Do you know nearly half of the average Americans have to deal with the problems of high cholesterol levels? High cholesterol levels, particularly high level of bad cholesterol or Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), can have adverse impacts on your health in the form of choking of your arteries and growing risk of heart attack, stroke, or other heart diseases. Zocor (Simvastatin) offers an effective treatment for decreasing LDL cholesterol levels and increasing high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the blood.

As a satin drug, Simvastatin is a powerful inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) that makes bad cholesterol in the body. So when this particular enzyme is prevented from performing its primary activity, the LDL level as well as the level of other fatty substances like triglyceride goes down in the blood. Consequently, you’ll have probably fewer risks of heart attack, stroke, angina, heart diseases, and vascular diseases. The level of good cholesterol or HDL may also increase in the process. Zocor (Simvastatin) treatment must be carried out along with a proper exercise, diet and weight control program.

Zocor pills or tablets are orally administered and contain 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg Simvastatin which is the active ingredient in this medication. There are also many inactive ingredients such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, hypromellose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, iron oxides, starch, magnesium stearate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Zocor (Simvastatin) as a cholesterol-lowering drug is indicated for patients with rising LDL level. It can lower LDL levels by up to 50%. Recent research on Simvastatin and other statin drugs shows their effectiveness in blocking the progression of atherosclerosis that involves fatty deposits inside the arterial walls, hence contracting the arteries. There also certain explanations regarding its repressive consequence on macrophages in the atherosclerotic plaque wounds.

Zocor is also indicated in patients suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) or at high risk of having it. It can be initiated concurrently with diet when the response to a diet plan deprived of saturated fat and cholesterol, and other non-drug measures alone has been below standard.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

A wide range of doses is available with Simvastatin, usually between 5 and 80 mg per day. The most recommended starting dose is 20 to 40 mg once a day with the evening meal. Patients who are suffering from coronary heart disease (CHD) or highly prone to this disease must be administered 40 mg Simvastatin per day as a starting dose. The same dosage is also recommended for patients with diabetes, history of stroke, peripheral vessel disease, or other cerebrovascular disease. In order to ascertain the effect of Zocor on cholesterol level, lipid determinations must be done after 4 weeks of treatment and at regular time intervals from then on.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Zocor (Simvastatin) is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to this drug or any of its ingredients. Patients with active liver disease that may also include undetermined relentless raisings in hepatic transaminase levels should not use this medication. It is also contraindicated in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Satin drugs like Simvastatin have the potentiality for severe adverse reactions in nursing infants. So, women who want to begin Zocor therapy should not breastfeed their babies.