FAQs
What is bad cholesterol (LDL)?
Bad Cholesterol (LDL) is the major cholesterol carrier in your blood. But when too much LDL cholesterol circulates in your blood, it can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries that feed your heart and brain. Along with other substances, it can form arterial plaque. Over time, this plaque can thicken and restrict blood flow. That's why it's important to keep your bad cholesterol (LDL) level down. Talk with your health care provider about your individual risk factors and LDL cholesterol goal.
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What is good cholesterol (HDL)?
Good cholesterol (HDL) is another lipid (fat) found in the blood. HDL helps carry the bad cholesterol (LDL) out of the arteries to the liver, where it is disposed. This is why, unlike with LDL, higher levels of good cholesterol are beneficial. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an HDL cholesterol level less than 40 mg/dL is low for men and less than 50 mg/dL is low for women.2
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What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are sometimes referred to as the "other bad lipid." They are carried by the blood to tissues where they can be used for energy or stored in fat cells for future use. As with bad cholesterol (LDL), increased levels of triglycerides can be a medical concern. The NCEP and AHA suggest that triglycerides below 150 mg/dL are considered normal. 1,2
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Why do I need to eat less saturated fat?
Eating foods with high saturated fat raises your bad cholesterol (LDL) level more than anything else you eat. Saturated fat is found in fatty cuts of meat, poultry with the skin, whole milk dairy products, and in tropical oils like coconut and palm oils. Most other vegetable oils are low in saturated fats.
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What is unsaturated fat, and do I need to watch how much of it I eat?
Unsaturated fat is another type of fat found in foods, but it is not as harmful to your arteries as saturated fat. However, eating too much of any kind of fat can contribute to weight gain and impact your cholesterol levels. Maintaining an overall low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can help you manage your weight and your cholesterol.
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How can fiber help my cholesterol?
Soluble fiber — found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains — helps block the absorption of cholesterol and fats in the foods you eat. Increasing your daily intake of soluble fiber can help lower your bad cholesterol (LDL) levels.
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If I am dieting, why do I need SIMCOR?
Many people need help reaching their cholesterol goals, even with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. SIMCOR is used when treatment with simvastatin alone or niacin extended-release alone is not enough, and when a low-fat diet and exercise alone has not been successful. SIMCOR is used along with a healthy diet to lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides; and to increase HDL in people with unhealthy cholesterol levels. No additional benefit of SIMCOR on heart disease over and above that shown for simvastatin alone and niacin alone has been demonstrated.
SIMCOR should not be used if you have liver problems, stomach ulcers, or serious bleeding problems; in women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or nursing; and if you are allergic to any product ingredient.
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When would SIMCOR be prescribed?
SIMCOR is used in people with abnormal cholesterol levels when treatment with simvastatin alone or niacin extended-release alone is not enough, and when a low-fat diet and exercise alone have not been successful. Patients should stay on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol while taking this medicine. No additional benefit of SIMCOR on heart disease over and above that shown for simvastatin alone and niacin alone has been demonstrated.
Contact a health care provider if serious side effects such as unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness develop. This may be a sign of a serious but rare muscle disorder. Blood tests are needed before and during treatment with SIMCOR to check for liver problems. Increases in blood sugar can occur. The most common side effect of SIMCOR is flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin).
Please click here for Important Safety Information about SIMCOR and discuss it with your doctor.
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How should SIMCOR be taken?
SIMCOR is taken as a once-daily dose. For best results, follow these instructions for taking SIMCOR:
- Thirty minutes before you take SIMCOR, try taking an aspirin. Remember to check with your doctor first.
- Take your medication at bedtime – by dosing at bedtime, flushing will most likely occur during sleep. If flushing occurs and wakes you up, take your time getting up, especially if feeling dizzy, faint, or taking blood pressure medications.
- Avoid alcohol, hot beverages and spicy foods near the time of taking your medication.
