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Zocor is a prescription medication used to treat high cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also useful to increase HDL or "good" cholesterol. Cholesterol problems effect many people and proper treatment is necessary as high cholesterol and triglycerides can lead to severe coronary disease.

High cholesterol can normally be reated by diet and exercise. There are instances though that diet and exercise alone cannot accomplish the lowering of a person's cholesterol. This is when medicines such as Zocor are prescribed.

If the medication when taken works as it is supposed to you should start noticing a difference in a few days to about four weeks. However, there are side effects to be on the lookout for both short term and long term.

Zocor is a name for a drug named Simvastatin. As I said these drugs work really well on lowering your cholesterol but the side effects as with other drugs can be devastating. Only about 2% of the patients on Zocor usually experience the side effects.

Some common side effects of Zocor include but are not limited to:

Muscle pain or weakness- If you experience this side effect it is advisable to notify your health care provider immediately.

Rash- If you should develop an unexplained rash after starting to take Zocor you should stop taking it, notify your healthcare provider who will schedule you to come in for a check to see if the Zocor is causing the rash.

Headaches- should not be to severe but if they continue you should notify your medical service provider.

Nausea- This could be caused by the drug and it could just be your body trying to adjust. If a feeling of nausea and or vomiting continue notify you doctor.
There are two primary side effects of Zocor that you should really be concerned with: Rhabdomyolisis, and Myopathy.

Rhabdomyolisis is a disorder that causes kidney damage as a result of toxic effects of the contents of the muscle cells. When the skeletal muscle is damaged it releases myoglobin into the blood stream where it flows to the kidney's. As th kidney's filter the blood the Myoglobin may obstruct the structures of the kidneys.

Myopathy is a condition or disease of the muscle tissues. Drug induce myopathy usually develops underhandedly. It may show up in days, months, or even years. If you experience muscle pain you should notify your doctor as soon as possible.

If you are prescribed Zocor and read the literature contained within you will find that with any of the following effects you should notify your doctor immediately:

Abnormal urine color such as red, dark, or cola colored

Muscle stiffness or aching

Muscle tenderness

Generalized weakness

The effects of this drug are quite rare and its benefits can far outweigh the effects. There are however other ways in which to lower your cholesterol. Be sure and discuss all treatment options with your physician. Let what you read not play a part in your decision on what to do. Only a health care professional can help you make those decisions.

Learn more about this author, Stanley Roberts.
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