• Dizziness or fainting
• Headache
• Muscle pain or cramps
• Discolored/ clay-like stools
• Insomnia
• Jaundice

Please, not that overdose of simvastatin means not just taking the medication in enormously large quantities but also taking a larger dose than necessary. The correct simvastatin dose depends on one’s age, weight, liver and kidney condition and other health parameters. For example, a normal dose of simvastatin for a healthy person would cause simvastatin overdose effects in a patient with diabetes, liver or kidney problems.

What If I Overdose on Simvastatin?

Seek emergency medical help or call the Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Simvastatin overdose treatment

Simvastatin overdose treatment methods include stomach pumping or the use of emetics (the medications that cause vomiting) for recent overdose, or fluids through an intravenous line. In addition, all of the observable simvastatin overdose effects are being carefully monitored, as well as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate are measured.

Simvastatin overdose studies

Massive simvastatin overdose can be fatal in mice, according to studies. However, death was the only simvastatin overdose effect observed. In dogs, no deaths of long-lasting problems were observed. The most common side effects were: mucousy stools and vomiting.

Studies have shown that massive doses of simvastatin can be lethal in mice, although no specific symptoms (other than death) were noted. However, studies in dogs suggested that massive overdoses are not likely to cause serious or long-lasting problems (the only symptoms seen were vomiting and mucousy stools).

If your are searching the information about simvastatin overdose with the purpose to overdose deliberately, don’t do that and get help! Simvastatin overdose is not fatal but you may cause serious damage to your health, which will cause much suffering and pain!

Simvastatin overdose in children

Simvastatin can be used to treat children over 10 years old – that’s the youngest age that participated in studies. No overdose side effects beyond those observed in adults were reported in children so far. However, not enough time passed since the studies were done to make conclusions on absence of long-lasting problems. However, please note that due to a relatively small number of children taking simvastatin, overdose statistics may be insufficient. If you know or suspect that your child tool too large dose of simvastatin or took the medication incidentally, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 immediately and call emergency. Please note that children are exposed to higher risk for accidental overdose. Keep the medication in a place out of reach of children.

Simvastatin Dosage

• Simvastatin Dosage
• Simvastatin (40 mg) Side Effects
• Simvastatin 40 mg
• Simvastatin 80 mg
• Simvastatin Overdose

Another example of simvastatin lawsuit against Merck is a Texas case filed by Charles Thurston, a 65-year old veteran back in 2009, who claimed that he suffered from simvastatin side effects, including myopathy. However, this simvastatin lawsuit was dismissed in 2010 because myopathy and other side effects are listed in the FDA-approved side effects label from Merck, which is considered adequate under Texas law, unless the plaintiff meets one of five specified exceptions (which he didn’t).

What If I want to File a Simvastatin Lawsuit?

Although many simvastatin lawsuits have been dismissed, in June 2011 FDA released an official warning about the possibility of severe side effects associated with with high doses of simvastatin. Specifically, 80 mg dose was prohibited for prescription as significantly increasing the risk of various forms of myopathy and, specifically, rhabdomyolysis and
The only exception for simvastatin 80 mg are the patients that have been taking simvastatin 80 mg for at least one year without experiencing any side effects. This move gives many other potential plaintiffs a chance to convince jury that Merck actually failed to offer adequate warning and win a simvastatin class action lawsuit.

In fact, Diane Hayden in just one of the many patients who consulted a simvastatin lawyer to evaluate their eligibility for compensation for muscle or kidney damage caused by simvastatin. If you want to file a Zocor (simvastatin) Lawsuit it is highly recommended to consult with a simvastatin layer right now in order to evaluate your chances for compensation. The chance of successful outcome depends on the legislation of your state, so professional advice and assistance are absolutely necessary.

Does simvastatin cause weight loss?

As of 2010, there are no clinical trials that prove or deny the connection between simvastatin and weight loss or weight gain. For this reason, neither is mentioned as a side effect in simvastatin package insert. If you experience dramatic weight loss after being started in simvastatin, consult with your doctor immediately.

Why is simvastatin is associated with weight loss?

