Simvastatin

About simvastatin

Lipídios, ou gorduras, são produzidos naturalmente em seu corpo a partir dos alimentos que você consome. Eles são facilmente armazenados em seu corpo e servem como fonte de energia. Colesterol e triglicerídeos são tipos de lipídios. Se a concentração desses lipídios no seu sangue se tornar muito alta, isso leva a uma condição chamada hiperlipidemia. Se é a concentração de colesterol que se tornou muito alta, é chamado de hipercolesterolemia. Embora uma alta concentração de lipídios no sangue não o faça sentir-se mal, pode causar um problema se não for tratada.

Pessoas com níveis elevados de lipídios podem desenvolver pequenas manchas de gordura chamadas ateromas. Essas placas se desenvolvem quando o excesso de gordura é depositado nas paredes dos vasos sanguíneos. Com o tempo, essas placas podem estreitar um vaso sanguíneo e isso é chamado de aterosclerose (às vezes referido como 'endurecimento das artérias'). O estreitamento reduz o fluxo sanguíneo através da artéria e aumenta o risco de várias doenças do coração e dos vasos sanguíneos, como ataque cardíaco e derrame.

Simvastatin belongs to a group of medicines known as statins (or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors). It regulates the amount of cholesterol and other lipids made by your body. It does this by blocking the action of a certain enzyme (called HMG-CoA reductase) which your body needs to make the fats. This lowers your risk of heart and blood vessel disease. It can also reduce this risk, even if your cholesterol levels are normal, if you are at an increased risk of heart disease as a result of other healthcare problems (such as if you have diabetes mellitus).

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking simvastatin it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se você está grávida, tentando ter um bebê ou amamentando.

• Se você tiver algum problema com o funcionamento do seu fígado, ou se já teve alguma doença que afetou seu fígado.

• Se você tem uma glândula tireoide hipoativa.

• Se você tem um problema com dores musculares inexplicáveis, ou se você (ou um parente próximo) já teve um distúrbio muscular.

• Se você consome grandes quantidades de álcool regularmente.

• Se você tiver algum problema com o funcionamento dos seus rins.

• Se você já teve uma reação alérgica a um medicamento.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This is particularly important because there are a number of medicines that should not be taken with simvastatin, and there are also some medicines that will affect the dose of simvastatin that your doctor prescribes for you. Please also make sure that your doctor knows of any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about simvastatin and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take one dose of simvastatin each day, in the evening. There are several different strengths of tablet available (10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg) - your doctor will tell you which strength of tablet is right for you. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. If you have any difficulties swallowing, let your doctor know about this as a liquid medicine may be more suitable for you.

• You can take simvastatin before or after food.

• Do not drink grapefruit juice at any time while you are taking simvastatin. This is because a chemical in grapefruit juice increases the amount of simvastatin in your bloodstream. This makes side-effects more likely and increases the risk of them being more serious.

• If you forget to take a dose, leave out the missed dose but make sure that you remember to take your next dose on the following evening. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so that your doctor can check on your progress. You will need to have some blood tests from time to time. These are to measure your lipid levels and also to check that your liver has not been affected by taking simvastatin.

• Seu médico lhe dará conselhos sobre como manter uma dieta saudável, reduzir a quantidade de álcool que você normalmente consome, diminuir a quantidade de sal na sua dieta, parar de fumar e fazer exercícios regularmente. Seguir esses conselhos também ajudará a reduzir o risco de desenvolver doenças cardíacas e vasculares.

• Women taking simvastatin must avoid getting pregnant. Make sure you have discussed with your doctor which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner.

• Treatment with simvastatin is usually long-term unless you experience an adverse effect. You should continue to take it regularly.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the side-effects associated with simvastatin, although these tend to occur only rarely and are usually mild in nature. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to simvastatin, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

• Mantenha todos os medicamentos fora do alcance e da vista das crianças.

• Armazene em local fresco e seco, longe de calor e luz diretos.

• The oral liquid medicine may be used for one month once the bottle has been opened. After this time, get a fresh supply.