Simvastatin also widely known as Zocor, is a cholesterol- lowering medicine. It works by inhibiting the liver’s production of cholesterol. Simvastatin lowers your overall blood cholesterol and also the blood LDL “bad” cholesterol levels in your body. LDL cholesterol is believed to be primarily responsible for the development of coronary artery disease. By lowering LDL cholesterol levels you may also be slowing down the progression of coronary artery disease.

Usually doctors will begin treatment of high blood cholesterol with weight loss, exercise, and a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fats. It is when these measures do not work out that Simvastatin is added. The effectiveness of Simvastatin in lowering cholesterol is purely dose related, so blood cholesterol determinations are done at regular intervals so that ant necessary adjustments to the dosage can be made.

Normally Simvastatin is well tolerated. Patients suffering from alcohol or other liver diseases should use Simvastatin with caution. The medication may be discontinued if the results of tests on your liver are abnormal.

There have been rare cases of myositis, or muscle inflammation, and muscle breakdown. Muscle breakdown may lead to acute kidney failure. When Simvastatin taken together with other medications such as cyclosporine the risk of muscle breakdown is increased.

Simvastatin should not be used in children, pregnant women, or nursing mother due to potentially dangerous effects on the nursing child.

Dosages start at 5mg and can be increased according to its effectiveness.

Side effects are rare but include constipation, diarrhea, gas, headache, and heartburn.