Simvastatin
Simvastatin is a statin taken once daily in the evening to lower cholesterol and protect the arteries; Zocor tablets come in 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg.
What simvastatin is used for
Simvastatin belongs to the statins, the group of medicines that lower cholesterol. The aim is to bring down high cholesterol and to lower the odds of a heart attack or stroke in anyone whose risk is high. Some people start it after a blood test shows raised LDL cholesterol — the "bad" kind — or high triglycerides; others take it after a heart attack or stroke, or because diabetes or narrowed arteries have pushed their risk up. Cholesterol causes no symptoms on its own, so the benefit shows up in test results and in events that do not happen.
How it works
Most of the body's cholesterol is manufactured in the liver, and simvastatin slows one step of that manufacturing. As output falls, the liver compensates by taking LDL back out of the blood, so levels drop. Triglycerides usually follow. The change is gradual — it builds over the first few weeks of daily use, not after the first tablet.
Taking the tablets
One tablet, once a day, in the evening and at about the same time each day; the liver does most of its cholesterol-making overnight. Swallow it whole with water. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are the one thing to leave out of your diet while you take simvastatin, because they push the amount of medicine in the body up. Heavy drinking is worth cutting back on, as alcohol and simvastatin together put more strain on the liver. Simvastatin is not used in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, or by anyone with active liver disease.
Side effects
Many people feel nothing at all. When there are complaints they tend to be mild: headache, sore muscles, nausea, a bowel that runs slow or loose, indigestion or wind. Two problems deserve more attention. One is muscle breakdown, which starts as pain, tenderness or weakness with no obvious cause and can bring a fever or urine the colour of cola; it needs urgent treatment. The other is the liver. Skin or eyes turning yellow, pale stools, dark urine, or pain beneath the right ribs all point there.
Which simvastatin tablets you can order
Zocor is the simvastatin product on this page: tablets in 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg. Zocor is a brand name for simvastatin, so what changes across the four packs is the strength, and the strength is matched to how far cholesterol needs to fall. If you are comparing options for cholesterol, the cholesterol group covers the other medicines that work this way.
Sources
- Simvastatin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Simvastatin - Common brands: Zocor - NHS — NHS UK
Where can I order Simvastatin for delivery in Hong Kong?
Simvastatin can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists tablets in 5mg, 10mg, 20mg and 40mg: generic Zocor, also sold as Simvastatin tablets. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much does Simvastatin cost?
Prices vary between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Simvastatin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order simvastatin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for simvastatin?
Zocor is a brand name of simvastatin. Here, simvastatin can be bought online as generic Zocor. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does simvastatin take to work?
Cholesterol levels begin to fall within a few weeks of starting simvastatin, and the effect of a particular dose builds over about a month. Because high cholesterol causes no symptoms, the change shows up in a blood test rather than in how you feel.
Can I drink alcohol while taking simvastatin?
An occasional drink is not usually a problem, but heavy drinking is. Alcohol and simvastatin both work on the liver, and a lot of alcohol raises the chance of liver trouble and of muscle side effects. If you drink most days, cut back while you take it.
Why does simvastatin have to be taken in the evening?
The liver makes most of its cholesterol overnight, and simvastatin does not stay in the body for long, so an evening dose lines up with that peak. Taking it at the same point each evening also makes it easier to remember.
Is Zocor the same as simvastatin?
Yes — Zocor is a brand name for simvastatin, and the tablets here hold 5mg, 10mg, 20mg or 40mg of it. The name printed on the pack changes between brands; the medicine inside is the same ingredient.
What should I do if I miss a simvastatin dose?
Skipping one evening does little harm. Take the tablet when you remember that night; if you only notice the next day, go back to the normal routine instead of doubling up.