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Other brands with the same active ingredient
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Simvastatin). Strength and form may differ — confirm substitution with your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Indications & Uses
Sim is indicated for:
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
Before starting Simvastatin, the patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol lowering diet, and this diet should be continued throughout treatment. The usual starting dose is 10 mg per day, taken as a single dose in the evening. If the dose needs to be adjusted, this should be done at intervals of at least four weeks, up to a maximum of 40 mg daily taken as a single dose in the evening. If LDL-cholesterol falls below 2 mmol/L or total plasma cholesterol falls below 3.5 mmol/L, reducing the dose of Simvastatin should be considered. In hypercholesterolemia, the recommended starting dose is 5 to 10 mg once a day in the evening, and the recommended dosing range is 5 to 40 mg per day taken as a single dose in the evening. In patients with coronary heart disease and hypercholesterolemia, the starting dose should be 20 mg once a day in the evening. Because Simvastatin is not excreted through the kidneys to any significant extent, dose adjustment should not be necessary in patients with renal insufficiency. Safety and effectiveness in children and adolescents have not been established.
Side Effects
Vastocor is generally well tolerated. Reported side effects include headache, fatigue, insomnia, and gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, flatulence, dyspepsia, and abdominal cramps, as well as muscular effects such as myalgia, myositis, and myopathy. Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria have been associated with Vastocor therapy. Hepatitis, pancreatitis, rash, and angio-oedema have also been reported. No potentially life-threatening effects have been reported.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Use with caution in patients with a history of liver disease and in those who consume large amounts of alcohol. Liver function tests should be performed before starting treatment and periodically during treatment. If serum transaminase levels rise to three times the upper limit of normal, treatment should be discontinued. Pregnancy should be avoided during treatment and for one month after stopping it.
Contraindications
Simvastatin should not be used in active liver disease; in pregnant and breastfeeding mothers; in women of child-bearing age unless they are adequately protected by contraception; in patients with hypersensitivity to any component of the preparation; or in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia who have a complete absence of LDL receptors.