What Are Side Effects of Simvastatin?
Simvastatin (Zocor) is a prescription medication classified as a HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. It reduces elevated levels of total cholesterol and may also prevent heart attack and stroke in individuals who have high cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD). Simvastatin inhibits the 3-hydroxy-3-methyglutaryl-cpenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the enzyme that controls the formation of cholesterol. By binding to the HMG-CoA receptors (molecules), simvastatin prevents the formation of cholesterol, and the body will use the cholesterol from food. Although simvastatin is well tolerated, side effects may account for discontinuation of the medication. According to RxList, 1.4 percent of individuals in the clinical trials stopped taking the medication because of the side effects.
