Zocor

Zocor (simvastatin) is a prescription medication that reduces your total cholesterol in the blood, as well as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by blocking its production by your body. To make sure you benefit from taking this drug you will have to take it regularly. You will also need to combine Zocor with a healthier lifestyle. Foods containing a lot of fat and high in cholesterol will need to be excluded – just to make sure you benefit from your treatment as much as possible. Breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue is a rare but serious side effect of taking Zocor that can lead to a number of other problems with liver. Make sure you report any of the following symptoms of this condition: muscle pain or tenderness, flu symptoms, dark colored urine, and muscle weakness. Most other side effects are not supposed to be reported unless they get too bothersome and start to interfere wit your everyday life. The following mild side effects are possible: nausea, bloating, stomach upset, mild stomach pain, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. Being pregnant and having liver disease represent the contraindications for taking Zocor. The following health conditions you have may also affect the dose you are prescribed and ever require additional tests: underactive thyroid, muscle disorder, kidney disease, and diabetes. You are not supposed to combine Zocor with such medications as amiodarone, clarithromycin, cholestyramine, HIV or AIDS medication, steroids, nefazodone, cancer medicine, telithromycin, verapamil, diltiazem, erythromycin, antifungal medication, warfarin, and danazol. These drugs have been reported to interfere with the effects of Zocor and can be used in combination only after discussing it with your health care provider. Take Zocor at bedtime or with your evening meal unless your health care provider recommended doing otherwise. You may be also recommended to take this medicine several times a day. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice have been reported to interact with this medicine, so make sure you discuss your diet and presented of these products in it before starting to take Zocor. The dose you are prescribed is based on your personal needs. Make sure you never use more of this medicine than recommended and avoid sharing it with other people. Keep Zocor out of the reach of children and other people to whom it was not prescribed.