Author: simon
As any medicine, simvastatin may cause side effects. Simvastatin side effects are minor in most cases and do not require special treatment or are treated easily. Most people tolerate simvastatin well. Please note that the list below may contain not all of simvastatin side effects.
Most common simvastatin side effects:
- Headache;
- Abdominal pain;
- Back pain;
- Dizziness or weakness;
- Upset stomach or nausea;
- Diarrhea or constipation;
- Rash, flushing, itching or redness;
- Runny or stuffy nose;
Less common simvastatin side effects (less than 1 per cent of cases):
These side effects require immediate medical attention.
- severe or continuous allergic reactions
- difficulty breathing;
- face, lips, tongue or mouth swelling, rash; itching; hives;
- peeling skin;
- tightness in the chest;
- abnormally husky voice;
- changed urine color
- discolored stools
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- tachycardia or arrhythmia
- numbness or tingling of the limbs
- swelling of the limbs
- severe or persistent weakness, dizziness or fainting;
- severe or continuous nausea or stomach pain
- fever;
- joint pain;
- vision problems;
- persistent muscle pain or cramps
- breast development in boys
Sometimes simvastatin side effects can be unpredictable. You should inform your doctor about anything in your condition that seems abnormal. According to studies, about 1.4 per cent of people have to stop taking simvastatin because of side effects.
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Author: simon
Simvastatin is a medication referred to the class of statins. Simvastatin lowers “bad” cholesterol levels in the blood by reducing the production of LDL cholesterol in the liver, which is achieved by suppressing the action of HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, an enzyme responsible for the production of cholesterol. The decreased amounts of LDL cholesterol in the liver makes liver cells compensate the imbalance by taking cholesterol from the blood stream. As a result, the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood decrease. It is important to note that simvastatin is the most effective when taken at night because most cholesterols are produced in the body at night.
What is “bad” cholesterol or LDL? LDL stands for low density lipoprotein, the type of cholesterol that accumulates in the arteries and narrows them (atherosclerosis) which is associated with high risks of heart disease. As opposed to LDL, the so called “good” cholesterol (HDL, high density lipoprotein) prevents depositing “bad” cholesterol in the arteries.
Narrowed or blocked arteries limits the amount of oxygen being delivered to the heart muscle, which results in chest pain (angina) and in worst cases – a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Timely treatment with simvastatin can prevent first or second heart attack. That is why it is so important to know your LDL levels, especially if your lifestyle is not quite healthy, and contact a doctor in case of such warning signs as chest pain.
A small decrease in the production of triglycerides (other ‘bad fats’ ) in the blood called and a slight increase of “good” cholesterol is an additional beneficial effect of simvastatin.
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