Product Information
Zocor tablets Medication
Zocor
tablets is a cholesterol medication proven to significantly reduce the risk
of heart attack and stroke in people with heart disease or diabetes - regardless
of cholesterol level.
Zocor
tablets medication helps save the lives of people with high cholesterol and
heart disease by reducing their risk of a heart attack. A heart attack occurs
when part of the blood circulation that feeds the heart is blocked. This blockage
starves that part of the heart muscle of oxygen, causing it to become damaged.
This damaged area pumps less efficiently, which may result in heart failure.
In
the Scandinavian Simvastatin (Zocor tablets) Survival Study (4S), a clinical
study among people with high cholesterol and heart disease, Zocor tablets demonstrated
strong results:
- 42% fewer deaths from heart disease
- 28% fewer first strokes or mini-strokes
Zocor
tablets medication works by reducing the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Generic Zocor tablets can dramatically lower LDL cholesterol ("bad"
cholesterol) while increasing HDL cholesterol ("good" cholesterol).
Cholesterol Reducing Drugs: Information on Zocor tablets
Cholesterol-reducing
drugs are medicines that lower the amount of cholesterol (a fat-like substance)
in the blood.
There
are four different classes of cholesterol lowering drugs:
- Bile
acid sequesterants are drugs that act by binding with the bile produced by
the liver. Bile helps the digestion and absorption of fats in the intestine.
By blocking the digestion of fats, bile acid sequesterants prevent the formation
of cholesterol. Drugs in this class include: cholestyramine (Questran); colestipol
(Colestid); and colesevalam (Welchol).
- HMG-CoA
inhibitors, often called "statins," are drugs that block an enzyme
called "3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase." This
blocks one of the steps in converting fat to cholesterol. These are the most
effective cholesterol lowering agents available and in recent years have received
increased attention for their benefits beyond helping patients with high cholesterol.
In 2003, researchers reported that people with heart failure but no coronary
artery disease received benefits after only 14 weeks of statin therapy. In
addition, some research has connected the drugs to reduced risk for depression
and dementia. Drugs in this group include: atorvastatin (Lipitor); cerivastatin
(Baycol); fluvastatin (Lescol); lovastatin (Mevacor); pravastatin (Pravachol);
simvastatin (Zocor tablets); and the newest approved drug rosuvastatin (Crestor).
- Fibric
acid derivatives include clofibrate (Atromid-S); gemfibrozil (Lopid); and
fenofibrate (Tricor). Although these drugs are less effective than the statins
at lowering total cholesterol, they may be able to lower the low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol while raising the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
They probably act by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase activity.
- Niacin,
or vitamin B-3, also is effective in lowering cholesterol levels. Although
the normal vitamin dose of niacin is only 20 mg, the dose required to reduce
cholesterol levels is at least 500 mg each day. Niacin probably helps reduce
cholesterol by inhibiting very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion in
the bloodstream.
Cholesterol: Information
Cholesterol
is a chemical that can do both good and harm in the body. On the good side,
cholesterol plays important roles in the structure of cells and in the production
of hormones. But too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to heart and blood
vessel disease. To complicate matters, not all cholesterol contributes to heart
and blood vessel problems.
One
type, called high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, or "good cholesterol,"
actually lowers the risk of these problems. High-density lipoproteins (HDL)
remove cholesterol from the bloodstream. The other type, low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol, or "bad cholesterol," is the type that threatens
people's health. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deliver cholesterol to the body.
To travel through the bloodstream, cholesterol must attach itself to a protein.
The combination of a protein and a fatty substance like cholesterol is called
a lipoprotein.
Many
factors may contribute to the fact that some people have higher cholesterol
levels than others. A diet high in certain types of fats is one factor. Medical
problems such as poorly controlled diabetes, an under active thyroid
gland, an overactive pituitary gland, liver disease or kidney failure
also may cause high cholesterol levels. And some people have inherited disorders
that prevent their bodies from properly using and eliminating fats. This allows
cholesterol to build up in the blood.
Treatment
for high cholesterol levels usually begins with changes in habits. By losing
weight, stopping smoking, exercising more and reducing the amount of fat and
cholesterol in the diet, many people can bring their cholesterol levels down
to acceptable levels. However, some may need to use cholesterol-reducing drugs
to reduce their risk of health problems.
While
some cholesterol is needed for good health, too much cholesterol in your blood
can raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The
extra cholesterol in your blood may be stored in your arteries (blood vessels)
and cause them to narrow. (This is called atherosclerosis.) Large deposits of
cholesterol can completely block an artery, so the blood cannot flow through.
If an artery that supplies blood to your heart becomes blocked, a heart attack can occur. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur.
Chlolesterol Levels:
Total cholesterol level
- Less than 200 is best.
- Between 200 to 239 is borderline high.
- 240 or more means you're at increased risk for heart disease.
LDL cholesterol levels
- Less than 130 is best.
- Between 130 to 159 is borderline high.
- 160 or more means you're at higher risk for heart disease.
HDL cholesterol levels
- Less than 40 means you're at higher risk for heart disease.
- 60 or higher reduces your risk of heart disease.
Side effects of Cholesterol Reducing drugs
Studies
in animals and humans suggest that gemfibrozil increases the risk of some types
of cancer. The drug may also cause gallstones or muscle problems. Patients who
need to take this medicine should ask their physicians for the latest information
on its benefits and risks.
Patients
taking gemfibrozil should check with a physician immediately if any of these
side effects occur:
- fever or chills
- severe stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
- pain in the lower back or side
- pain or difficulty when urinating
- cough or hoarseness
- HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
These drugs may damage the liver or muscles. Patients who take the drugs should have blood tests to check for liver damage as often as their physician recommends. Any unexplained pain, tenderness or weakness in the muscles should be reported to the physician at once.
- All
cholesterol-reducing drugs
Minor
side effects such as heartburn, indigestion, belching, bloating, gas, nausea
or vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness and headache usually go away as the body
adjusts to the drug and do not require medical treatment unless they continue
or they interfere with normal activities.
Patients
who have constipation while taking cholesterol-reducing drugs should bring the
problem to a physician's attention as soon as possible.
Additional
side effects are possible. Anyone who has unusual symptoms while taking cholesterol-reducing
drugs should get in touch with his or her physician.
>
>