Lipcut
Lipcut (simvastatin) helps lower high total cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (LDL), and other fats (triglycerides) in your blood.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
60 mg
Active Ingredient
Simvastatin
Manufacturer
Sandoz A/S
How to Use
Dosage
Adults usually start with 10 mg, 20 mg, or sometimes 40 mg once daily. For children (10-17 years), the usual starting dose is 10 mg once daily in the evening.
Method
Take one tablet by mouth once a day, in the evening. You can take it with or without food. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.
Important
The maximum daily dose for adults is 80 mg. For children, the maximum daily dose is 40 mg.
Possible Side Effects
RARE
- •Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- •Numbness or weakness in hands and feet
- •Headache, tingling, dizziness
- •Blurred vision and vision problems
- •Digestive issues (stomach pain, constipation, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
- •Rash, itching, hair loss
- •Weakness
- •Increased levels in blood tests for liver function and a muscle enzyme (creatine kinase)
- •Memory loss, confusion
- •Insomnia
- •Memory impairment
- •Muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, and cramps, which can rarely be severe, leading to muscle breakdown, kidney damage, and very rarely, death.
- •Allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, tongue, and throat causing breathing difficulties; severe muscle pain, often in shoulders and hips; rash with arm and neck muscle weakness; joint pain or inflammation; blood vessel inflammation; unusual bruising, skin changes and swelling (dermatomyositis), hives, sensitivity to light, fever, redness; shortness of breath and feeling unwell; lupus-like symptoms (including rash, joint pain, and blood count changes).
- •Liver inflammation with symptoms like yellowing of skin and eyes, itching, dark urine, pale stools, tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite; very rarely, liver failure.
- •Pancreatitis, often with severe stomach pain.
- •Severe allergic reaction causing breathing difficulties or dizziness (anaphylaxis).
- •Enlargement of breasts in men (gynecomastia).
- •Rash or sores in the mouth (lichenoid drug eruption).
- •Muscle tear.
Important Warnings
- This medicine is only for you. Do not give it to others, as it might harm them even if their symptoms are similar to yours.
- Do not use Lipcut if you are allergic to simvastatin or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- Do not use Lipcut if you have liver disease or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Do not use Lipcut if you are taking medicines for fungal infections (e.g., itraconazole), bacterial infections (e.g., erythromycin), HIV (e.g., indinavir), Hepatitis C (e.g., boceprevir), depression (nefazodone), or other specific medicines like cobicistat, gemfibrozil, ciclosporin, or danazol.
- Do not take more than 40 mg of Lipcut daily if you are also taking lomitapide for a rare cholesterol condition.
Show 11 more warnings
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your medical conditions and allergies before using Lipcut.
- Tell your doctor if you drink a lot of alcohol.
- If you are taking or have taken fusidic acid (an antibiotic) by mouth or injection in the last 7 days, you must stop Lipcut. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to restart. This combination can rarely cause severe muscle problems.
- Tell your doctor if you are having planned surgery, as you might need to stop Lipcut for a short time.
- If you are of Asian descent, you may need a different dose.
- Tell your doctor if you have or have had myasthenia (muscle weakness) or ocular myasthenia (eye muscle weakness), as statins can sometimes worsen these conditions.
- Contact your doctor right away if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. In rare cases, these muscle problems can be severe and lead to muscle breakdown, kidney damage, and very rarely, death. Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have ongoing muscle weakness.
- The risk of muscle breakdown is higher with larger doses of Lipcut, especially the 80 mg dose. Talk to your doctor if any of the following apply to you: you drink a lot of alcohol, have kidney or thyroid disease, are 65 or older, are female, have had muscle problems with other cholesterol medicines, or have a family history of muscle disease.
- Avoid grapefruit juice while taking Lipcut, as it can affect how the medicine works.
- Lipcut may cause dizziness in some people, so be careful if you drive or operate machinery.
- If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars (e.g., lactose), talk to them before taking this medicine.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Reduce the dose in severe renal impairment. Possible adverse effects include muscle pain and muscular weakness. Consider potential interactions. Avoid grapefruit. (updated 17.4.2023)