Probably, the major reason for this belief is that simvastatin decreases the amount of fatty substances in blood, which also has strong associations with decreasing excess fat deposits in the body. However, simvastatin does not have any effect on fat deposits and weight loss in patients taking simvastatin occurs due to other reasons. First, lifestyle changes, like switching to a healthy diet and doing sports and a part of high cholesterol therapy, along with simvastatin. Healthy lifestyle inevitably brings about weight loss and other positive changes in overweight patients taking simvastatin. That’s why simvastatin is frequently associated with weight loss. Next, weight loss could result from gastro-intestinal disorders, which are officially recognized as a side effect of simvastatin. Patients with gastro-intestinal adverse effects, such as constipation, abdominal or stomach pain, heartburn or nausea eat less, which results is weight loss.

To start with, there are many reports from patients who claim that they gained pounds while taking simvastatin, and some lost them after discontinuing the medication. This might occur due to a number of reasons. First of all, simvastatin is known to cause muscle pain and sensitivity and joint stiffness. Both these conditions hamper normal physical activities in generally active and strong people people. Decreases physical activity results in weight gain. Second, simvastatin can affect sleep. Sleep problems not just affect quality of life and your capacity for work, but also may result in excess weight.

However, there are cases when patients who take the medication for as long as 15 years complain of gaining pounds and blame it on simvastatin. In such cases, linking increase in weight with the treatment is not prescient. The more your body becomes stuffed with toxins from unhealthy food and bad ecology, the more difficult it is for it to maintain normal metabolized and prevent depositing of extra pounds in the most inconvenient areas. It’s a common knowledge that as we grow older staying slim is getting more difficult and needs more efforts on your side that before. In addition, a typical high cholesterol patient has a tendency to be corpulent. Did you eliminate products that cause weight gain from your diet? Do you participate more in sport activities? If you didn’t, weight increase could be a natural process that occur in most people as the age, especially women who reach climax. Third, simvastatin may cause water build up and retentio which alos means extra pounds displayed on your scales.

Does simvastatin cause weight gain?

Officially, weight gain is not recognized as a side effect of simvastatin.

Nevertheless, simvastatin affects the work of your liver, which means affecting the way the food you eat is metabolized. So, claiming that dramatic weight gain in patients taking simvastatin has nothing to do with the medication is at least unwise. Simvastatin may not be the direct cause of weight gain. However, putting on pounds rapidly means that something in you body works not the way it should and simvastatin make it more obvious. You need to consult with your doctor if you notice rapid weigh gain after being started on simvastatin or any other statin.

Typical Simvastatin Withdrawal Side Effects

Simvastatin withdrawal symptoms may occur in patients who never experienced any adverse effects and live a healthy and active lifestyle. Patients taken off the mediation report the following simvastatin withdrawal symptoms:

• Mild tingling in limbs and face is one of the most common simvastatin withdrawal side effects. Increase of tingling which started while on simvastatin is another possible variation of this simvastatin withdrawal effect (which gradually diminishes and disappears).
• Tiredness and pressure on the head “like someone has their hand on the top of my head and is pushing down” (according to the report of one patient). Fogginess in the head, vertigo and various dizzy sensations that patients describe as “pushing” or “dropping” the brain followed by anxiety also occur
• Blurred vision.
• Irritability and depression
• Heaviness in feet and legs
• Memory issues, difficulty finding objects
• Poor concerntration

Generally, statin withdrawal symptoms appear to be very similar to the most common simvastatin side effects. Unfortunately, there are causes when simvastatin side effects, such as headache, muscle pain, joint pain and dizziness aggravated severely after abrupt simvastatin withdrawal. The patient experiences the simvastatin “cold turkey” syndrome, which is generally associated with illegal drugs. However,  Simvastatin is a drug many patients take for years, no wonder you body notices getting off .

How to Relieve Statin Withdrawal Side Effects

If you want to get off simvastatin or have already discontinued the drug and experienced any of the above withdrawal symptoms or worsening of side effects, it is highly recommended to discuss your further strategy with the doctor. Sometimes, a “weaning” strategy is used when the medication is gradually discontinued within a month by lowering a dose or quitting and returning to simvastatin once in 3 or 5 days. Additionally, many patients report very positive effects of acupuncture and physiotherapy on Zocor withdrawal symptoms.

Why does simvastatin cause joint pain?

