Simvastatin — HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin). Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.
Generic name
Simvastatin
Class
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)
Mechanism
Prodrug hydrolyzed to simvastatin acid, which inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis.
Used for
Reduction of coronary death, nonfatal MI, stroke or revascularization need in high-risk adults with the established vascular disease or diabetes described in the label; As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to other LDL-lowering treatment in adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; As an adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia in adults
Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.
Label date: 20260831 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.
Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.
Mechanism: Inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol.
On both cards: Common side effects — Headache; Constipation; Nausea · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
Only on the Rosuvastatin card: Used for — As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia and to slow atherosclerosis progression in adults; Reduction of major cardiovascular events in adults without established coronary disease who meet the label's age, hsCRP of at least 2 mg/L and additional-risk-factor criteria; Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 8 years and older, as an adjunct to diet; Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 7 years and older, with other LDL-lowering treatment or alone when unavailable · Common side effects — Myalgia; Asthenia · Interactions — Cyclosporine, gemfibrozil; Aluminum/magnesium hydroxide antacids; Warfarin
Mechanism: Selectively and competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. In animal models, increased hepatic LDL receptors also contribute to LDL uptake and breakdown.
On both cards: Used for — As an adjunct to diet to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with primary hyperlipidemia or in adults and children aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy; Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
Only on the Atorvastatin card: Used for — Reduction of specified cardiovascular events in adults with established coronary heart disease or the multiple coronary risk factors described in the label; Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in adults and children aged 10 years and older, with other LDL-lowering treatment or alone when that treatment is unavailable · Common side effects — Nasopharyngitis; Arthralgia; Diarrhea; Pain in extremity; Urinary tract infection · Interactions — Cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, grapefruit juice; Rifampin; Digoxin
Mechanism: Reversibly inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme converting HMG-CoA to mevalonate, a cholesterol precursor.
On both cards: Common side effects — Upper respiratory infection; Headache · Warnings — Myopathy / rhabdomyolysis; Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy
Only on the Pravastatin card: Used for — Adjunct to diet for primary hyperlipidemia in adults, or heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in children aged 8 years and older; Reduction of myocardial infarction, revascularization and cardiovascular death in adults with elevated LDL-C without clinically evident coronary heart disease; Reduction of specified coronary/cerebrovascular events and slowing coronary atherosclerosis in adults with clinically evident coronary heart disease; Adjunct to diet for hypertriglyceridemia or primary dysbetalipoproteinemia in adults · Common side effects — Musculoskeletal pain; Nausea / vomiting; Diarrhea · Warnings — Hepatic dysfunction · Interactions — Gemfibrozil; Cyclosporine; Clarithromycin / erythromycin
An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.
Capsera