Simvastatin, is the generic drug marketed under several brands including Zocor, Simlup and Simcard. It belongs to a group of cholesterol-lowering medications called statins. Although highly effective in lowering your LDL cholesterol levels, simvastatin also comes with a variety of side effects, some more serious than others. The severity of your side effects will generally depend on the dosage, and while many patients experience very few of these side effects, according to eMedTV.com, roughly one percent discontinue its use due to them.
Common Side Effects
According to the experts at eMedTV.com, the most common side effects of simvastatin include gas (flatulence), diarrhea, constipation, weakness, indigestion, nausea, headaches, susceptibility to upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain, and myalgia (muscle pain or tenderness).
Severe Side Effects
The experts at Drugs.com state that while rare, severe side effects may accompany the use of simvastatin. If you experience any of the following, you need to seek immediate medical attention. These side effects include fever, dark urine, rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, numbness or tingling of your extremities (hands or feet), changes in your vision, unusual bleeding or bruising, jaundice and severe dizziness. These side effects most frequently occur when simvastatin is coupled with niacin, another cholesterol-lowering drug.
Rare Side Effects
The experts at eMedTV.com state that there are rare side effects which occur in less than one percent of patients taking simvastatin. These include, but are not limited to, loss of memory, insomnia, anxiety, depression, muscle cramps, a breakdown of the muscle (a condition known as rhabdomyolysis), impotence, eczema, unexplained rash, development of breasts in men and boys and vertigo (a spinning sensation).
Signs of Allergic Reaction
Some patients are allergic to simvastatin. According to Drugs.com, signs of a severe allergic reaction include swelling of your face, lips, mouth and throat, development of hives, difficulty breathing, chest tightness and becoming hoarse. If you experience any of these, seek emergency medical attention.
Effects of the Liver
According to the medical experts at eMedTV.com, increased liver enzymes occur in about one percent of those taking simvastatin. This can cause liver damage and result in cirrhosis, hepatoma (liver cancer), a fatty liver, hepatitis and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
