Zocor (Simvastatin)

What Is Zocor Heart - Pro (Simvastatin)?

Zocor Heart-Pro is a medicine that is used to reduce the risk of a first heart attack in people who have a moderate risk of coronary heart disease (heart disease caused by a build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries). Moderate risk means that your chances of having a heart attack in the next ten years are at least 1 in 10 (10%). The tablets contain simvastatin, which belongs to a group of medicines known as statins. Statins significantly reduce the amount of cholesterol in your blood.

You will need to take these tablets regularly for an extended period to benefit from them.

Who Is at Moderate Risk of Coronary Heart Disease?

• You are likely at moderate risk if you are a man aged 55 or over.
• You are also likely to be at moderate risk if you are a man aged between 45 and 54 or a woman aged 55 or over, and you answer yes to one or more of the questions below:
• Do you have a parent, brother, or sister who suffered a heart attack younger than 55 for men or 65 for women?
• Do you smoke, or have you smoked within the last five years?
• Are you overweight?

This means you have a body mass index (BMI) over 25kg/m2 (this is your weight in kilos divided by your height in meters squared) or

• Men - if your waist is greater than 40 inches or 102cm.
• Women - if your waist is greater than 35 inches or 88cm.

Your pharmacist can help you answer this question if you have any doubts.

Are you of South Asian origin (from the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka)?

In addition, if you take no physical exercise other than normal daily activities, your risk of heart attack is further increased.

How Does the Medicine Work?

Zocor Heart-Pro works by reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and fatty substances called triglycerides in your blood and raising HDL (good) cholesterol.

• LDL (bad) cholesterol clogs your coronary arteries.
• HDL (good) cholesterol helps to protect against heart disease.

How LDL (bad) Cholesterol can cause a heart attack

If too much cholesterol in your blood builds up in the walls of the coronary arteries, then plaques will form. This leads to the narrowing of the coronary arteries, just like rugged water furs up a water pipe. Heart attacks can then happen when a blood clot forms in a narrowed coronary artery.

How This Medicine Can Help Reduce the Likelihood of a Heart Attack

Taking these tablets can significantly reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and help reduce the build-up of artery-narrowing plaques.

Before Taking This Medicine

This medicine suits most adults, but a few people should avoid using it. If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Do Not Use This Medicine:

• If you have ever had a bad reaction to statins or any of the ingredients in this medicine.
• If you have liver disease or have been told that you have abnormal liver function, blood tests.
• If you are already taking prescription drugs to lower your cholesterol (such as gemfibrozil or bezafibrate).
• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding.
• If you discover you are pregnant while taking Zocor Heart-Pro. In this case, you should stop taking the tablets immediately and contact your doctor.
• If you have had muscle problems in the past after taking a cholesterol-lowering medicine.
• If you are taking any of the following medicines:
• Oral antifungal medicines (orally taken to treat fungal infections, such as itraconazole or ketoconazole). Erythromycin, telithromycin, and clarithromycin (these are types of antibiotic medicine).
• Protease inhibitors (drugs used to treat HIV infections such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, or saquinavir). Nefazodone (a drug used to treat depression).

If any of these apply to you, get advice from a doctor or pharmacist without using Zocor Heart-Pro.

Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist Before Taking This Medicine.

• If you have an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
• If you have kidney problems.
• If you have a family history of muscle disorders.
• If you already have angina or have had a heart attack.
• If you have diabetes.
• If you have had a stroke.
• If you have disease of the arteries of your legs or neck (peripheral vascular disease).
• If you have inherited very high blood cholesterol levels.
• If you have high blood pressure.
• If you are aged over 70.
• If you drink more than four units of alcohol a day (for men) or three units a day (for women). One unit is Yi pint of lager, a small glass of wine, or one short.
• If you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice.

Tell your doctor if you take any medicines, including:

• Anticoagulants (drugs that thin the blood, such as warfarin);
• High doses of niacin or nicotinic acid (more than 1000 mg a day) for poor blood flow to the hands and feet;
• Cidosporin (an immunosuppressant medicine);
• Danazol (a steroid often used to treat endometriosis).Fusidic acid (an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections).

If you need clarification on any of your medicines, show the bottle or pack to your pharmacist.

If your doctor prescribes a new medicine while you are taking this medicine, you should mention that you are taking Zocor Heart-Pro.

If your cholesterol levels are checked, and you have a fasting LDL cholesterol measurement of more than 5.5 mmol/l, you should talk to your doctor because you may need more than Zocor Heart-Pro to reduce your cholesterol levels.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, are trying to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

Precautions

This product contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

This medicine can cause dizziness. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery.

Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking these tablets.

How to Take

• For oral use only.
• Do not use more than the stated dose shown in the table.
• Do not give to children.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water.
• Zocor Heart-Pro should be taken regularly and in the long term to gain the full benefits of treatment.

Children (Under 18 Years)

This medicine is not recommended for children under 18 years of age.

Adults and Seniors

Take one tablet in the evening.

