Simcor

Generic Name: niacin and simvastatin (NYE a sin and SIM va stat in)
Brand Names: Simcor

What is Simcor?

Feedback for Simcor 0 Comments Be the first to rate it

Simcor is a tablet containing a combination of Simvastatin and niacin.

Simcor is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol and triglycerides can help prevent heart disease and coronary artery disease (also called atherosclerosis), conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Simcor may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Simcor

You should not take Simcor if you are allergic to simvastatin or niacin, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease, a stomach ulcer, or active bleeding.

Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Niacin, also called nicotinic acid, is a B vitamin (vitamin B3). It occurs naturally in plants and animals, and is also added to many foods as a vitamin supplement. Niacin is also present in many multiple vitamins and nutritional supplements.

Niacin can cause certain side effects, such as flushing (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin). These effects can be made worse if you drink alcohol or hot beverages shortly after you take Simcor. These effects should disappear over time as you keep taking the medication.

In rare cases, simvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine.

To be sure Simcor is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

If you stop taking Simcor for longer than 7 days in a row, talk with your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need to start with a lower dose.

Before taking Simcor

You should not take Simcor if you are allergic to simvastatin or niacin, or if you have:

• liver disease;

• a stomach ulcer;

• active bleeding; or

• if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Before taking Simcor, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• diabetes;

• underactive thyroid;

• gout;

• kidney disease; or

• if you are also taking amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Simcor.

In rare cases, simvastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine. FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use Simcor if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control while you are using Simcor. It is not known whether Simcor passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Simcor without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take Simcor?

Take Simcor exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from Simcor.

Take each dose with a full glass of water. Simcor is usually taken at bedtime with a low-fat snack. Follow your doctor's instructions. Do not crush, chew, or break a Simcor tablet. Swallow the pill whole. The niacin ingredient in this pill is an extended-release form. Breaking or crushing the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Niacin can cause certain side effects, such as flushing (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin). These effects can be made worse if you drink alcohol or hot beverages shortly after you take Simcor. These effects should disappear over time as you keep taking the medication.

Simcor can cause you to have unusual results with certain medical tests. You may need to stop taking Simcor for a short time if you have surgery or a major illness. Tell any doctor or surgeon who treats you that you are taking Simcor.

If you stop taking Simcor for longer than 7 days in a row, talk with your doctor before restarting the medication. You may need to start with a lower dose.

To be sure Simcor is not causing harmful effects, your liver function will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Simcor is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include severe flushing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, dizziness, fainting, and uneven heartbeats.

What should I avoid while taking Simcor?

Avoid taking cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid) within 4 hours before or after you take Simcor.

Avoid drinking hot beverages shortly after taking Simcor. Hot drinks can worsen niacin's flushing effect (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin).

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Simcor. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage, and can also worsen the flushing effects of niacin.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Simcor will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Simcor and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Simcor side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine;

• feeling like you might pass out;

• fast or pounding heartbeats; or

• feeling short of breath.

Less serious side effects may include:

• warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin;

• dizziness;

• sweating or chills;

• swelling;

• headache;

• stomach or back pain;

• runny nose or other cold symptoms;

• nausea, diarrhea, constipation; or

• itching or rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect Simcor?

Before taking Simcor, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medicines:

• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral);

• danazol (Danocrine);

• digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin);

• fenofibrate (Tricor);

• gemfibrozil (Lopid);

• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

• niacin, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide (or vitamin supplements that contain niacin);

• verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin);

• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), clotrimazole (Mycelex Troche), erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), telithromycin (Ketek), troleandomycin (Tao), or voriconazole (Vfend); or

• HIV /AIDS medicine such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Kaletra, Norvir), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Simcor. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about Simcor.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01. Revision Date: 03/04/2008 9:56:09 AM.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page

Add to my drug list