Zocor
| Noun | 1. | Zocor - an oral lipid-lowering medicine (trade name Zocor) administered to reduce blood cholesterol levels; recommended after heart attacks |
Zocor
simvastatin
Pharmacologic class: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
Therapeutic class: Antihyperlipidemic
Pregnancy risk category X
Action
Inhibits hepatic enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, interrupting cholesterol synthesis and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) consumption. Net effect is total cholesterol and serum triglyceride reductions.
Availability
Tablets: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg
Indications and dosages
➣ Adjunct to diet to reduce risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths, cardiovascular events, and hyperlipidemia
Adults: Initially, 10 to 20 mg P.O. daily in the evening. For patients at high risk for a CHD event due to existing CHD, diabetes, peripheral vessel disease, or history of stroke or other cerebrovascular disease, initial dosage is 40 mg/day. Range is 5 to 40 mg/day. Restrict use of 80-mg dose to patients who have been taking simvastatin 80 mg long term (for example, for 12 months or more) without evidence of muscle toxicity. Patients unable to achieve their LDL-C goal utilizing 40-mg dose should not be titrated to 80-mg dose, but should be placed on alternative LDL-C-lowering treatment that provides greater LDL-C lowering effects.
➣ Adjunct to other lipid-lowering treatments (such as LDL apheresis) or if such treatments are unavailable for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia
Adults: 40 mg/day P.O. in the evening.
➣ Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia after failure of an adequate trial of diet therapy
Adolescent boys and postmenarchal girls ages 10 to 17: Initially, 10 mg P.O. daily in the evening. Range is 10 to 40 mg/day; maximum dose is 40 mg/day. Adjust at intervals of 4 weeks or longer.
Dosage adjustment
• Severe renal impairment
• Concurrent use of amiodarone, amlodipine, diltiazem, fibrates, niacin, ranolazine, verapamil, or voriconazole
• Elderly patients
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug or its components
• Active hepatic disease or unexplained persistent serum transaminase elevations
• Concurrent use of cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil, or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
• Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant
• Breastfeeding patients
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• severe renal impairment; severe acute infection; hypotension; severe metabolic, endocrine, or electrolyte problems; uncontrolled seizures; visual disturbances; myopathy; major surgery; trauma; alcoholism
• history of hepatic disease, liver enzyme abnormalities
• concurrent use of amiodarone, amlodipine, colchicine, digoxin, diltiazem, and lipid-modifying dosages (1 g/day or more) of niacincontaining products, other fibrates, ranolazine, verapamil, or warfarin
• concurrent use of simvastatin in dosages exceeding 20 mg/day with lipid-modifying dosages (1 g/day or more) of niacin-containing products in Chinese patients (avoid use)
• large quantities of grapefruit juice (avoid use)
• elderly patients
• children younger than age 10 (safety not established).
Administration
• Check liver function tests before starting therapy.
• Give with evening meal. Don't give with large amounts of grapefruit juice.
Adverse reactions
CNS: headache, asthenia
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain or cramps, flatulence, dyspepsia
Musculoskeletal: myalgia, rhabdomyolysis
Respiratory: upper respiratory infection
Interactions
Drug-drug. Amiodarone, calcium channel blockers (such as amlodipine, diltiazem, verapamil), colchicine, other lipid-lowering drugs (such as fibrates or lipid-modifying doses of niacin-containing products), ranolazine, voriconazole: increased risk of myopathy including rhabdomyolysis
Cyclosporine, danazol, diltiazem, gemfibrozil, nefazodone, strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (clarithromycin, erythromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, telithromycin): increased risk of severe myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
Digoxin: slightly increased digoxin blood level
Warfarin: modestly increased anticoagulant effects
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase: increased levels
Drug-food. Grapefruit juice (more than 1 qt daily): increased drug blood level, greater risk of adverse reactions
Drug-behaviors. Alcohol use: increased risk of hepatotoxicity
Patient monitoring
See Watch closely for myositis and other adverse musculoskeletal reactions. Know that drug may cause rhabdomyolysis.
• Monitor liver function tests, CBC, and lipid levels.
• In patients receiving warfarin concurrently, closely monitor prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio.
Patient teaching
• Advise patient to take with evening meal, but not with large amounts of grapefruit juice.
• Tell patient drug may take up to 4 weeks to be effective.
See Caution patient to stop taking drug and contact prescriber if she suspects she is pregnant.
See Teach patient to recognize and report signs and symptoms of myopathy or hepatic disorders.
• Instruct patient to avoid alcohol use.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, foods, herbs, and behaviors mentioned above.
Zocor
(zō′kôr′)simvastatin
A lipid-lowering HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor used to improve lipid profiles and reduce mortality from coronary heart diseasse, diabetes and stroke.Effect
Decreases total cholesterol by 27%, LDL-C by 35–60%, triglycerides by 20–37%, and increases HDL-C by 5–9%.
Adverse effects
Constipation, flatulence, dyspepsia, abdominal pain, myalgia, muscle weakness.
Zocor®
Simvastatin, see there.Zocor
A brand name for SIMVASTATIN.Patient discussion about Zocor
Q. Is it true that Zocor helps to prevent heart attacks? I am a 54 years old male, and I have family history of cardio vascular diseases. My physician prescribed me Zocor and said it will lower the chance for heart attacks. If it is true how come not all of the population is taking this drug? Is it really a good way to prevent cardio vasculare diseases?
Q. My husband takes Zocor (20mg) for his hyperlipidemia. by mistake he took 3 pills (60mg). What to do? My husband suffers from high blood lipids and he is treated with Zocor (Simvastatin). he should take one pill of 20 mg per day. By accident he took 3 pills (60mg) in one day. what to do?
Zocor overdose symptoms will be myalgia and red urine (in a severe overdose) if your husband have one of those symptoms go to the ER as soon as possible.
Zocor
- noun
Synonyms for Zocor
noun an oral lipid-lowering medicine (trade name Zocor) administered to reduce blood cholesterol levels
Synonyms
- simvastatin
Related Words
- lipid-lowering medication
- lipid-lowering medicine
- statin
- statin drug
- brand
- brand name
- marque
- trade name