Simvastatin Ratiopharm
Simvastatin ratiopharm lowers high cholesterol and fats in your blood and increases "good" cholesterol, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease.
How to Use
Dosage
For adults, the usual starting dose is 10-20 mg daily, sometimes 40 mg. The dose can be increased up to 80 mg. For children (10-17 years), the starting dose is 10 mg daily.
Method
Take the tablet in the evening. You can take it with or without food. If you are taking a bile acid binding medicine, take Simvastatin ratiopharm at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after the other medicine.
Do not exceed a daily dose of 80 mg for adults. For children and adolescents, the maximum daily dose is 40 mg.
Possible Side Effects
- •Muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps; muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis), which can lead to kidney damage and very rarely death.
- •Allergic reactions, such as swelling of the face, tongue, or throat (angioedema causing breathing difficulties), severe muscle pain, rash, hives, sensitivity to light, fever, or a general feeling of being unwell.
- •Liver inflammation, with symptoms like yellow skin and eyes, itching, dark urine, pale stools, tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, and rarely liver failure.
- •Pancreatitis, often with severe stomach pain.
- •Severe allergic reaction causing breathing difficulties or dizziness (anaphylaxis).
- •Gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men).
- •Low red blood cell count (anemia), numbness or weakness in hands and feet, headache, dizziness, tingling sensation, blurred vision or vision impairment.
- •Digestive problems, such as stomach pain, constipation, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
- •Rash, itching, and hair loss.
- •General weakness.
- •Insomnia, memory impairment, memory loss, confusion.
Important Warnings
- Do not use Simvastatin ratiopharm if you are allergic to simvastatin, have liver disease, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Contact a doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, as this can lead to serious muscle damage or kidney problems.
- High doses, especially 80 mg, can increase the risk of muscle damage.
- If you are taking fusidic acid for bacterial infections, you must temporarily stop using this medicine.
- Avoid drinking grapefruit juice, as it can affect how the medicine works.
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)