Simvastatin helps reduce the total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) as well as other fatty substances like the triglycerides in the blood. The drug also helps raise the level of good cholesterol in the blood. The medical term for good cholesterol is HDL.
Simvastatin belongs to ‘statins’ or ‘HMG CoA reductase inhibitor’ group of drugs. It is given to patients with increased level of cholesterol (primary hypercholesterolaemia) in the blood or high fat levels in the blood that do not reduce even after weight loss and exercising.
Patients with homozygous familiam hypercholesterolaemia are also prescribed Simvastatin. Those with coronary heart disease or those who are under high risk of developing coronary heart problems are given this drug.
Pregnant women or women planning to get pregnant as well as breast feeding mothers should NOT take Simvastatin. One should stop taking this drug at least 1 month before they try to get pregnant.
Do not take the drug if you are allergic to simvastatin or any other ingredients within the drug. Avoid the drug if you are taking either of the drugs like:
● Medicines for fungal infection
● HIV Protease Inhibitors
● Medicines for Hepatitis C virus infection
● Antibiotics for infections
● Medicines for depression
● Medicines used in organ transplant patients
● Danazol for treatment of endometriosis
http://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.30988.latest.pdf
Like other medicines, Simastatin can cause certain side effects in some patients. These serious side effects include:
● Severe and rare allergic reaction that causes difficulty breathing, with or without swelling of the throat, tongue, lips and face.
● It can lead to severe itching of the skin with raised lumps.
Other than the severe allergic reaction, candesartan can lead to reduction of number of white blood cell. This causes one to feel unexplained tiredness, sudden infection or fever.
Common side effects of candesartan include:
● Dizziness or spinning
● Headache
● Low blood pressure
● Feeling faint or dizzy
● Respiratory infection
● Increase in amount of potassium in blood
● Effect on kidney function
Some of the very rare side effects include:
● Swelling of the face, lips and throat
● Reduction in number of RBC or WBC
● Skin rash, hives
● Back pain, joint pain, muscle ache
● Changes in liver function leading to hepatitis or jaundice
● Nausea
● Cough
● Reduction in sodium level in the blood
Simvastatin should be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Swallow the tablet with a glass of water and make sure you take dose at the same time daily. Patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are usually given 20 mg to 40 mg of Simvastatin to be taken in evening. The dose can be increased after 4 weeks. Patients with high level of blood fats are given 10mg of Simvastatin to be taken in the evening. The dose may be increased every 4 weeks. Patients with hereditary high cholesterol are given 40 mg in the evening that can be increased up to 80mg. The dose is divided into 20 mg and 40 mg to be taken through the day. Children within the age of 10 to 17 years are given 10 mg Simvastatin.
Simvastatin helps reduce bad cholesterol and fats in the blood and also increases the good cholesterol. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. It acts by blocking the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, that is important for production of Simvastatin.
