Compare simvastatin vs. Vytorin
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Lowers cholesterol.
Zocor (simvastatin) is a good medication to improve your cholesterol.
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3.8/ 5 average rating with 1176 reviewsforsimvastatin
Lowers cholesterol.
Vytorin is expensive and is no more effective than simvastatin by itself.
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3.3/ 5 average rating with 99 reviewsforVytorin
Upsides
- Can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death, particularly if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or a history of smoking.
- Lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides (fats) and raises "good" cholesterol (HDL) in people who have trouble doing this through diet and exercise.
- Available in generic.
- Available in combination pills with other cholesterol medicines.
- A 2-in-1 cholesterol-lowering combination medicine.
- Lowers "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raises "good" cholesterol (HDL) in people who have trouble doing this through diet and exercise.
Downsides
- You are at higher risk for side effects if you are female, are 65 years or older, drink alcohol every day, or have liver disease, kidney disease, or diabetes.
- Not safe to use if you're pregnant.
- Can have more drug interactions than some other drugs in the same class (statins).
- In clinical studies, simvastatin/ezetimibe hasn't controlled cholesterol better than simvastatin alone.
- There's no generic available, so it can be expensive.
Used for
- High cholesterol
- High triglycerides
- Heart attack and stroke prevention
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$243.13
Find instant savings near youLowest price
$29.64
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Reviews
1176 reviews so far
61%
saidit'sworth it
48%
saiditworked well
14%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Zocor (simvastatin)?
Leave a review99 reviews so far
53%
saidit'sworth it
36%
saiditworked well
19%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Vytorin (Ezetimibe / Simvastatin)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
14possible side effects
- Bronchitis7%
- Abdominal pain6%
- Atrial fibrillation6%
- Stomach problems5%
- Balance problems5%
- Eczema5%
- Diabetes4%
- Muscle pain4%
- Insomnia4%
- Edema/swelling3%
- Headache3%
- Infection, urinary tract3%
- Constipation2%
- Sinus infection2%
8possible side effects
- Headache6%
- Any side effect5%
- Increased ALT4%
- Myalgia4%
- Upper respiratory tract infection4%
- Diarrhea3%
- Influenza2%
- Pain in extremity2%
Risks and risk factors
- Muscle pain and kidney damage
- Kidney disease
- High dose of Zocor (simvastatin)
- Combining Zocor (simvastatin) with other cholesterol-lowering drugs
- Older age
- Female gender
- Liver damage
- Heavy alcohol use
- History of chronic liver disease
- Harm to unborn baby
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Drug interactions
- Certain drugs can increase the dose of Zocor (simvastatin) in the body
- High blood sugar
- History of high blood sugar
- Muscle pain
- Asian patients taking high-dose niacin
- Liver damage
- Past history of liver disease
- heavy alcohol use
- High blood sugar
- Diabetes
- Increased risk for colds and flu
- Skin reactions
- Harm to fetus
- Pregnancy