- If taking medication upsets your stomach, try taking SIMCOR with a light, low-fat snack.
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What are the most common side effects of SIMCOR?
Patients who take SIMCOR may experience flushing. This is a common side effect associated with the niacin extended-release component of SIMCOR. Flushing is described as a warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling that can occur on your face, neck, chest, and/or back. It is caused by increased blood flow to the surface of the skin. If this happens to you, remember:
- Flushing typically happens when you start taking SIMCOR or when the dosage is increased.
- If awakened by flushing at night, you should get up slowly, especially if feeling dizzy, faint, or taking blood pressure medications.
- For some, flushing may be more intense, and additional symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting, rapid or pronounced heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, and/or swelling may occur. Notify your doctor if dizziness or fainting occurs.
- Flushing is a common side effect that may subside after several weeks of consistent SIMCOR use.
- Other common side effects include headache, itching, nausea, back pain, and diarrhea.
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How long do I need to take SIMCOR?
Do not stop taking SIMCOR or change your dose of SIMCOR without speaking with your doctor.
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Who should not take SIMCOR?
SIMCOR should not be used if you have liver problems, stomach ulcers, or serious bleeding problems; in women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing; and if you are allergic to any product ingredient.
Contact your health care provider if symptoms of unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness occur, as this may be a sign of a serious but rare muscle disorder, from which rare cases of death have occurred.
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References:Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Final Report. Circulation. 2002;106:3143-3421
What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean. American Heart Association Web site. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/What-Your-Cholesterol-Levels-Mean_UCM_305562_Article.jsp. Accessed September 7, 2010
Uses for SIMCOR® (niacin extended-release/simvastatin)
SIMCOR is used when treatment with simvastatin alone or niacin extended-release alone is not enough, and when a low-fat diet and exercise alone have not been successful.
SIMCOR is a prescription medication that is used along with diet to lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides, and to increase HDL "good" cholesterol in people with abnormal cholesterol levels.
No additional benefit of SIMCOR on heart disease over and above that shown for simvastatin alone and niacin alone has been demonstrated.
Important Safety Information for SIMCOR
SIMCOR is not for people with liver problems, stomach ulcers, or serious bleeding problems; for women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are nursing; or for those allergic to any product ingredient.
Contact your health care provider about any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, as this may be a sign of a serious but rare muscle disorder, from which rare cases of death may occur. This risk is increased when SIMCOR is taken with certain types of medications.
Tell your health care provider about all the medications you are taking, including vitamins and nutritional supplements.
SIMCOR contains extended-release niacin. All forms of niacin are not the same. SIMCOR should not be substituted for immediate-release niacin, as severe liver damage can occur.
SIMCOR is associated with increases in liver enzymes. Your health care provider should do blood tests before and during treatment with SIMCOR to check for liver problems. SIMCOR should be used with caution if you drink large amounts of alcohol or have a history of liver disease.
SIMCOR may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check blood sugar levels more frequently during the first few months of SIMCOR use.
Tell your health care provider if you have a history of kidney problems or gout. SIMCOR may cause an increase in uric acid levels.
Women of childbearing age should use an effective method of birth control to prevent pregnancy while using SIMCOR. If you are pregnant, stop SIMCOR and contact your health care provider.
Flushing (warmth, redness, itching, and/or tingling of the skin) is a common side effect that may subside after several weeks of consistent use. Flushing may vary in severity and is more likely to occur when starting therapy or during dose increases. If you take SIMCOR at bedtime, flushing will most likely occur during sleep. If flushing wakes you up, take your time getting up, especially if you feel dizzy or faint, or if you take blood pressure medications.
Other common side effects include headache, itching, nausea, back pain, and diarrhea.
For more information, talk with your health care provider.
Please click here (http://rxabbott.com/pdf/simcor_pi.pdf) for full Prescribing Information.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
If you cannot afford your medication, contact: www.pparx.org or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) for assistance.