Zocor contain Simvastatin is a hypolipidemic drug used with exercise, diet, and weight-loss to control elevated cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia. It is a member of the statin class of pharmaceuticals.Side effects:Zocor is generally well tolerated but it is always possible that you may experience side effects. The more common side effect include: constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, nausea, headache and dizziness. More serious side effects are less common and may include: muscle ache, tenderness or weakness, not caused by exercise, tingling in the hands or feet (paraesthesia), insomnia, fever, skin rash, itchiness, hives, painful, swollen joints, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or eyes), anaemia.Contraindications:You should not use if you:

• are allergic or have a hypersensitivity to simvastatin or to any of the other ingredients of Zocor


• have active liver disease


• are pregnant or breast-feeding


• are taking other medication that interacts with Zocor 20, including: macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, ritonavir for itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection, cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system, cardiac glycosides like digoxin, antacids for indigestion, anticoagulants such as coumarin verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions, amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat

Drug interactions:Several medications interact with Zocor tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Zocor 20 or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction or increase risk of side effects: macrolide antibiotics, such as clarithromycin, erythromycin, HIV protease inhibitor, such as ritonavir, itraconazole and ketoconazole use to treat fungal infection


• Drugs that affect Zocor 20: other cholesterol lowering medication such as gemfibrozil, cyclosporin, used to suppress the immune system, verapamil or diltiazem, medicines used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or other heart conditions, amiodarone, used to treat irregular heart beat, anticoagulants such as warfarin


• Drugs that are affected by Zocor 20: digoxin for heart failure; oral contraceptives.

Dosage:You should take these tablets with a glass of water once a day, preferably in the evening after your evening meal, although you can take with or without food. It is most effective at night when your body is resting and your liver is producing the most cholesterol. You should continue to take Zocor 20 for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be for the rest of your life as Zocor 20 helps keep your cholesterol levels from being too high and if you stop taking Zocor, your cholesterol levels may rise again.Storage:Store at room temperature. Protect from heat, light and moisture. Keep away from reach of children.