SIMVASTATINOTHER NAMES : Zocor• WHY

SIMVASTATIN
OTHER NAMES : Zocor
• WHY is this drug precribed?
Simvastatin is used to reduce the amount cf cholesterol and certain fatty substances in your blood. Accumulations of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries
(a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow, loading to a decrease in the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other body parts. Lowering your blood levels of cholesterol and fats may help to prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attack.

• WHEN should it be used?
Simvastatin usually is taken once a day at bedtime. Follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your pharmacist or doctor to explain any part that you do not understand.
It may take a few weeks or even months before the full effects of simvastatin are noticed.

• HOW should it be used?
Simvastatin comes in tablets. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling yourprescription.

• WHAT SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS should I follow while using this drug?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboraatory so that your responseto simvastatin can be checked. You probably will have periodic blood tests to be sure that your liver is working properly and to measure the cholesterol and fats in your blood. You also may have regular eye examinations.
The major risk factors in developing atherosclerosis (and heart attacks and stroke) are high blood levels of cholesterol and fats, obesity, ciggerette smoking, high blood presure, and disbetes. Follow your doctor’s advice on smoking, diet, exercise, and weight control. If you have high blood presure or diabetes take your medication regularly and follow your doctor’s dietary instructions (e.g., low sodium or low salt diet for high blood presure).
Be sure that you always have enough of this medication on hand. Check your supply before vacations, holidays, and other occasions when you may not be able to obtain it.
• WHAT SPESIAL DIETARY INSTRUCTION should I follow while using this drug?
Eat a low cholesterol, low fat diet. This kind of diet includes cottage cheese, skim milk, fish (not canned in oil), vegetables, poultry, egg whites and “pol unsaturated” noils and margarines (corn, safflower, canola, and soybean olis). 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, chesse (other than cottage cheese), coconut and palm oils, and fried foods.
Your doctor may prescible a low salt or low sodium diet and direct you to follow an exercise progam. Follow these directions carefully.
• WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FORGET to take a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your usual dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose.
• WHAT SIDE EFFECTS can this drug cause? What can i do about them?
Altough side effects from simvastatin are not common, they can occur. Stomach upset, gas, heartburn, change of taste, diarhea, constipation, skin rash, headache, blurred vicion. If these effects persist or are severe, contact your doctor. Muscle cramps, fever, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes. Contact your doctor immediately.
• WHAT OTHER PRECAUTIONS should i follow while using this drug?
Do not take smvastatin if you are pregrant, think that you may be pregnant, or are breast feeding. If you become pregnant while using this drug, stop taking it and contact your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, a severe infection, low blood pressure, scizures , or allergies.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, including warfarin (coumadin), cyclosporine (sandimmune), erytomicin, gemfibrozil, choclestyramine and niacin.
Alcoholic beverages can add to the stomach irritaion caused by this drug. Ask your pharmacist or doctor about the safe use of alcohol while taking simvastatin.
Do not allow anyone else to take your medication.
• WHAT STORAGE CONDITIONS are necessary for this drug?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of the reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from moisture (not in the bathroom) and heat.