First of all, people taking simvastatin are older group of the population for which osteoarthritis and other joint conditions are common. For exampale, rheumatoid arthritis is one of the top conditions involved in joint pain occurrence in patients taking simvastatin. In such a case, lipophilic properties of simvastatin may just exacerbate the painful sensations or stiffness which didn’t cause that much discomfort before. Then, simvastatin is classified as a lipophilic statin. Lipophilic statins have higher levels of exposure in non-hepatic tissues, which means that they non-selectively diffuse into both hepatocyte and non-heptatocyte tissues, as opposed to hydrophilic statins, such as pravastatin, rosuvastatin. This property of simvastatin may explain the higher occurrence of muscle and joint-related side effects, such as joint swelling, pain, stiffness. The group of lipophilic statins inclues atorvastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin. The occurrence of arthralgia and arthropathy associated with hydrophilic statins reported by the lower 4- and 9-fold correspondingly.

Resolving Joint Pain while on Simvastatin

The most common remedies recommend by doctors to relieve joint pain to patients taking simvastatin include pain relief medications and temperature treatment. Pain medications prescribed by the doctor may include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Warning! Don’t take pain-relieving medication without your doctor’s prescription and control! Simvastatin interacts with a large number of drugs. Uncontrolled use of pain drugs may result in severe adverse effects.

Thermo therapy includes moist to dry heating (such as a warm water or dry heating pad) applied too the pain area. Cold temperature wraps may numb the hurting area and relive pain for some time. You may use ice containers or frozen vegetable packs wrapped up into the towel (the towels is used to prevent damage to the skin and blood vessels by low temperature and to eliminate discomfort). However, cold wraps are not recommended for patients with poor blood circulation.

In What Way Can Simvastatin Cause Hair Loss

Although the connection between taking simvastatin and hair loss is obvious, the mechanism how exactly the two processes are linked is still unknown. The reason for that is that the researches studying simvastatin side effects are focused on life threatening conditions in the first place, like muscle or liver damage. However, hair loss, even being a serious concern for many men, is not a life threatening condition. Below are some of the suggestions

• Cholesterol if one of the structural elements of a human hair. The exact content should be is 0.86 . This figure is so precise that some doctor suggest substituting blood test with measuring cholesterol levels in hair. Significant lowering of cholesterol levels may affect hair growth.
• Cholesterol participates in production of the most vital hormones: testosterone, estrogen, cortisone, aldosterone and progesterone. These hormones regulate many of the bodily functions and processes. Hormone imbalance is known as one of the caused of hair loss, so statins could have contributed to that.

Please note that hair loss may occur due to a number of other reasons and not be directly linked to taking simvastatin, like in the examples below:

• Loss of libido and depression are known as simvastatin side effects. However, loss of libido is also associated with aging. Stress and depression are known as caused of hair loss.
• Many patients who have undergone a heart surgery take simvastatin. Stresses after a major surgery may also cause hair loss.

I simvastatin related hair loss incidents hair growth resumes after discontinuing the medication. So, another argument in favor of simvastatin’s not being guilty is that a quick review of patient’s complaints shows that in many cases discontinuing simvastatin didn’t stop. This means that in these cases there could be no no direct connection between simvastatin and hair loss and the problem could have been caused by some other factors. So blaming simvastatin, you may overlook other serious problems that need your and you physician’s attention.

Hair regrowth should start as soon as you get off simvastatin. You may be recommended by you doctor to take vitamins and supplements that help hair your hair regrow.

Simvastatin 80 mg Safety

Simvastatin 80 mg safety was questioned based on the results of 2 studies, also known as SEARCH (2010) and from A to Z (2004).
The 2010 year study found that 80 mg is associated with increased risks of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis (which is natural, the higher the dose the higher the risk of side effects), which resulted in substantial dose limitations. Specifically, myopaphy incidence in patients on simvastatin 80 mg was 0.9% against 0.02% in those on simvastatin 20 mg. But doesn’t it seems only natural that side effects of simvastatin 80 mg occur more frequently than with lower doses? In fact, about 60% of myopathy cases were linked to a genetic variant that affects uptake of the nedication in the liver, resulting in increased simvastatin concentration in plasma . Strangely, another study called from A to Z was done back in 2004 which also found that simvastatin 80 mg dose may be not quite safe, However, for some reason it’s only now the FDA reacted.

