvastatin Do You Need To Take?
There are several dosages, 5 and 10 mg being the lowest doses and with Simvastatin 40 mg being the usual dose. Simvastatin 20 mg can be recommended for those who have been taking the drug for a long time or people with almost normal LDL levels. Simvastatin 80 mg is the highest recommended dose and should not be taken without the approval of your doctor, for high doses of Simvastatin are too toxic for the body, while only giving the same or a decreased benefit as taking the drug in a lower dose. An extremely high Simvastatin dosage can also lead to serious side effects.
What Are Other Uses Of Simvastatin?
Aside from lowering LDL, Simvastatin can also increase High Density Lipoprotein or HDL, the so-called good cholesterol. Simvastatin also lowers triglyceride content in the body, which will prevent development of atherosclerosis. Simvastatin may also limit the progress of dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
I found in some studies that Simvastatin can benefit those with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and people with a genetic history of cardiovascular disease, even if they don’t have high levels of LDL. However, the drug is still primarily taken for controlling cholesterol and not for high blood pressure or diabetes.
What Are The Reported Simvastatin Side Effects?
As with all other drugs, Simvastatin can react in different ways from person to person. You might experience no side effect whatsoever, while I may go through rather uncomfortable reactions, and there are also people allergic to statin drugs who should avoid taking them at all costs. Simvastatin might give no side effects whatsoever, or give a serious reaction within the first few days of taking it. There are some common reactions and side effects of Simvastatin, and the two considered most serious and potentially life-threatening are cholestatic hepatitis and rhabdomyolysis.
Cholestatic Hepatitis
Although cholestatic hepatitis is usually contracted by viral infection, in rare conditions Simvastatin can be a drug-based cause for this problem. This happens when the liver becomes enlarged due to an obstructed bile secretion, and regular bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder is interrupted. Since cholesterol is produced in the liver, any drug that interferes with normal liver function, like Simvastatin, can lead to cholestatic hepatitis. Jaundice, itching of the skin, exhaustion, and indigestion can accompany cholestatic hepatitis, and sometimes the stool produced can be light in color while urine secretions turn dark. Treatment of Simvastatin-induced cholestatic hepatitis calls for immediate end to taking of the drug, and further check ups on the liver, bile duct, and gall bladder will be necessary to assess any probable damage.
Rhabdomyolysis
Simvastatin can pose a risk of severe muscle damage such as rhabdomyolysis; in fact statins are one of the primary drugs that cause this condition. The muscle tissues surrounding the bones start getting damaged and eventually break down in time, and the products released by these broken-down tissues can lead to kidney failure. Consumption of Simvastatin should also be discontinued in the case of rhabdomyolysis, and immediate action should be taken to protect and repair the kidneys and skeletal muscle tissues.
Other side effects of taking Simvastatin that should be reported immediately to your doctor are muscle cramps and joint pain, which could both be signs of developing cholestatic hepatitis or rhabdomyolysis. Memory loss is also another rare side effect, and any show of a weakened memory should be noted and your doctor informed.
Other side effects of Simvastatin considered less serious are fatigue, abdominal pain, indigestion and diarrhea. Call your doctor at once if these reactions worsen, such as when the fatigue evolves into fever, abdominal pain increases, or when your diarrhea turns chronic and results in light-colored stool.
What Can You Do To Avoid Simvastatin Side Effects?
Taking Simvastatin is done to lower unhealthy triglycerides and bad cholesterol levels, which helps prevent heart attacks and strokes to susceptible people. Discontinuing the drug is the only way to fully protect yourself, but if you are required to take Simvastatin to stay healthy, then the best way you can avoid the Simvastatin side effects is to make sure you take the right dosage recommended by your doctor. This is fairly easy to do, for Simvastatin is usually taken only once a day. Try sticking to the same time frame, to better remember when to take the drug. A Simvastatin dosage should not be doubled, even if you skipped a day.
Treatment of high cholesterol naturally goes with changes in the diet. Intake of dietary cholesterol should be reduced, and consumption of saturated fats and trans fats is necessary to lower LDL and increase HDL, which will work to protect your cardiovascular system. Smoking is prohibited, and a good exercise routine is generally prescribed to keep the heart healthy and burn off fats and cholesterol from the body.
Minimizing intake of alcoholic beverages is requisite, for both Simvastatin and alcohol react directly with the liver and can cause problems. Alcohol also raises triglyceride levels, which counteracts directly with Simvastatin’s properties.
I would also suggest avoiding the Grapefruit or Hollywood Diet, for Simvastatin has been known to react negatively with grapefruit, which contain compounds that slows down the properties of the drug. Grapefruit as well as foods and drinks containing grapefruit extract should be avoided to decrease your risk of side effects.
Recommendations:
Your doctor should be informed of any other medication that you are considering taking, because Simvastatin can interact with several drugs. Amiodarone can increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis when taking with Simvastatin and other statin-based drugs. Anticoagulants or “blood thinners” like cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil and warfarin can react with Simvastatin, as well as HIV protease inhibitors like nelfinavir and ritonavir; the clarithromycin and erythromycin antibiotics; and anti-fungal medications like fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and posaconazole. Note that all these medicines relate to blood and tissue conditions, and aside from possibly changing how Simvastatin works, they also increase the risk of side effects. I suggest that if you are prescribed Simvastatin, take only the drugs your doctor knows won’t interact with it, and help keep yourself safe from side effects and interactions by avoiding all other unnecessary medications entirely.