Simvastatin is a generic nam? f?r a prescription medication prescribed b? physicians f?r the reduction of cholesterol levels. A member ?f th? statin class of drugs, simvastatin works by reducing how much cholesterol y?ur liver produces. Despite ?ts effectiveness ?n helping prevent or treating heart disease in people w?th high cholesterol, simvastatin poses a risk for side effects ?n ?ome patients.

Digestive

Gastritis or inflammation of your stomach lining occurs in approximately 5 percent ?f simvastatin users, whil? 2 percent report constipation, a?c?rd?ng to th? U.S. National Library of Medicine. Diarrhea, flatulence, belching, stomach bloat, indigestion, ?n? heartburn ?r? ?l?? possible.

Musculoskeletal

Approximately 3.7 percent of patients wh? t?ke simvastatin report muscle pain, ??cord?ng t? th? U.S. National Library of Medicine. Use ?f the drug also poses ? risk f?r ? potentially life-threatening effect to ??ur muscles known as rhabdomyolysis. This rare side effects occurs wh?n your muscle tissues begin to break down ?nto ? substance kn?wn as myoglobin, which is harmful t? ?our kidneys. The risk ?f musculoskeletal side effects from simvastatin increases wh?n the drug is combined with ?ther medications l?ke antifungal azole medications ?u?h a? itraconazole ?n? ketoconazole, macrolide antibiotics l?k? erythromycin an? clarithromycin, HIV protease inhibitors l?k? ritonavir ?n? indinavir an? the antidepressant medication nefazodone. Additionally, drinking mor? th?n ?ne quart of grapefruit juice ?er day increases th? risk ?f rhabdomyolysis.

Respiratory

Some patients report experiencing mor? respiratory infections wh?l? taking simvastatin. Approximately 6.6 percent of users experience inflammation ?f th? airways (bronchitis) ?n? 2.3 percent develop inflammation ?f th? sinuses (sinusitis) fr?m simvastatin, a???r?ing t? th? U.S. National Library ?f Medicine.

Neurological

The mo?t common neurological side effects ?f simvastatin include headaches, insomnia, ?n? vertigo, whi?h occur ?n ?s m?ny as 4.5 percent of users, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Dizziness, weakness, forgetfulness, depression, tingling ?n y?ur extremities, ?n? nerve pain are ?l?? ?os??ble side effects to ?our nervous system.

Hypersensitvity

Though rare, simvastatin h?s th? potential t? ??u?e severe allergic reactions in patients. Possible reactions include severe swelling of ?our face, throat, or extremities (angioedema) ?r an immune system response th?t c?us?? wheezing, chest pain, hives, ?n? fainting (anaphylaxis), reports th? Mayo Clinic. In some patients, th? sensitivity manifests as ? life-threatening skin condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, wh?ch results ?n large lesions or growths ?n y?ur body.

Bleeding

Simvastatin slightly increases the effectiveness ?f th? blood-thinning medication warfarin, explains th? U.S. National Library of Medicine. Because ?f this, patients taking both drugs m?y experience prolonged ?r uncontrollable bleeding f?ll?wing ?n injury or surgery.

Hepatic

Around 1 percent of patients who take simvastatin experience change? ?n th? amount ?f liver enzymes or proteins, reports th? U.S. National Library of Medicine. Infrequently, th?? results in inflammation ?f the liver (hepatitis) or ?n liver dysfunction th?t c?use? a yellowing ?f the skin or eyes (jaundice). Very rarely, simvastatin u?? results in liver failure, ??rti?ul?rly ?n patients wh? alre?d? have liver disease.

Pregnancy

Developing babies require cholesterol fr?m th?ir mothers' bodies t? form vital tissues ?nd organs. Because of this, simvastatin u?e in pregnant women poses a risk f?r fetal abnormalities, warns th? Mayo Clinic.