However, many pharmacologists express their concerns about the new guidelines as a policy being targeted specifically against simvastain. For example, Curt Furberg, MD, PhD, a pharmacologist at Wake Forest University, remarked that the effect of statins on muscle tissue is not new, and in concerns all statin medications, not just simvastatin.

In 2010 about 2.1 million patients in the US were prescribed simvastatin 80 mg. In March the same year, the FDA issues the first warning about the potential danger of simvastatin 80 mg. However, no dose limitations were applied at that time.

Naturally, such a decision will provide stronger incentive for physicians to prescribe more potent statins like Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin). In addition, physicians are currently being strongly advised to switch to the above mentioned medications in the most popular medical periodicals. However, simvastatin 80 mg cost remains the lowest in the class of statin medications.

Atorvastatin is available in the US market under the band name Lipitor (Pfizer). Simvastatin was originally sold under the brand name Zocor but now is widely available under its generic name because of patent expiry. Lipitor patent protect protection expires on Nov 30, 2011, which will result in atorvastatin price decrease and generic medication availability.

There were a number of researches comparing simvastatin vs atorvastatin. Both the medications seem to work equally well. However, the information and studies comparing simvastatin vs atorvastatin are sometimes controversial, which is natural in the light of the growing competence in the drug market. We’ll list some the objectives and findings below.

“A Comparison of Simvastatin and Atorvastatin up to Maximal Recommended Doses in a Large Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial”.

(Researchers: D. Roger Illingworth, Donald B. Hunninghake, John R. Crouse III, Ivan D. Escobar, Michael H. Davidson, Anton F. H. Stalenhoef, Minzhi Liu,Gyorgy Paragh, Michael R. Melino, Patrick T. S. Ma, Laura O’Grady, Michele Mercuri and Yale B. Mitchel for the Simvastatin Atorvastatin HDL Study Group)
Simvastatin was found more effective than atorvastatin at raising HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels in hypercholesterolemic patients, which suggests that statins differ in their capacity to raise HDL cholesterol.
The objective of the 36-week, double-blind, randomized, dose-titration study involving826 hypercholesterolemic participants.

“High-Dose Atorvastatin vs Usual-Dose Simvastatin for Secondary Prevention After Myocardial Infarction”

(Researchers: Terje R. Pedersen, MD, DMSc; MD, PhD; Ole Faergeman, MD, PhD; Anders G. Olsson, John J. P. Kastelein, MD, PhD; Matti J. Tikkanen, MD, PhD; PhD; Mogens Lytken Larsen, Ingar Holme, MD, DMSc; MD; Christina Lindahl, Fredrik S. Bendiksen, MD; Michael Szarek, MS; John Tsai, MD; for the Incremental Decrease in End Points Through Aggressive Lipid Lowering (IDEAL) Study Group).
The purpose of the study was to compare lipid lowering effects of simvastatin and atorvastatin on the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients who had myocardial infarction. Researchers found that intensive lowering of LDL-C with the help of simvastatin and atorvastatin did not reduce the primary outcome of major coronary events. However, reduction of other composite secondary end points and nonfatal acute MI was observed for both atorvastatin and simvastatin. Also, serious rhabdomyolysis and myopathy were scarce in both study groups. No differences in all-cause or cardiovascular mortality were observed, which means that intensive LDL-C lowering treatment is beneficial for patients with MI without an increase in noncardiovascular mortality or other serious adverse reactions. However, the rates of drug discontinuation due to nonserious side effects were higher atorvastatin group.

Atorvastatin compared with simvastatin-based therapies in the management of severe familial hyperlipidaemias

(Researchers:A.S. Wierzbicki, P.J. Lumb, Y. Semra, G. Chik, E.R. Christ1 and M.A. Crook)

Atorvastatin proved to be more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels than simvastatin, however, the occurrence of side effects was higher.

Atorvastatin vs Simvastatin: Triglycerides Reduction:

Researches at the Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Italy (Gentile S, Turco S, Guarino G, Sasso CF, Amodio M, Magliano P, Salvatore T, Corigliano G, Agrusta M, De Simone G, Gaeta I, Oliviero B, Torella R.) found that atorvastatin is much more effective in triglycerides reduction than all other statins (including simvastatin).

Summing up all of the above, atorvastatin vs simvastatin comparison looks like this:

Numerous studies suggest that atorvastatin is more effective than simvastatin in lowering LDL-cholesterol levels, however, at the cost higher and more severe occurrence of side-effects, which caused many patients to discontinue the medication.

