Statins increase weight and blood sugar and raise diabetes risk, study finds Statins increase weight and blood sugar levels and raise the risk of diabetes, a study has found, but experts maintain that the benefits of the drug . Reinforcing the importance of lifestyle changes when discussing these issues with patients would further enhance the benefit of statin treatment in preventing heart attacks and strokes.'' Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which co- funded the study, said: ''This study should reassure people that the benefits of taking statins far outweigh the small effect on diabetes risk. But the results also reinforce that, alongside prescribed medication, taking steps to maintain a healthy weight is essential to stay heart healthy.'' Professor Colin Baigent, deputy director of Oxford University's Clinical Trial Service and Epidemiological Studies units, said: ''Although it is helpful to understand mechanisms, this research does not change our assessment of the safety of statins. Zocor - Side Effects, Dosage, Interactions. Q: I have been taking Zocor for 1. For the last few weeks I have had back and shoulder stiffness. Could this be from the Zocor? A: Simvastatin (trade name: Zocor) is a hypolipidemic belonging to the class of drugs called . It is used to control hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels) and to prevent cardiovascular disease. Atorvastatin reduces blood levels of low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL- C, bad cholesterol), triglycerides and slightly increases levels of high- density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL- C, good cholesterol). Statins are generally well tolerated; common side effects include headache, muscle aches, tenderness, or weakness, drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and/or pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and rash. A search of the prescribing information for Zocor did not specifically list back and shoulder stiffness as side effects. These are not all the possible side effects of Zocor. Will my statin drug cause weight gain as a side effect? Consumer Reports discusses. Simvastatin and Weight Gain. One of the most rarely discussed of all possible simvastatin side effects is weight gain. Does Simvastatin Cause Hair Loss? FDA admits statin drugs cause diabetes, memory loss. Thursday, March 01, 2012 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer Tags: statin drugs, diabetes, memory loss. Q: What natural foods can I take instead of simvastatin (Zocor) to lower my cholesterol? A: It has been shown that soy, flaxseed oil, fish oil, green tea and garlic can all help to decrease cholesterol. You should not stop taking your cholesterol medication, Zocor (simvastatin), without consulting your physician. Many patients wonder about the connection between simvastatin and weight loss and ask if simvastatin can help lose pounds. Does simvastatin cause weight loss? Also, consult with your physician before adding any of the supplements as they can interact with medications you may be taking. Q: Is Zocor safe to take? Drug information on Zocor (simvastatin), includes drug pictures, side effects, drug interactions, directions for use, symptoms of overdose, and what to avoid. Simvastatin side effects weight loss. Simvastatin side effects weight gain. Unexplained weight loss; unusual tiredness. Grundy SM 'Can statins cause chronic low. Woldeselassie 'Simvastatin-associated memory loss.' Pharmacotherapy 21. Best Answer: Experts advice that if patients experience deterioration in your general health like weight loss fever and fatigue while taking this medicine. Could Simvastatin cause Weight loss? We studied 129,471 Simvastatin users who have side effects from FDA. Among them, 359 have Weight loss. A: Recently, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has made a safety announcement concerning Zocor (simvastatin). Zocor (simvastatin), when taken as directed by your doctor, is safe in treating high cholesterol. The information was regarding an increased risk of muscle damage in patients taking the highest approved dose (8. Symptoms of muscle damage include muscle weakness, tenderness and pain. While there is a risk for this severe side effect while taking Zocor (simvastatin), it is rare. If you experience any of the above symptoms, dark urine or unexplained tiredness you should contact your health care provider. It is important to take medication as prescribed by your doctor. If you have additional questions or concerns, regarding treatment with Zocor (simvastatin), contact your health care provider. For more information on Zocor (simvastatin) or high cholesterol you may want to visit our website. In particular, Zocor lowers the total cholesterol in the body and the LDL (low- density lipoprotein. According to the package insert, no reports of weight gain have occurred from taking Zocor. Common side effects of Zocor include stomach pain, gas, bloating, nausea or diarrhea. Studies have also reported more serious side effects caused by Zocor that include muscle pain or weakness or flu- like symptoms. In rare cases more serious side effects could be an indicator of a condition that breaks down skeletal muscle tissue. Any serious side effects should be reported to a physician immediately. Kimberly Hotz, Pharm. DQ: I am having problems with muscles and low energy. Could it be caused by the medications I am taking? I take Keppra, Zocor and Zoloft. A: A common side effect of the statin medications, such as Zocor (simvastatin), used to treat high cholesterol, is muscle pain, aches or weakness. If you are experiencing this side effect and cannot attribute it to exercise or normal muscle strain you should consult with your physician. Keppra (levetiracetam) is an anticonvulsant medication used to treat seizures. The commonly reported side effects include drowsiness, weakness and flu- like symptoms. Zoloft (sertraline), is an antidepressant medication, that has been commonly reported to cause drowsiness and fatigue, occurring in up to 1. You should consult with your physician if any of your side effects are affecting your daily activities to see if any options are available to you to