What is SIMCOR®?
SIMCOR® (simvastatin/niacin extended-release) is a prescription medication recommended for people with unhealthy cholesterol levels.
SIMCOR is a combination of two cholesterol medicines: simvastatin and niacin extended-release.
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.1
When combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, SIMCOR is effective at:
Lowering bad cholesterol (LDL)
Raising good cholesterol (HDL)
Lowering triglycerides (TG)
No additional benefits of SIMCOR for heart disease over and above those shown for simvastatin alone and niacin alone have been demonstrated.
Safety Information
SIMCOR should not be taken by people with liver problems, stomach ulcers, or serious bleeding problems; in women who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or nursing. 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).
Go Down, Up, Down — With Just One Dose a Day
Managing cholesterol isn't always limited to just one part of cholesterol. Lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) is important but so is raising good cholesterol (HDL) — and lowering triglycerides.
Many people with unhealthy cholesterol levels need to treat more than one of the three main parts of cholesterol. SIMCOR, along with a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, helps move the three main parts of your cholesterol in the right directions — down, up, down — with the convenience of a single medication taken once a day.
Learn More About SIMCOR
On this Web site, you can learn more about SIMCOR and how it may help put all three main parts of your cholesterol on track:
How SIMCOR Works — if you have unhealthy cholesterol, find out how SIMCOR can help you raise your good cholesterol while also lowering bad cholesterol and triglycerides.
Is SIMCOR Right for You? — find out more about the benefits and safety of SIMCOR; then ask your doctor if SIMCOR is a good choice for you.
The Flushing Side Effect — learn about the most common side effect of taking SIMCOR and about resources to help you manage it.
SIMCOR Tools — download the SIMCOR Doctor Discussion Guide, Cholesterol Tracker and more.
Reference:SIMCOR [package insert]. North Chicago, IL: Abbott Laboratories.
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.