As atorvastatin proved to be more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels than simvastatin, the same LDL lowering effect requires lower dose of atorvastatin than simvastatin.

Simvastatin is more effective than atorvastatin at raising HDL cholesterol and apo A-I levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.

As to price comparison, simvastatin is the winner for now because atorvastatin is still under patent protection in the USA so the costs of the medication are still too high due to lack competition. However, the patent expires on Nov 30, 2011, so Lipitor will be available as a generic version – atorvastatin.

According to the latest FDA guides, atorvastatin should be preferred over simvastatin 80mg doses in patients who have been taking simvastatin 80 mg for less than a year because of higher occurrence of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis in patients on simvastatin 80 mg. However, this recommendation should not be seen as simvastatin discrediting because simvastatin 80mg is not a common but the highest admissible dose which is only prescribed when the need to lower cholesterol is more important than the dangers of simvastatin side effects.
. The recommendation sounds logical considering that lower dose of atorvastatin is required for the same therapeutic effect.

And the last, some doctors express the opinion that the studies discrediting simvastatin are the result of marketing efforts of Pfizer. Switching to atorvastatin for patients taking lower doses of simvastatin and having smaller cholesterol lowering need is not recommended by many doctors.

Atorvastatin to Simvastatin Switching

Atorvastatin / simvastatin switching makes significant cost-saving sense without significant negative clinical consequences

Simvastatin to Atorvastatin Switching

Simvastatin to aorvastatin Switching can be recommended to patients whi have been taking Simvastatin 80 mg for less than one year or developed serios side effects.

Atorvastatin to Simvastatin: Equivalent Dosage

According to clinical practice, Atorvastatin 10 mg is equivalent to simvastatin 20 mg.

Simvastatin 40 mg is the most common dose of the medication prescribed for the treatment of high cholesterol, a health condition associated with the increased the risk of a heart attack and stroke. There are different types of statin medications, each class is prescribed in different circumstances. Specifically, simvastatin 40 mg is the treatment of choice when if you need to lower LDL cholesterol by more than 30 percent and/or suffer from diabetes or heart disease, have had a heart attack or have acute coronary syndrome. typically, the age group prescribed simvastatin 40 mg is 45 and older. The treatment course may start with smaller simvastatin dosage – 20 mg or 10 mg and then the dose may be increased. The the highest FDA-approved dose of simvastatin is 80 mg. However, the lowest possible dose is generally used (the one that is able to lower bad cholesterol to an acceptable, safe level) in order to minimize the risk of side effects.

What does Simvastatin 40 mg tablet look like?

Simvastatin 40 mg tablets are available in a number of forms, depending on the manufacturer (see simvastatin 40 mg picture below):

Side Effects of Simvastatin 40 mg

Simvastatin 40 mg side effects are basically the same as with any other simvastatin dosage. However, side effects of simvastatin 40 mg are more likely to occur than with smaller dosage. Some patients report experiencing simvastatin side effects after dosage increase or even shifting to another simvastatin manufacturer. Read more about simvastatin 40 mg side effects.

What’s the Cost of Simvastatin 40 mg

The cost of simvastatin 40 mg varies depending in a number of factors: brand of generic version, online or a traditional local pharmacy, the size of the package. The most general simvastatin 40 mg price range per 90 pill package is $30 to $100, the most common price is around $55 (according to Internet research).

Where to Buy Simvastatin 40 mg?

As a rule, the question refers to online pharmacies. Buy simvastatin 40 mg at reputable, licensed pharmacies only. Very often online pharmacies offer Simvastatin 40 mg at much lower costs than your local pharmacies, that is normal, for a number of reasons – they incur lower facility, rent and personnel costs (online support is cheaper), lower salaries, shipment directly from the manufacturer’s facility, etc. Just make sure the pharmacy is trustworthy. Always remember that simvastatin is a medication that should be taken with caution because of its side effects, so using a low quality medication may increase the risk of side effects of even put your life at a risk. As was mentioned above, some patients reported developing simvastatin side effects after switching to generic simvastatin or just changing the manufacturer. This does not mean that the generic 40 mg simvastatin is low quality. This only means that you should be careful about choosing the manufacturer and the place to buy simvastatin 40 mg.