About simvastati n
Statin cholesterol-lowering medicine
Used for
- Lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
- Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke
Usual adult dose
Usually 10–40 mg once daily in the evening, adjusted to cholesterol response.
Usual dose in children
For familial high cholesterol, ages 10–17: usually 10–40 mg once daily in the evening.
Common side effects
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Headache
- Stomach discomfort or constipation
- Raised liver enzymes
Important warnings
- Rarely causes severe muscle injury; risk rises with some medicines.
- Seek urgent medical help for unexplained severe muscle pain, weakness, or dark urine.
- Liver problems may occur; avoid heavy alcohol use.
- Not for use during pregnancy; contact a clinician if pregnancy occurs.
Pregnancy
Avoid during pregnancy; treatment is generally stopped when pregnancy is recognized.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking simvastatin.
Interactions
- Some antibiotics and antifungals can dangerously increase simvastatin levels.
- Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
- Interactions occur with ciclosporin, gemfibrozil, and some heart medicines.
- Warfarin effects may change; monitoring may be needed.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.