#zocor

Brand Name: Zocor

Generic Available

Common Dosage Forms:

Tablets: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg

FDA Indications/Dosages:

As an adjunct to diet for the reduction of elevated total and LDL cholesterol, apo-B, and triglyceride levels and to increase HDL cholesterol in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and mixed dyslipidemia (Fredrickson Types IIa and IIb), treatment of hypertriglyceridemia (Type IV), and treatment of primary dysbetalipoproteinemia (Type III): Begin therapy after a 3–6-week cholesterol-lowering diet. Start with 5-10 mg once daily in the evening. Adjust dose at intervals of at least 4 weeks to a maximum of 40 mg/day. Usual dose is 10-40 mg/day.

To lower total and LDL cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: 40 mg/day in two to three divided doses.

As an adjunct to diet to reduce total-C, LDL-C, and apo-B levels in boys and girls (at least one year post-menarche), 10-17 years of age, with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia if after an adequate trial of diet therapy LDL-C remains ≥190 mg/dL or ≥160 mg/dL AND there is a positive family history of premature cardiovascular disease or two or more CVD risk factors are present: Start with 10 mg/day in the evening and titrate to a maximum of 40 mg/day in 4 week intervals.

*The 80 mg tablets should be reserved for patients without adverse effects who have been maintained on this dose for more than 1 year.

Monitor: LFT, Lipid panel

Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics: After oral ingestion, simvastatin is hydrolyzed to its b-hydroxy acid form, becoming a specific inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, an early rate limiting step in the synthesis of cholesterol. In therapeutic concentrations, HMG-CoA reductase is not completely blocked, allowing biologically necessary amounts of mevalonate to be produced. Simvastatin reduces both normal and elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) concentrations. It moderately reduces triglyceride and VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein) concentrations. It is not known whether its therapeutic is due to an increased LDL catabolism, a decrease in VLDL (a precursor to LDL), or a direct decrease in LDL production. In addition to LDL reduction, simvastatin increases HDL (high-density lipoprotein) concentrations. High LDL and low HDL levels have been shown to be risk factors in coronary heart disease. Simvastatin is a substrate for CYP3A4.

Drug Interactions: Simvastatin may increase warfarin or digoxin levels. Coadministration of simvastatin with potent CYP3A4 INHIBITORS (gemfibrozil, nicotinic acid, danazol, immunosuppressive agents, itraconazole, ketoconazole, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors, nefazodone, and grapefruit juice) is contraindicated. Do not exceed 10 mg daily when used with verapamil or diltiazem. Do not exceed 20 mg daily with used with amiodarone, amlodipine, or ranolazine.

Contraindications/Precautions: Contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to any component, during pregnancy or lactation, in patients with active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevations of serum transaminases, and in patients taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, gemfibrozil, cyclosporine, or danazol. Use with caution in patients with any amount of liver dysfunction and in patients who consume large amounts of alcohol. It is recommended that liver function tests be performed every 4-6 weeks during the first 15 months of therapy and periodically thereafter. Increases in serum transaminases of more than 3 times the normal levels should warrant discontinuation. If serum transaminases do not decrease upon discontinuation, a liver biopsy should be considered. May cause optic nerve degeneration. May cause myopathy or rhabdomyolysis. Pregnancy Category X.

Adverse Effects: Constipation (2.3%), MUSCLE PAIN (rare), and dyspepsia (1.1%).

Patient Consultation:

Contact a physician if symptoms of myopathy occur (e.g., muscle pain or tenderness, especially if accompanied by malaise or fever).

Closely follow prescribed diet.

Avoid overexposure to sunlight due to possibility of photosensitivity. Use a sunscreen and wear appropriate clothing until the level of sensitivity is determined.

Do not become pregnant during therapy. If pregnancy occurs or is suspected, discontinue medication and consult a physician.

Limit alcohol intake during therapy.

Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and children.

If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If taken within 12 hours of the next dose, skip the next dose and continue with schedule.

