Simvastatin Orion
Simvastatin Orion is a medicine used to lower high total cholesterol, 'bad' LDL cholesterol, and blood fats (triglycerides), and to increase 'good' HDL cholesterol.
How to Use
Dosage
The usual dose is one 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80 mg Simvastatin Orion tablet taken by mouth once a day. For adults, the usual starting dose is 10 mg, 20 mg, or sometimes 40 mg daily. Your doctor may increase your dose up to 80 mg. For children (10-17 years), the recommended starting dose is 10 mg in the evening.
Method
Take Simvastatin Orion tablets in the evening. You can take the medicine with or without food.
Do not take more than 80 mg per day. For children, the maximum recommended dose is 40 mg per day.
Possible Side Effects
- •Muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps, which can be severe and lead to muscle tissue breakdown, kidney damage, and very rarely, death.
- •Swelling of the face, tongue, and throat that can cause breathing difficulties; severe muscle pain; rash and weakness in limbs; joint pain; blood vessel inflammation; unusual bruising, rashes, hives, skin sensitivity to light, fever, redness; shortness of breath; lupus-like symptoms (rash, joint symptoms, changes in blood counts).
- •Liver inflammation, which can cause yellowing of the skin and eyes, itching, dark urine, pale stools, fatigue or weakness, loss of appetite; very rarely, liver failure.
- •Inflammation of the pancreas, often with severe abdominal pain.
- •Low red blood cell count (anemia).
- •Numbness or weakness in hands and feet; headache, dizziness, tingling sensation.
- •Digestive symptoms (abdominal pain, constipation, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting).
- •Rash, itching, and hair loss.
- •Weakness.
- •Memory loss, confusion; blurred vision and impaired vision.
- •Severe allergic reaction causing breathing difficulties or dizziness (anaphylaxis).
- •Rash or sores in the mouth (lichenoid drug eruption).
- •Muscle rupture.
- •Gynecomastia (enlargement of breasts in men).
- •Insomnia.
- •Impaired memory.
- •Erectile dysfunction; sexual dysfunction.
- •Depression.
- •Lung inflammation, causing breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and/or shortness of breath or fever.
- •Tendon problems, sometimes with tendon rupture.
- •Myasthenia gravis (general muscle weakness, sometimes affecting breathing muscles); ocular myasthenia (eye muscle weakness).
- •Sleep disorders, including nightmares.
- •Diabetes. More likely if you have high blood sugar and fat levels, are overweight, and have high blood pressure.
- •Muscle pain, tenderness, or persistent muscle weakness that does not go away after stopping Simvastatin Orion treatment.
Important Warnings
- Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to simvastatin or any of its ingredients, if you have liver disease, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Avoid grapefruit juice, as it can affect how the medicine works.
- If you need to take fusidic acid for a bacterial infection, you must temporarily stop taking Simvastatin Orion. Your doctor will tell you when it's safe to restart.
- Contact your doctor immediately if you develop unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This could be a sign of a rare, serious muscle injury.
- Tell your doctor if you drink a lot of alcohol, have or have had liver or kidney disease, thyroid problems, or myasthenia gravis, or if you are over 65 years old or of Asian descent.
Show 1 more warnings
- Inform your doctor about all other medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter ones. Some medicines can increase the risk of muscle problems when taken with Simvastatin Orion.
Use in Elderly Patients
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)