Zocor

What is it?

A lipid-lowering and statin available as film-coated tablets in 4 strengths, all containing simvastatin. Peach-coloured, oval. contain 10mg, marked ZOCOR 10; tan-coloured, oval, contain 20mg, marked ZOCOR 20; red, oval, contain 40mg, marked MSD 749; capsule-shaped, red, contain 80mg, marked 80 and 543.

Medical Uses

Primary high blood cholesterol levels, with dietary measures, lowering of blood lipid levels, to slow progression of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis, to reduce risk of mortality, death from coronary disease, reduce risks for patients undergoing certain surgical heart procedures.

Dosage

Adults, high blood lipid levels, start with 10mg taken at night, altered to match response at 4 week intervals, within the range 10 to 80mg. Coronary heart disease, start with 20mg as single nightly dose, then adjust every 4 weeks according to response to nightly maximum of 80mg. Certain high blood cholesterol conditions, 40mg as single nightly dose or 80mg each day in 3 divided doses.

Special Care

Past liver disease, check liver function.

Avoid Use

Children, pregnancy, breastfeeding; women should use non-hormonal contraception, liver disease.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Cyclosporin, macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin, digoxin, coumarin anticoagulants, clarithromycin, nefazodone, gemfibrozil, nicotinic acid, immunosuppressants, azole antifungals, protease inhibitors, other CYP3A4 inhibitors, grapefruit juice.

Known Side Effects

Headache, gastrointestinal upset, abdominal pain, weakness, muscle cramps and pains, anaemia, dizziness, baldness, weakness, numbness/tingling/'pins and needles sensation', peripheral nerve damage, pancreatitis. In rare cases, jaundice, hepatitis, muscle disease, disintegration of striated muscle fibres.