Bestatin 20 20 mg

Indication

Bestatin 20 contains Simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) used to reduce elevated total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and to raise HDL-cholesterol in primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia, and to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Ingredients

• Simvastatin 20 mg

Direction

Adults: 10–20 mg once daily in the evening. Dose may be adjusted at intervals of at least 4 weeks to a maximum of 40 mg/day. Take at the same time each day, with or without food.

Side effects

• Common: headache
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• constipation
• diarrhoea.
• Uncommon: myalgia.
• Rare: myopathy
• rhabdomyolysis (serious — stop immediately).
• Rare: hepatitis
• jaundice.
• Rare: new
• onset diabetes mellitus.
• Rare: peripheral neuropathy
• memory impairment.

Precautions

• Contraindicated in active liver disease or unexplained persistent elevation of serum transaminases.
• Contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Contraindicated with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g.
• itraconazole
• clarithromycin
• HIV protease inhibitors).
• Avoid grapefruit juice — inhibits metabolism.
• Monitor liver function tests
• discontinue if transaminases rise significantly.
• Risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis — report unexplained muscle pain or weakness immediately.
• Caution with gemfibrozil
• niacin
• ciclosporin
• and amiodarone (increased myopathy risk).
• Dose should not exceed 20 mg/day when combined with amiodarone or amlodipine.