Simvastatin

Written by Sarah Lewis, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on June 27, 2023

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved simvastatin to:

• reduce the risk of death by lowering the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and the need for some kinds of surgery in certain adults
• lower cholesterol levels in adults with various conditions that cause elevated cholesterol or triglyceride levels
• lower cholesterol levels in adults and some children with certain types of conditions that can be passed down through families

This article describes simvastatin’s uses, side effects, and more. You’ll also find some coupon options to help save on the cost of simvastatin.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as simvastatin for certain conditions. Approved uses for simvastatin are described below.

Use for certain heart and blood vessel conditions

Doctors may prescribe simvastatin oral tablet for treating high cholesterol and other blood fats, such as triglycerides. And it’s used for a rare form of high cholesterol that’s passed along through families. This form is called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Simvastatin is used for these purposes in adults.

It’s also used in adults and children 10 years and older to treat another form of high cholesterol that’s passed along through families. This form is called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).

Doctors may also prescribe simvastatin oral tablet to reduce the risk of death by lowering the risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and the need for some kinds of surgery. It’s used for this purpose in high risk adults who have:

• heart disease
• conditions affecting the blood vessels supplying the brain
• conditions affecting the blood vessels outside the heart and brain
• diabetes

It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

With high cholesterol, you have high blood lipids (fats), which can include triglycerides. It’s possible to have high cholesterol and not have any symptoms. But having high cholesterol can lead to heart disease and other blood vessel problems. Treating it usually involves making changes to your diet. Taking simvastatin can also help.

Simvastatin is prescribed together with other cholesterol-lowering treatments to treat HoFH.

Doctors may not prescribe simvastatin oral tablet in certain situations, such as for people who take certain medications or have liver disease.

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about simvastatin.

How does simvastatin compare with atorvastatin?

Simvastatin and atorvastatin are both HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. This group of drugs is commonly called statins or statin drugs. These medications work in the same way and treat the same kinds of conditions. They also have similar side effects and warnings.

Atorvastatin is more potent than simvastatin. This means that higher doses of atorvastatin will be more effective than higher doses of simvastatin. Some people need this stronger option to reduce cholesterol levels.

To learn more about how these two drugs compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I take simvastatin with ezetimibe or amlodipine?

Possibly. Simvastatin and ezetimibe can be taken together safely. In fact, there’s a generic drug that combines simvastatin and ezetimibe into one pill. There’s also a brand-name drug called Vytorin that combines the two cholesterol-lowering medications.

With simvastatin and amlodipine, however, you’ll need to be careful. Doctors may prescribe them together, but the combination increases the risk of certain simvastatin-related muscle problems. Because of this, doctors adjust the dose of simvastatin and limit the amount. They’ll also watch for signs of muscle problems.

If you have questions about taking simvastatin with other drugs, talk with your doctor. Be sure to tell them about all the medications you take.

What brand names are available for simvastatin?

Simvastatin is available as the brand-name drug Zocor.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

To learn more about Zocor, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does simvastatin work? And how long does it take to start working?

Simvastatin works by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme helps your body make cholesterol. Blocking this enzyme reduces your body’s ability to make cholesterol.

Simvastatin will start working right away. But it can take up to 4 weeks to see its full cholesterol-lowering effects. Because of this, doctors usually wait 4 weeks to check whether they need to adjust the dose of simvastatin.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Below, you’ll find information about simvastatin’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of simvastatin

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take simvastatin, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for simvastatin” section below.

Warnings for simvastatin

Some people should not take simvastatin, and others should take it cautiously.

Simvastatin could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether simvastatin is a safe option for you.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for simvastatin, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Simvastatin can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to simvastatin or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe simvastatin. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to simvastatin, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of simvastatin

If you take simvastatin by mouth, you should not take more simvastatin than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much simvastatin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and simvastatin

Information about simvastatin and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Simvastatin and pregnancy

Simvastatin should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with simvastatin.

Simvastatin and breastfeeding

Simvastatin should not be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other ways to feed your child during treatment with simvastatin.

Simvastatin may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of simvastatin and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about simvastatin’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for simvastatin in the “Article resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of simvastatin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about simvastatin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for simvastatin in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Simvastatin oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• abdominal pain
• constipation
• headache
• nausea
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for simvastatin” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of simvastatin are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about simvastatin’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for simvastatin in the “Article resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, simvastatin’s serious side effects include:

• increased blood sugar levels
• liver problems, including rare cases of liver failure
• unexplained muscle weakness, pain, or tenderness that may not go away when the drug is stopped
• rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for simvastatin” section.

This article describes simvastatin’s uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more. Let your doctor know if you have questions about simvastatin or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• What’s the best time of day to take simvastatin?
• Are there other medications you can prescribe for my condition?
• Am I at higher risk of side effects than others?

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Simvastatin tablets, for oral use. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/5c1c694c-4b08-469e-b538-08e69df06146/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.