Zocor 20mg #28

Zocor instruction

You can buy Zocor on this page

Composition

The drug Zocor contains the active ingredient simvastatin (10 or 20 mg), as well as additional components: lactose (in the form of monohydrates), ascorbic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, butylhydroxyanisole, magnesium stearate, starch, as well as substances that form the shell of the tablet.
Zocor Forte contains more active substance - 40 mg simvastatin.

Form of issue

Produced in the form of tablets, which covers the shell. Tablets containing 10 mg of simvastatin have a light pink color, an oval smooth shape on one side, and on the other there is an engraving "MSD 735".
Tablets that contain 20 mg of simvastatin have a tan color, an oval smooth shape on one side, and on the other there is an engraving "MSD 740".
Zocor Forte comes in the form of pills of pink color, having an oval smooth shape on one side, on the other there is an engraving "MSD 749".
The blister contains 14 tablets, the box can have one or two blisters.

pharmachologic effect

The drug has a pronounced hypolipidemic effect. As a part of the tablets, there is an active ingredient simvastatin, which during the hydrolysis turns into active compounds. Metabolite simvastatin inhibits the enzyme HMG-CoA-reductase. This enzyme takes part in the first period of cholesterol biosynthesis.
As a consequence, under the influence of Zocor, the level of cholesterol in the body is expressed, as well as the content of cholesterol, which binds low and very low density lipoproteins. The content of cholesterol in plasma triglycerides also decreases.
Simultaneously, when taking simvastatin, the level of cholesterol that binds high-density lipoproteins is expressed.
The effectiveness of the drug for different types of hyperlipidemia, in particular, heterozygous, family, non-family. Also, the drug is effective in mixed types of hyperlipidemia in the event that diet is not enough to normalize the lipid content in the plasma.
The number of lipids in the plasma is reduced 14 days after the start of treatment. The highest values ​​are observed at 4-6 weeks of treatment. Further, when receiving a remedy, this result is retained.
After the treatment is completed, gradually the total cholesterol levels in the plasma return to the baseline, which were noted before the start of the drug.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

The highest concentration in the blood of simvastatin metabolites is observed after 1.3-2.4 hours after the person took a single dose of the drug. In the body, approximately 85% of simvastatin taken orally is absorbed.
After internal reception in comparison with other tissues, a higher concentration of active substance is observed in the liver.
During the first passage through the bloodstream of the liver, simvastatin is metabolized, after which the drug and its metabolites are excreted from the body with bile.
Eating immediately after taking the medication does not interfere with the pharmacokinetics of the drug. With prolonged therapy, simvastatin does not accumulate in the tissues of the body.

Indications for use

The use of Zocor is shown to people who belong to a group with a high risk of developing coronary heart disease regardless of the lipid content in the blood. The risk group includes people with the following concomitant conditions:
    cerebrovascular pathologies, including stroke (in the anamnesis);
    diabetes mellitus (the drug can prevent the manifestation of peripheral vascular complications and reduce the need for revascularization and amputation of the lower limbs);
    pathology of peripheral blood flow.
The drug is used in the treatment of people diagnosed with coronary heart disease and patients with hypercholesterolemia. In this case, Zocor can prevent the manifestation of atherosclerotic lesions of blood vessels in the heart, the development of other complications.
Also Zocor is assigned to adult patients in such cases:
    people with high levels of total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and cholesterol, which is bound by low-density lipoproteins, in combination with dietary nutrition;
    with hypertriglyceridemia;
    with a lowered level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is associated with primary hypercholesterolemia while dieting;
    at homozygous familial form of hypercholesterolemia in parallel with other methods of treatment and diet.

Contraindications

Absolute contraindications for the use of Zocor are:
    disturbed absorption and metabolism of lactose;
    acute liver disease, a significant and sustained increase in the number of transaminases of unknown genesis;
    individual intolerance;
    pregnancy and natural feeding;
    age up to 10 years.
Relative contraindications for the use of Zocor are:
    decreased renal function;
    decreased liver function;
    alcoholism;
    diabetes mellitus, lasting many years;
In such cases, the drug is administered with caution.

Side effects

Such side effects may appear during the treatment of patients with Zocor:
    feeling of discomfort and pain in the abdomen, bloating, violation of defecation;
    headache, a feeling of general weakness, anemia;
    dizziness, convulsions, peripheral neuropathy, paresthesia, memory and sleep disorders;
    rash on the skin, alopecia, itching.
In rare cases, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis in the process of taking simvastatin, and a decrease in liver function were noted. Cases of myalgia development were recorded. In general, Zocor is well tolerated by patients.
When hypersensitivity to the drug can develop edema Quincke, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia, arthritis, increased ESR, arthralgia, etc.

