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Simvastatin Side Effects - Introduction
Simvastatin is a butonic acid that helps block the production of bad cholesterols in the body. It also helps increase the level of good cholesterol in the blood supply. The end result of ingesting such drug include reducing the risk of arterial hardening due to plaque build-up, which may result to heart attacks, peripheral vascular diseases and even stroke. It is a maintenance drug to promote better heart functions and is usually prescribed with medical advice to follow a better diet and do more exercises.
How to Take Simvastatin
Be sure to take simvastatin only when your doctor prescribes it, and make sure you understand all his directives regarding the drug. Other drugs and medications trigger allergic reactions to simvastatin, so please be prudent enough to understand the doctor's instructions, and understand it well.
Simvastatin is usually prescribed to be taken at night, just before bed time, or after the evening meal and should never be taken on an empty stomach. After several months of taking the drug, doctors could then prescribe higher doses if need be.
When one is given simvastatin, it is usually given that there should also be a change to a healthier life style. This drug is, after all, for the maintenance and prolonging of a healthy heart - specifically, yours. Remember too that not everyone is a candidate for simvastatin. Be sure to ask your doctor about this.
Side Effects of Simvastatin
Simvastatin is supposed to be taken strictly by prescription only and not on your own. The doses should be 5 to 80 mg/day, taken preferably in the evening. There is another cholesterol control drug known as lipitor. When the comparison of simvastatin vs lipitor is done, the latter is always preferred due to lesser side effects. Thus, a few drugs and medications have to be taken in proper doses to avoid their side effects on the body. Dose adjustments can be made at weekly intervals, but you need to consult your physician before you make any changes. There are many simvastatin side effects that occur mostly due to the changes in the dosage, but not everyone is prone to these. Some people may stand the side effects and some may not. Thus, find out what the simvastatin side effects are related to.
Muscle Pain
Simvastatin side effects and muscle pain go hand in hand as this is the most common side effect observed. This pain may be felt as soreness, tiredness and weakness in the muscles. When the pain is experienced it can cause very mild discomfort and if not tended, can lead to severe pain, which will interfere with daily activities like walking and climbing. Some rare cases show that statins and muscle pain have caused life threatening muscle damage known as "rhabdomyolysis". This disorder can cause liver damage, kidney failure and then death, and it usually occurs when these drugs combine with some other drugs.
Liver Damage
Simvastatin could cause your liver to increase its production of enzymes occasionally. If the increase of these enzymes is less, continuing the drug doesn't make a difference, but if it's severe, you have to stop taking the drug. Alcohol consumption also increases the formation of cholesterol in the blood and thus ,when you are taking this drug, it is best to avoid alcohol. Simvastatin and alcoholnin poisog therefore cannot be treated once it has interfered with the mechanism of the drug. This can lead to further liver damage and eventually liver failure, which is mostly fatal.
Simvastatin Side Effects and Grapefruit for Digestion
There are not many digestive simvastatin side effects, but nausea, diarrhea or constipation may be observed individually. Though drinking fluids along with the medicine can be healthy, but make sure you stay away from grapefruit juices, while on this medication. The reason being, when statins and grapefruit are consumed at or around the same time, the components of grapefruit prevent the enzyme systems from breaking down the drug, causing it to accumulate in high amounts. This can be very dangerous to our health and can lead to liver damage.
Other Simvastatin Side Effects
Simvastatin side effects and hair loss are also commonly observed, as simvastatin causes up to 50% lowering of blood cholesterol and also has an impact on hair growth. Since, cholesterol indirectly relates to the major hormones which contribute in the growth and maintenance of hair, lowering of it affects hair growth majorly. The fewer building blocks, the lesser is the stability of hair growth and hence, a large amount of hair loss is observed as a side effect of simvastatin. Some rare side effects can be memory loss, depression, joint pain, flatulence and upper respiratory infections.
With these simvastatin side effects, some common while the others very rare, you must have got the idea, of the strength of the drug. It is a very useful drug which is recommended by many doctors, but you cannot ignore its side effects. Thus, make sure you consult your physician and consume this drug only on prescription.
