Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
GI upset (abdominal pain, constipation, nausea) — generally mild
Headache
Myalgia (muscle pain — most common symptomatic side effect)
Myopathy (muscle disease) — dose-dependent; risk substantially higher at 80mg
Rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown — rare but life-threatening; causes acute kidney failure)
Hepatotoxicity (elevated liver enzymes; significant clinical hepatitis rare)
Memory impairment/cognitive effects (class warning; mild, reversible)
Interstitial lung disease (very rare)
Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM — autoimmune, rare, requires immunosuppressive treatment)
Like all medications, Simvastatin can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: