If your LDL, or bad cholesterol, is high, chances are your doctor will prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication for you. According to the American Heart Association, the most effective drugs for this are statins, a class of drugs that block the production of cholesterol in your body. Simvastatin is one of these drugs. Prior to taking Simvastatin, you should educate yourself about its side effects.
Minor Side Effects
Headaches and general weakness are considered normal, as are diarrhea and gas. You may be more prone to upper respiratory infections, suffer from abdominal pain, constipation or indigestion. Nausea may also be a problem, along with localized muscle pain. If these mild side effects do not subside, contact your doctor; you may need an adjustment in your dose.
Joint Pain
When first starting Simvastatin, you may notice yourself suffering from joint pain. While not always common, it is possible. To help relieve your discomfort, you can try over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Moist heat from a shower or bath may also be helpful, as well as dry heat from a heating pad, applied for a period of 15 minutes. If you experience this problem for two months or more, eMedTV.com recommends speaking to your doctor about it so that he may adjust your dose or change your medication.
Depression
Considered a serious side effect of simvastatin, depressive symptoms should be reported immediately to your doctor if they begin after you begin your treatment. Signs of depression include a constant feeling of sadness; feelings of guilt or hopelessness; a decrease in energy or constant fatigue; insomnia; suicidal thoughts; irritability; problems concentrating or making decisions; loss of appetite followed by weight loss, or increased appetite followed by weight gain and a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is an extremely serious condition that can develop from taking simvastatin. It causes a breakdown of your muscles and can result in kidney failure. While muscle aches are considered common side effects, once they are accompanied by a fever and a general feeling of illness, it becomes a much more serious side effect that your doctor needs to know about immediately. In these cases, your medication will be discontinued. If left unreported and untreated, these simple muscle aches can lead to rhabdomyolysis.
