For High Cholesterol Zocor Can Offers Prescription Help

For many patients with high cholesterol Zocor is prescribed to help lower the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, as well the level of triglycerides and to increase the level of good cholesterol. Zocor is the brand name of the drug simvastatin, and is used as a statin drug for cholesterol control. It help be forming a type of non-binding shield in the blood to prevent it from sticking together and forming a clot.

Those having a history of coronary problems including high cholesterol Zocor can help prevent the clots that can also cause strokes and is often given to patients with a stroke history. Additionally it can be used in patients with diabetes and when used with a low fat, heart-healthy diet it can greatly reduce the chance of a heart attack and an additional stroke as well as reduce the need for arterial cleaning to remove plaque.

Patients with liver disease or in those in whom testing indicates the possibility of liver disease should not use Zocor. It also contains other ingredients such as lactose, iron oxide and titanium dioxide to which some patients may be allergic. Due to this potential allergic reaction, even with high cholesterol Zocor should not be taken.

Benefits Should Outweigh Side Effects

As with most prescription medications, there are some possible side effects, that may be severe in some patients, and being aware of the possibility if the patient experiences any of the effects should stop taking the drug and notify their doctor. In fighting high cholesterol Zocor may also affect muscles and the nervous system but in clinical trials of large groups of patients, only about one percent suffered from adverse side effects, and the drug was deemed safe for most people.

For doctors treating patients for high cholesterol Zocor also prompts the need for additional tests prior to writing the prescriptions. The drug has been shown to slightly increase levels of certain liver enzymes and a test should be performed prior to taking the drug to determine if it is safe for them to ingest. Those who develop liver problems once taking Zocor will probably be advised by their physician to stop.

For females with high cholesterol Zocor should not be used if the woman becomes pregnant or may become pregnant, although side effects during pregnancy have not been established. The ability to lower cholesterol levels remains fairly constant for female patients of all ages, with no differences found between elderly and younger patients.

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