Side Effects of Zocor and Other Drugs for Cholesterol Treatment

Zocor, generically known as simvastatin, is used as a cholesterol lowering drug that helps in blocking cholesterol production in the body. It aids in lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level as well as total cholesterol level in the body. High cholesterol may lead to different critical health complications including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disorders. Although Zocor helps in protecting body from these types of complications, there are significant side effects of Zocor like other drugs for treating cholesterol.

Side Effects of Zocor

Many drugs offer side effects including Zocor for treating cholesterol which are simply hard to avoid. In rare conditions, Zocor may lead to such conditions that may turn into collapsing skeletal muscle tissue, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. The common symptoms are unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flue symptoms and dark-colored urine. Doctors strongly discourage having Zocor and other cholesterol drugs for potential side effects especially at the time of pregnancy. Using Zocor during this time may lead to cause birth defects and may profoundly affect the fetal development in an adverse fashion.

If you are on Zocor medication while not following a well-planned low cholesterol diet, it is very unlikely that Zocor will be of any help in minimizing your LDL and total cholesterol level. In such case, like any other cholesterol drugs Zocor will offer side effects only without any kind of specific benefits. The common symptoms for Zocor include muscle pain, muscle weakness, nausea, constipation or diarrhea.

Other Significant Influencing Factors

Zocor should not be used if you are pregnant or suffering from kidney disease. If you have diabetes, hidden thyroid, or muscle disorder, you should not take Zocor prior consulting with doctor. In fact, it is always recommended to take doctor’s advice prior taking Zocor like any cholesterol drugs to avoid side effects. If you are planning to become pregnant, you must discuss it with your doctor. In case if you are using this medication, you are strictly advised to undergo effective form of birth control. Till date no sufficient data have been found in support of whether cholesterol drugs like Zocor have any side effects on breast feeding practices, but you should not consume Zocor without informing it to doctor if you are breast feeding your baby.

Zocor and other cholesterol drugs may interact adversely in some conditions. For example, if you are taking Zocor and at the same time you are having diet rich in fat and cholesterol, you certainly do not get any benefit from Zocor. You should abstain from taking alcohol when you are on Zocor medication because alcohol increases triglyceride level. In fact, alcohol has a strong adverse effect on kidney function if you are on Zocor medication during that period. In fact, grapefruit and grapefruit juice may pose harmful side effects if used with Zocor.