What Are Simvastatin Tablets?
Simvastatin tablets are a medication prescribed by doctors for lowering cholesterol levels. Cholesterol levels need to be controlled to reduce a person's risk of heart disease. Along with taking simvastatin tablets, a doctor will likely recommend a diet and exercise plan to also help lower a person's cholesterol.
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Identification
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Simvastatin tablets are the generic form of Zocor. This medication belongs to a class of drugs known as statins. The tablets come in both regular and quick dissolve forms. The quick dissolve tablets will disintegrate in the mouth when consumed. Dosage amounts for simvastatin tablets are the following: 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg and 80mg.
Function
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Simvastatin tablets work by affecting the function of enzymes found in the liver. The medication inhibits the production of liver enzymes that are needed for the production of cholesterol. The drug will lower a person's LDL cholesterol levels while increasing the good HDL cholesterol levels. Changing these levels can greatly reduce a person's risk of coronary disease.
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Time Frame
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A doctor usually recommends that simvastatin is taken daily at night. If you experience stomach upset, you may want to take the drug with a small amount of food. Your doctor will likely not measure your cholesterol levels for at least a month after starting the medication since it normally takes that long to take effect.
Effects
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Prior to taking simvastatin tablets, you should be aware of the drug's side effects. Side effects include stomach discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches. If you take a liver function test, the results will likely come back abnormal as well. In very rare cases, liver damage can occur from long time use of simvastatin tablets. Muscle breakdown can also occur, which is why it is important to tell your doctor about any muscle aches while taking the drug.
Warning
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Do not take simvastatin tablets if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Cholesterol is needed in order to help achieve normal fetal development. Your doctor may not give you simvastatin tablets if you are still at a child bearing age.
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