Instructions for the use of Zocor (Method and dosage)

Instructions for use Zocor provides that the patient takes the pill orally, regardless of the intake of food. The daily dose of the drug should be taken in the evening, there is no need to divide it into several receptions.
On average, the dose of simvastatin per day is 5-80 mg. More than 80 mg of simvastatin per day can not be taken.
The dose is picked up by a doctor, while taking into account the level of lipids in the plasma. The dose of the drug is adjusted no more often than once in 4 weeks.
With the purpose of prevention and treatment of IHD against the background of the diet, a daily dose of 40 mg of simvastatin is initially prescribed.
With hypercholesterolemia, if diet therapy does not produce the desired results, a daily dose of 20 mg of simvastatin per day is prescribed. If the lipid content in the plasma needs to be reduced by 45% or more, initially the dose per day can be 40 mg.
If a patient has a moderately severe or mild form of hypercholesterolemia, the dose per day can be reduced to 10 mg.
The doctor determines the required dose of the drug, previously measuring the level of lipids and monitoring the effectiveness of the drug after the start of therapy. If, 4 weeks after the start of therapy, there is no expected effect, then the dose of the drug is increased, but gradually, until a pronounced effect is noted.
In case of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia against the background of diet and other medication, the starting dose of Zocor should be 40 mg per day or 80 mg of simvastatin should be given, with the condition that 20 mg of the agent take in the afternoon and 40 mg in the evening.
Teenagers with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia are prescribed initially 10 mg of medication per day. The greatest daily dose of medication for adolescents is 40 mg.

Overdose

In case of an overdose, standard methods of overcoming the consequences of drug intoxication are practiced.

Interaction

A pronounced positive effect is observed with simultaneous treatment with Zocor and bile acid sequestrants.
With the simultaneous administration of fibrates, cyclosporine and lipid-lowering doses of niacin per day, you can take no more than 10 mg of Zocor.
People receiving Verapamil and Amiodarone should not drink more than 20 mg of simvastatin per day.
On the enzymatic activity of CYP3 A4, simvastatin does not work.
With the simultaneous administration of drugs that inhibit the activity of CYP3 A4, the likelihood of developing myopathy and rhabdomyolysis in those taking simvastatin increases. It is necessary not to combine Zocor with itraconazole, Erythromycin, Nefazodone, Ketoconazole, Telithromycin.
The likelihood of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis increases with simultaneous administration of amiodarone, diltiazem, gemfibrozil, cyclosporine, niacin, fusidic acid, danazol, verapamil, fibrates.
Under the influence of Zocor, the effect of coumarin anticoagulants is enhanced.
With the intake of more than 1 liter of grapefruit juice per day, there is a clinically significant increase in the concentration of simvastatin in plasma, which increases the likelihood of rhabdomyolysis.
When taking 20-40 mg of simvastatin per day, potentiation of the effect of coumarin anticoagulants occurs. As a consequence, the risk of bleeding increases.

Storage conditions

Keep away from light, at a temperature of no more than 25 degrees Celsius, protect from access by children.

Shelf life

Can store 2 years.

special instructions

Like other drugs - inhibitors of GM-CoA reductase, Zocor can provoke the development of myopathy. Sometimes it manifests itself in the form of rhabdomyolysis, which in some cases accompanies acute renal failure.
It should avoid joint taking Zocor and drugs, which, if taken at the same time, can trigger the manifestation of myopathy.
All patients who are assigned Zocor should be warned about the likelihood of manifesting myopathy and the need to immediately consult a doctor after developing the first symptoms of this disease. At the first suspicion of the development of myopathy treatment should be suspended.
In some patients who received Zocor, an increase in the level of hepatic enzymes was noted. After the suspension of treatment, the indicators gradually returned to the initial level.
Before starting a course of therapy, it is important to conduct a study of liver function. This test should be repeated before increasing the dose of simvastatin to a daily maximum.
With moderate renal failure, the patient does not need to reduce the dose of the drug. In severe cases of kidney failure, a dose of a drug of more than 10 mg may be administered only after the approval of the attending physician.

Children

There is insufficient information on the use of this drug in children, so this tool is not used to treat children under 10 years of age.
Zocor is used to treat a family heterozygous form of hypercholesterolemia in adolescents against the background of a diet. Under the influence of the drug, the level of triglycerides, cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B decreases.
Treatment of girls with the drug is practiced only if the menstruation of a teenage girl started at least one year ago.

In pregnancy and lactation

Contraindicated in the use of this drug during pregnancy and feeding the baby breast milk. When taking simvastatin during pregnancy, there may be abnormalities in the development of the fetus.
During lactation, if necessary, use Zocor, you need to stop feeding.

Reviews about Zocor

In the network there are positive responses about Zocor, in which users note the effectiveness of the drug. It is a question of what Zocor really effectively reduces cholesterol. But it is necessary to apply it to get the expected action within the period of time that is determined by the attending physician. Also, there are many positive reviews about this drug, as a preventive tool.