Simvastatin (Oral Route)

Simvastatin is used together with a proper diet to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride (fat) levels in the blood. This medicine may help prevent medical problems (eg, heart attacks, strokes) caused by clogged blood vessels. Simvastatin may also be used to prevent certain types of heart problems in patients with risk factors for heart problems.

Simvastatin belongs to the group of medicines called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, or statins. It works to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood by blocking an enzyme that is needed to make cholesterol.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet
• Suspension
• Tablet, Disintegrating

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of simvastatin in children 10 to 17 years of age. However, safety and efficacy of simvastatin in children younger than 10 years of age have not been established.

Teenage girls taking simvastatin should be counseled on appropriate birth control methods to prevent pregnancy.

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Cranberry Juice
• Grapefruit Juice

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage forms (suspension or tablets):
  • For high cholesterol:
    • Adults—At first, 10 to 20 milligrams (mg) once a day in the evening. For high risk patients who may develop heart disease, your doctor may start your dose at 40 mg per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 40 mg per day.
    • Children 10 to 17 years of age—At first, 10 mg once a day in the evening. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 40 mg per day.
    • Children younger than 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.