help with the muscle and low energy problems you are experiencing. For more information on these medications: http: //www. Lori Poulin, Pharm. DQ: My doctor has prescribed Zocor. I have taken it for two weeks and it seems to cause my legs to hurt. Why is this? A: Zocor (simvastatin, generically) has rare side effects of joint pain and muscle cramps. If this is intolerable, your doctor may want to try a different statin, or depending on your cholesterol levels, there may be other alternatives. Statin medications can cause a potentially serious condition known as rhabdomyolysis, a rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle due to injury to muscle tissue. If you are having pain, tenderness, or weakness in the muscles, you could have rhabdomyolysis. You should discuss this with your doctor. For more heart and cholesterol information and medication information, please visit these links: http: //www. Patti Brown, Pharm. DQ: I have a scratched cornea and dry eye. I've been suffering for the past five weeks with this, ever since my doctor increased my dosage of Zocor. Can this be causing my dry and painful eye? A: Dry and painful eyes are not reported side effects for Zocor (simvastatin). You should contact your health care provider about your eye pain to determine the cause and possible treatment options. For more information regarding Zocor (simvastatin), go to http: //www. Beth Isaac, Pharm. DQ: I've taken Zocor for high cholesterol for about ten years. Should you change a medication after you have taken it for several years? A: The answer depends on why you'd change it and what you'd change it to. Zocor acts no differently than most of the statins that are currently on the market. Often physicians will add something to help control your lipids (fats), or they will put you on a different statin medication that they've seen be more successful. You should discuss your concerns about Zocor with your physician. For more information, go to http: //www. Matt Curley, Pharm. DQ: I am taking 4. Zocor daily. I have high triglycerides, low HDL and low LDL readings. Should I be taking this medication since it is a cholesterol lowering drug and my cholesterol readings are already low? Does it do anything for my high triglyceride readings? A: About 9. 0% of the cholesterol- lowering drugs taken by Americans are in a class of medications known as statins. Zocor (simvastatin) is a hypolipidemic medication, a statin, (HMG- Co. A reductase inhibitor) used to control hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels) and to prevent cardiovascular disease. These drugs lower cholesterol by at least 2. They inhibit HMG- Co. A reductase, a key enzyme that controls how much cholesterol is produced in the liver. The result is lower blood levels of LDL cholesterol. Statins also lower elevated triglycerides and raise HDL (. For more specific information, consult with your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations based on your specific condition and current medications. Gharbia, Pharm. DQ: Can Zocor elevate triglyceride levels? I do know that it is meant to lower cholesterol levels but since I have been taking it my triglycerides continue to become more elevated with each blood test. A: There have been isolated cases where Zocor has increased triglycerides levels, however this is not typical. This should be addressed with your provider, as he or she may want to test you to make sure that Zocor (simvastatin) is not affecting your liver in a non- productive way. Please visit us here for more information on Zocor: http: //www. Matt Curley, Pharm D. MSCISQ: I had hepatitis A 2. Will taking Zocor affect my liver? The dosage is 4. 0 mg once a day. A: Because Zocor (generic name is simvastatin) can affect the liver, the manufacturer suggests that liver function be monitored while on treatment. Many physicians will order a liver function test before starting therapy so they have an idea of how well your liver is functioning. The liver is then monitored with periodic liver function tests to see if the medication is having an aefect on the liver. Although Zocor (simvastatin) has been associated with having an affect on the liver, it rarely causes liver toxicity. As for the Hepatitis, unlike other forms, Hepatitis A is typically a short- term infection. It may or may not produce symptoms and usually resolves on its own. Hepatitis A rarely causes liver damage, liver failure, or death. Unless there are long term affects from having Hepatitis A, it is unlikely that Zocor (simvastatin) would further aggravate any liver damage. I have included a link for more information on Zocor as well as Hepatitis A. Lori Mendoza, Pharm. D Mendoza. Q: Does Zocor cause hair loss? A: Alopecia, or hair loss has been reported in patients who have taken Zocor (simvastain) while Zocor has been available to patients. However, it. Q: What is Zocor? A: Zocor (simvastatin) is a prescription medication used for treating a number of conditions related to heart disease including high cholesterol and triglycerides. This medication is part of a class of drugs called statins. It works by blocking a particular enzyme, HMG- Co. A reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. This causes the liver to make less cholesterol. For more information on Zocor, click on this link: http: //www. Lori Mendoza, Pharm. D Poulin, Pharm. DQ: I have been hearing on TV that Zocor can cause kidney problems. I am having a problem urinating since I started Zocor. A: The cholesterol- lowering drugs called statins (including Zocor . A review of package inserts shows that uncomplicated muscle pain has been reported in approximately 1% to 5% of patients taking statins. The more serious side effect of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis is defined by muscle breakdown and increased blood levels of creatine phosphokinase (CPK). The breakdown of the muscle can lead to severe kidney damage and possible kidney failure. If the symptoms of muscle pain or weakness are accompanied by tiredness, fever, nausea and vomiting, brown or dark- colored urine or yellowing skin, patients should contact their health care provider.
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