Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering medication that blocks the production of cholesterol in the body. It reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol in the blood. Lowering your cholesterol can help prevent cardiovascular diseases, conditions that can lead to heart attack, stroke, and vascular disease.

Special Warnings Concerning simvastatin:

Before you take simvastatin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

? diabetes
? hypothyroidism
? kidney disease
? a muscle disorder or
? liver disease

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take simvastatin. FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use simvastatin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether simvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take simvastatin without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not use younger than 10 years of age.

What are some possible side effects of simvastatin?
(This is not a complete list of side effects reported with simvastatin. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)

? dark yellow or brown urine
? decreased urination, difficulty passing urine
? fever
? muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness
? redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
? skin rash, itching
? unusual tiredness or weakness
? yellowing of the skin or eyes
? constipation
? headache
? upset stomach, indigestion, gas, heartburn

For more detailed information about simvastatin, ask your health care provider.