Zocor

Zocor Precautions and Drug Interactions

Zocor is often taken along with healthy dieting to help patients lower their fast and bad cholesterol levels in the blood while increasing good cholesterol levels.

This medicine belongs to a class of drugs called statins, and it works by decreasing the cholesterol amount produced by the liver. Basically, lowered bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides and raised good cholesterol will result in reduced risk of having heart complications.

People need to stick to a healthy diet and make other important lifestyle changes to get the most out of taking Zocor. For example, it’s advisable to exercise regularly, stop smoking and so on.

How to Take Zocor Properly

This medicine should be taken orally, usually only once a day (in the evening), and the right dose is always based on the medical condition, personal response, age and other basic factors evaluated by physicians.

The maximum dosage of Zocor is 40 mg taken on a daily basis, and people should avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit because they increase the amount of this medicine in the bloodstream. It usually takes up to 1 month to experience the full benefit of this effective treatment.

Side Effects

Most patients who take Zocor don’t experience any side effects, so only a small number of people may end up with such unwanted symptoms as:

• Confusion and mild memory problems;
• Muscle issues;
• Unusual weakness;
• Muscle pain and tenderness;
• Changes in the urine amount;
• Liver complications.

Users need to call their doctors immediately when they notice such serious side effects as:

• Dark urine;
• Yellow skin and eyes;
• Severe stomach pain;
• Persistent vomiting and nausea;
• Serious allergic reactions.

Most Important Precautions to Stay Safe

Before starting this treatment, doctors must be informed if their patients have such medical conditions as allergies to Zocor components, history of alcohol or drug abuse, kidney and liver conditions and so on.

It’s required to limit the intake of alcoholic beverages when using Zocor to reduce the risk of developing liver complications. Older patients can be more sensitive to adverse effects of this medication, especially when it comes to muscle symptoms. Zocor shouldn’t be taken by pregnant and nursing women.

Dangerous and Unwanted Drug Combinations

They should be avoided because they change the way this medication works, reduce its effectiveness and lead to serious side effects.

Patients should understand that Zocor shouldn’t be combined with such medications as blood thinners, azole antifungals, HIV protease inhibitors, danazol, colchicine, cyclosporine, diltiazem, boceprevir, nefazodone, macrolide antibiotics, telaprevir and others.

It’s not allowed to use red yeast rice products when undergoing this treatment because of an increased risk of serious liver issues and muscle conditions. Patients need to discuss all the pills that they’re taking with their doctors.