{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"simvastatin","kind":"medication","name":"simvastatin","aliases":["Zocor","Simvor"],"brands_sg":["Zocor","Simvor","Priacin","Kardak","Covastin"],"class":"statin","tags":["heart-bp"],"use_for":"prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides","use_after":"nhs: once a day, in the evening, with or without food","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · nhs: grapefruit juice can stop it working","pros":["nhs: one tablet a day, with or without food","healthhub: may reduce heart attack and stroke risk","nhs: a liquid form exists as well as tablets"],"cons":["nhs: headache, dizziness, muscle ache, indigestion","nhs: rare liver, pancreas or muscle damage","nhs: not recommended during pregnancy"],"dose_note":"the us fda label for zocor states 'The maximum recommended dosage is ZOCOR 40 mg once daily' and that 'An 80 mg daily dosage of ZOCOR is restricted to patients who have been taking simvastatin 80 mg daily chronically … without evidence of muscle toxicity'. the same label caps it lower alongside some other medicines ('Do not exceed ZOCOR 10 mg once daily' with verapamil, diltiazem or dronedarone; 20 mg with amiodarone, amlodipine or ranolazine). sg-registered single-ingredient tablets run 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg — no 80 mg strength is registered. in singapore the prescriber sets the dose.","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["liver or kidney problems, or an underactive thyroid (nhs)","unexplained muscle pain, or family muscle problems (nhs)","pregnancy, trying to conceive or breastfeeding (nhs)","regularly drinking a lot of alcohol (nhs)"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_simva_mix","hh_simva_interactions"],"food":true,"note":"nhs: it can stop the medicine working properly; healthhub says it may increase the risk of side-effects","with":"grapefruit juice"},{"src":["nhs_simva_mix","hh_simva_interactions"],"note":"nhs and healthhub both list these antibiotics among medicines that may not mix well","with":"clarithromycin, erythromycin, fusidic acid"},{"src":["nhs_simva_mix","hh_simva_interactions"],"note":"nhs and healthhub both list azole antifungals among medicines that may not mix well","with":"itraconazole, ketoconazole and other antifungals"},{"src":["nhs_simva_mix","fda_zocor_dose"],"note":"nhs lists heart and bp medicines; the fda zocor label caps simvastatin at 10 mg daily with verapamil, diltiazem or dronedarone and 20 mg with amlodipine","with":"verapamil, diltiazem, amlodipine, dronedarone"},{"src":["hh_simva_interactions","nhs_simva_mix"],"note":"healthhub flags red yeast rice; nhs lists ciclosporin and antiviral medicines","with":"red yeast rice, ciclosporin, hiv and hepatitis c medicines"}],"sources":[{"id":"hsa_register","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached locally at /tmp/hsa_all.json and filtered offline)","quote":"All 27 registered simvastatin products (18 single-ingredient) carry Forensicclassification 'Prescription Only' — SIN03789P ZOCOR TABLET 10 mg · SIN11815P SIMVOR 20 · SIN13914P PRIACIN · SIN14454P KARDAK 40 · SIN12093P COVASTIN 20","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_simva_about","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simvastatin/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Simvastatin: what simvastatin is for","quote":"Simvastatin is used to lower high cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease. It can also reduce the risk of angina, heart attack and stroke.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_simva_howto","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simvastatin/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Simvastatin: how to take simvastatin","quote":"Simvastatin usually comes as tablets or a liquid (oral suspension) that you swallow … try to take it at the same time each day – usually in the evening … you can take it with or without food","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_simva_side","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simvastatin/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Simvastatin: side effects","quote":"Common side effects of simvastatin include: a headache; dizziness; feeling sick (nausea); digestive problems … muscle aches; sleep problems … Possible serious side effects … hepatitis … pancreatitis … muscle toxicity","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_simva_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simvastatin/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Simvastatin: who can and cannot take it, and pregnancy","quote":"it may not be suitable if: … liver or kidney problems, or an underactive thyroid … unexplained ongoing muscle pain … a history of muscle problems in your family … Simvastatin is not recommended during pregnancy","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_simva_mix","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simvastatin/","label":"NHS Medicines A-Z — Simvastatin: taking it with other medicines, food and drink","quote":"antifungal medicines, such as itraconazole and ketoconazole … antibiotics such as fusidic acid, erythromycin and clarithromycin … ciclosporin … amlodipine, diltiazem or verapamil … avoid drinking grapefruit juice as it can stop the medicine working properly","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_simva_uses","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/simvastatin","label":"HealthHub (National Medication Information workgroup, SG) — Simvastatin: what is this medication for","quote":"High 'bad cholesterol' levels can cause your blood vessels to clog up and lead to chest pain (angina), heart attack or stroke. Hence, statins may reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_simva_howto","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/simvastatin","label":"HealthHub — Simvastatin: how should I take or use this medication","quote":"Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional … You may take this medication with or without food, at night.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hh_simva_interactions","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/simvastatin","label":"HealthHub — Simvastatin: what food or medication should I avoid","quote":"Avoid taking grapefruit, or grapefruit juice … Avoid taking a supplement called red yeast rice as this supplement may increase the risk of side-effects … Warfarin … clarithromycin, erythromycin … itraconazole, ketoconazole","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_zocor_dose","url":"https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22ZOCOR%22&limit=1","label":"US FDA label for ZOCOR (simvastatin), section 2 Dosage and Administration, via openFDA drug/label.json (effective 2025-03-28)","quote":"The maximum recommended dosage is ZOCOR 40 mg once daily … An 80 mg daily dosage of ZOCOR is restricted to patients who have been taking simvastatin 80 mg daily chronically … without evidence of muscle toxicity","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:31.341231+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}