New Post has been published on http://3bestfishoilsupplement.com/the-side-effects-of-a-zocor-treatment/

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/features/2014/04/28/cholesterol-drug-users-may-use-pills-as-licence-to-overeat/

Cholesterol drug users may use pills as licence to overeat

PEOPLE who take the common cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may feel a false sense of security and eat a bit more, according to a new study.

Researchers found that United States (US) adults taking statins in 1999-2000 were eating fewer calories than people not taking the drugs, but statin users were eating about the same amount as non-users by 2009-2010.

“We believe that physicians need to reemphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle to statin-users,” Dr. Takehiro Sugiyama told Reuters Health in an email.

He is the study’s lead author from the University of Tokyo in Japan.

Eating excess calories and fat would not only compromise the cholesterol-lowering effect of statins, he said. It would also increase a person’s risk of becoming obese and developing diabetes.

Statins — such as Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor — inhibit the production of cholesterol, which is used to build new cells and keep the body functioning.

Too much cholesterol increases a person’s chances of developing heart disease and fatty deposits in blood vessels, however.

Under new recommendations from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, the number of US adults eligible to take the drugs may reach 56 million.

The new guidelines deemphasise the use of LDL or “bad” cholesterol as a measure of when to put people on the drugs.

Instead, doctors are encouraged to take several risk factors into account to target people at high risk for heart attacks or strokes.

Previous studies had found no evidence that statin users eat more after being prescribed the drugs, the authors write in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Use of the drugs has increased substantially since those studies were conducted, however.

For the new study, the researchers used data from a national survey of US adults that’s conducted every two years.

They found that statin users were consuming about 2,000 calories per day in 1999-2000, on average, compared to about 2,179 calories per day among non-users.

Sugiyama writes that it would be expected that stain users eat less in an attempt to control their cholesterol and weight.

Calorie consumption among the statin users increased as time went on, however. By 2005-2006 there were no differences between the two groups.

Overall, calorie consumption among statin users increased by about 10% during the decade. Statin users significantly increased the amount of calories they got from fat during the study period, too.

Meanwhile, calorie and fat consumption remained unchanged among people not taking statins.

Sugiyama said there could be two explanations for the findings.

“We suppose (patients) noticed the potency of the statin treatment because their LDL-cholesterol level would drop drastically regardless of no change on diet,” he said.

“Through this process, statin users may learn that they do not need to restrict their diet to achieve the LDL-level goal.”

Alternatively, doctors may have started prescribing statins to people who tend to eat more and they may not be as reluctant to prescribe the drugs to people who don’t control their diets.

“Because of the study design, we were not able to disentangle the mechanism,” he said.

The research also can’t say for certain that statins caused people to eat more as time went on. There could be another unknown factor that influenced the results.

“I think the biggest impact of this trial is that as physicians when we put patients on statins it shouldn’t be the end of the discussion about other lifestyle interventions,” Dr. David Frid said.

Frid is a staff cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. He was not involved with the new study.

“Even on a statin, you do need to continue following your dietary recommendations,” he told Reuters Health.

Sugiyama agreed that statin use should be paired with lifestyle modification.

“Over-relying on medication would cause side effects, unnecessary medical costs and perhaps an ethical concern,” he said.

   Pharmaceutical companies have a great deal of money to promote their cholesterol lowering drugs such as Lipitor and Zocor. Yet there are quite a number of natural alternatives that may be just, or more, effective, cheaper, and safer. Unfortunately these natural options are rarely mentioned by the media which seems to repeat whatever news release is put out by the drug companies regarding the results of the studies they have funded. The results of many such studies may not reliable or accurate. For an excellent article on this topic, see  http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/conflictsofinteresttaintmedicalstudies. Here is a quote from this article. "Many medical studies simply are not accurate. Further, the media is known to distort key aspects of medical studies, twisting findings by virtue of ignorance, blowing obscure, unpublished "breakthroughs" out of proportion, and frequently failing to disclose industry funding even when the researchers do mention it."

Cholesterol-Lowering Drug May Reduce Exercise Benefits for Obese Adults, MU Study Finds, University of Missouri – MU News Bureau, May 15, 2013.