Simcor

Simcor

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

Brand Names: Simcor

What is Simcor?

Simcor contains a combination of niacin and simvastatin. 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. Simvastatin is in a group of drugs called HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, or "statins."

Simcor is used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood. Simcor is used along with diet to lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides and to increase HDL "good" cholesterol.

Simcor may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

Important information about Simcor

You should not take Simcor if you are allergic to niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, and others) or simvastatin (Zocor), if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease, severe bleeding, or a stomach ulcer. Stop taking Simcor and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Before taking Simcor, tell your doctor if you have ever had liver or kidney disease, diabetes, gout, or a thyroid disorder, or if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily.

In rare cases, Simcor can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

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.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage.

There are many other drugs that can increase your risk of serious medical problems if you take them together with Simcor. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

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.

Before taking Simcor

You should not take Simcor if you are allergic to niacin (Niaspan, Niacor, and others) or simvastatin (Zocor), if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease, severe bleeding, or a stomach ulcer.

If you have any of these other conditions, your doctor may need to adjust your dose of Simcor or order special tests:

history of liver disease;

history of kidney disease;

diabetes;

gout;

a thyroid disorder;

if you drink more than 2 alcoholic beverages daily; or

if you are switched to this medication from regular niacin, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide (or vitamin supplements that contain niacin).

In rare cases, Simcor can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to occur in older adults and in people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that your doctor knows if you are using any of them:

amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

danazol (Danocrine);

nefazodone (an antidepressant);

gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibric acid (Fibricor, Trilipix), or fenofibrate (Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Lofibra, Tricor, Triglide);

antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

antifungal medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal);

heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem) or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);

HIV medications such as atazanavir (Reyataz), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and others;

other medicines that contain niacin (Advicor, Niaspan, Niacor, Slo-Niacin, and others); or

drugs that weaken your immune system, such as steroids, cancer medicine, or medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).

FDA pregnancy category X. Simcor can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects. Do not take Simcor if you are pregnant. Stop taking this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Use effective birth control to avoid pregnancy while you are taking Simcor. Niacin and simvastatin may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing baby. Do not breast-feed while you are taking Simcor.

See also: Simcor pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

How should I take Simcor?

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

Simcor is usually taken at bedtime with a low-fat snack. Follow your doctor's instructions. Do not take Simcor on an empty stomach.

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

Do not crush, chew, or break a Simcor extended-release tablet. Swallow it whole.

Niacin can cause certain side effects such as dizziness, sweating, chills, flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin), fast or pounding heartbeats, shortness of breath, or feeling like you might pass out. 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 medicine.

Your doctor may recommend you take aspirin 30 minutes before you take Simcor to prevent certain side effects. Do not take aspirin without your doctor's advice. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much aspirin to take.

You may need to stop using Simcor for a short time if you have:

uncontrolled seizures;

an electrolyte imbalance (such as high or low potassium levels in your blood);

severely low blood pressure;

a severe infection or illness;

dehydration; or

surgery or a medical emergency.

If you stop taking lovastatin and niacin 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 helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

Niacin can raise your blood sugar, and may cause unusual results with certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using Simcor.

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.

You may need to take Simcor on a long-term basis for the treatment of high cholesterol.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Simcor dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Simcor?

If you also take cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid), avoid taking them within 4 to 6 hours before or after you take Simcor.

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.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage.

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.

Simcor side effects

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

unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;

fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine;

swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all; or

nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Simcor side effects may include:

headache;

diarrhea;

mild nausea;

mild dizziness;

mild skin rash;

back pain; or

flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Simcor side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Simcor?

Before taking Simcor, tell your doctor about all other medicines you are using, especially:

digoxin (Lanoxin);

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

any other "statin" medication such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), or simvastatin (Zocor, Vytorin).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Simcor. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Simcor resources

Simcor Side Effects (in More Detail)

Simcor Dosage

Simcor Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Simcor Drug Interactions

Simcor Support Group

6 Reviews for Simcor - Add your own review/rating

Simcor Prescribing Information (FDA)

Simcor Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Simcor MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Simcor with other medications

High Cholesterol

Hyperlipoproteinemia

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIa, Elevated LDL

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IIb, Elevated LDL VLDL

Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV, Elevated VLDL

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Simcor.