Simvastatin is a medication used to lower the cholesterol levels in your blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can build up in your arteries and block the blood flow to your heart and brain. Such serious complications as a stroke or heart attack can result. Tell your doctor about your medications and whether you have diabetes, thyroid, kidney or any muscle disorders to prevent any serious interactions with simvastatin.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
According to the National Library of Medicine, simvastatin can harm your digestive tract and cause diarrhea, nausea, indigestion and flatulence (gas). In some cases, it may cause vomiting and an infection of your pancreas (pancreatitis) and liver (hepatitis).
Common Side Effects
MedlinePlus states that simvastatin can cause such common side effects as fever, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin) and lack of energy. Stomach pain, poor appetite, trouble breathing, hives and swelling of your throat, tongue or face are other common side effects of simvastatin.
Muscle Breakdown
Drugs.com states that simvastatin can cause your skeletal muscles to breakdown. Symptoms of this serious condition include muscle pain, muscle tenderness, muscle weakness and fever. When your muscles break down, they release myoglobin (protein in your muscles) that can reach your kidneys and cause kidney failure. Dark-colored urine is the result of myoglobin invading your kidney tract.
Other Physical Side Effects
The National Library of Medicine states that memory loss, numbness, tingling, anemia (low red blood cell counts), thrombocytopenia (low platelet cells), leukopenia (low white blood cells), photosensitivity (condition where you are sensitive to sun exposure) are just some other physical side effects of simvastatin. You may also develop hair loss (alopecia), gynecomastia (development of breasts in males), loss of sex drive and cataracts (clouding of your eye lenses).
Member Comments