Do not take more than one tablet in any 24-hour period.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you need more clarification.

Special Warnings While Taking Zocor Heart-Pro

• Very rarely, these tablets can affect the muscles. Symptoms include generalized muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness unless related to the flu, unaccustomed exercise, or recent injury or strains. If you develop these symptoms, you should stop taking your tablets immediately and contact your doctor.
• The chances of getting the muscle disorder mentioned above are more significant if you drink grapefruit juice, have kidney problems, or are taking ciclosporin, danazol, or prescription drugs to lower your cholesterol. If you are unsure whether to take the medicine or whether any symptoms you have are related to the medicine, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you are going into the hospital for major surgery, you should tell your doctor you are taking these tablets, as you will need to stop taking them a few days beforehand.
• If your cholesterol is checked while taking these tablets and your fasting LDL-cholesterol is above 5.5 mmol/, you should talk to your doctor, as it may mean that you need more than 10 mg of Zocor Heart-Pro to reduce your cholesterol.

Overdose

If anyone has taken too many Zocor Heart-Pro tablets, contact a doctor or your nearest Accident and Emergency Department (Casualty), taking the pack with you.

If You Forget to Take the Medicine

You should only take this medicine as required, carefully following the dosage instructions above. If you forget to take a dose, take one tablet the following evening you remember. Do not take a double dose to make up.

Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, Zocor Heart-Pro tablets can have side effects, although these don't affect everyone and are usually mild.

If you experience any of the following, stop using the medicine and seek immediate medical help:

• Allergic reactions include swelling of the face or neck, muscle and joint pains, joint and blood vessel inflammation, itchy, lumpy rash (hives, nettle rash), a high temperature, sensitivity to light, flushing, difficulty breathing, or tiredness.
• Muscle aches, pains, cramps, tenderness, or weakness can be severe (see Special warnings section for Zocor Heart-Pro).
• Yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes and dark-colored urine may indicate a problem with your liver.
• Abdominal pain is felt just behind the ribs and spreads through to your back, which may be due to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

If you experience any of the following, stop using the medicine and talk to your doctor:

• Tiredness, faintness, or breathlessness may be due to anemia (insufficient red blood cells).
• Tingling and numbness, dizziness.
• Rash, itching, hair loss.
• Abnormal blood test results for liver or muscle function.

Other effects that occur are listed below:

• These include stomach pain, wind, constipation, weakness, indigestion, and headache.
• Diarrhea, feeling sick, or being sick.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you experience any side effects not included in this leaflet or are unsure about anything.

Storage

Keep the product out of reach and sight of children.

Do not store above 30°C.

Please do not put them in another container, as they might get mixed up.

Do not use your medicine if the pack is damaged or after the expiration date on the packaging.

Further Information

Ingredients

The active ingredient in Zocor Heart-Pro is 10 mg simvastatin.

Other ingredients are Ascorbic acid (E300), Butylated hydroxyanisole (E320), Citric acid monohydrate (E330), lactose,

Magnesium stearate (E572), Microcrystalline cellulose (E460), pregelatinized maize starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose (E463),

Methylhydroxy-propyl cellulose (E464), Talc (E553b), Titanium dioxide (E171), Red iron oxide (E172), and Yellow iron oxide (E172).

What Does Medicine Look Like?

Zocor Heart-Pro is a peach-colored, oval-shaped film-coated tablet marked 'MSD-735″. They are available in packs of

28 tablets.

What You Can Do to Help Reduce Your Risk of Heart Attack

At the same time as taking Zocor Heart-Pro tablets, try to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease by doing the following:

• Stop smoking - there is strong evidence to link cigarette smoking with heart disease. The risks increase with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day, but risks still exist even if you smoke as little as five a day. It is better to stop smoking altogether rather than just cut down on how much you smoke. Your pharmacist can advise you on a suitable program to help you stop smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet - this will not only help prevent coronary heart disease but has also been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and some kinds of cancers. Try to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in your diet and reduce the amount of sugar, salt, and fat.
• Lose weight - being overweight can cause a rise in your blood pressure, increase your risk of developing diabetes, and increase the risk of developing heart disease due to high cholesterol levels. Try to change your diet as described above and take more exercise.
• Exercise-a brisk walk to the shops can help. Swimming is a good exercise you could do as it is something you can gradually build up without overdoing it. You could also try adding the following to your daily routine: vigorous housework, walking upstairs more often, and gardening.

Register for the Healthy Heart Program to receive advice and information on a healthy lifestyle and how to reduce your risk of a heart attack. This free online service is designed to help you understand your heart attack risk, lower it, and keep it low.

Zocor provides patients with a safe and efficient way to control their cholesterol levels and lower their chance of cardiovascular events. Patients and healthcare professionals alike trust it because of its well-established safety and efficacy records, as well as its accessibility and affordability. As long as cardiovascular health is the top priority, Zocor will always be an essential weapon in the fight against heart disease, helping many people worldwide live better lives and achieve better results.