As a general rule, patients react differently to different medication because of difference in dosage taken as well as the body’s reaction to the treatment. Like all other drugs, though Simvastatin is considered as a powerful drug to treat patients with increased levels of cholesterol, still there may be side effects as this medication is taken. Some patients did not experience any of the side effects noted for this drug, while others reported of having experienced it.
As a whole it is well noted that this drug is tolerated in the system by most users. Documented clinical studies show that the side effects reported were characteristically endured by most patients. Some of the minor side effects can even be remedied by the doctor as well as the patient.
The top three reported Simvastatin side effects:
- headache
- abdominal pain
- feeling of weakness or asthenia
Statistics show that 3.5% of the group reported headache, 3.2% of abdominal pain and 1.6% of general feeling of weakness. Other noted side effects are constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, flatulence, nausea, upper respiratory infections and muscle pain or myalgia. These are general side effects that a patient may experience taking other types of medication for a particular disease. Normally, if one experiences headache he may take in an analgesic for the pain. There are first line medication and even proper diet and better healthcare to remedy the mentioned side effects.
According to the studies done there are also reported side effects that attributed to about 1% only of the population of the group that was tested. The mentioned side effects are muscle cramps, muscle aches, severe breakdown of muscle or rhabdomyolysis, joint pain, memory loss, insomnia, depression, anxiety, allergic reactions, breast development in boys or gynecomastia, pancreatitis, hepatitis, worsening of cataracts, itchy skin, unexplained rash, eczema, impotence, increased liver enzymes and having a spinning sensation or vertigo. Some who may have experienced any form of allergic reaction, rash and itchiness may generally be allergic to the components of Simvastatin. Normally, a patient experiencing this must immediately cease taking the medication and seek the doctor’s advice to be prescribed another medication. The other side effects may be isolated cases in that the percentage of patients having experienced it is only less than one percent.
Other cases reported may also be attributed to increased dosage taken. Physician and patient have to discuss possible adverse effects or proper dosage of Simvastatin to be taken with regards to the condition of the disease being treated.
What is Simvastatin?
Cholesterol is one of the body’s essential components for the production of bile acids, Vitamin D, and hormones like steroids. Yet too much for something is dangerous to health. When there is increased cholesterol in the body, it leads to serious problems affecting the regular flow of blood in the circulation. As these cholesterol build ups will form into plaques in the blood vessel walls and obstructs the passage of blood resulting to inadequate amount of blood circulating throughout the other parts of the body. And this is when serious problems happen.
But as the human minds continue to work, think, and discover; effective medicines are made and health problems are solved. With increased cholesterol, there is a drug made for it called Simvastatin. When increased levels of cholesterols in the blood are acted upon, lowering it can prevent further health problems such as heart attack, stroke, and other cardiac problems that are brought about with the uncontrolled increased cholesterol in the body.
Every drug made have effects in the body, may it be therapeutically or can harm the body. There is no such drug existing from Pharmaceutical companies that don’t have side effects. It is known that Simvastatin can cause muscle tissues breakdown resulting to serious kidney failure. Early symptoms of this condition are inexplicable muscle ache, fatigue, dark-colored urine, and muscle tenderness that is accompanies with fever. Always ask for the doctor’s prescription and follow the right dosage before taking it.
There are also other important things to note for before and while taking this medicine. Upon consultation with the doctor, a thorough assessment is done. It is very helpful that you inform the doctor the medical and health histories you have had. Also inform the doctor what current medication you are taking for specific health conditions like liver and kidney diseases. These conditions must be presented as these systems are most important in the drug metabolism and excretion.
Never take this drug or any other medications when you suspect you are pregnant and especially when you are. It is known that Simvastatin can interact with grapefruits and its juices, thus do not take more than a quart of grapefruit juice a day.
This site contains information on the side effects of various drugs. If you are here, you or someone you know might be suffering from symptoms. These symptoms vary in severity and could be serious.