Simorion

Leaflet accompanying the packaging: information for the user

Simorion, 10 mg, film-coated tablets

Simorion, 20 mg, film-coated tablets

Simorion, 40 mg, film-coated tablets

Simorion, 80 mg, film-coated tablets

Simvastatin

You should carefully read the contents of the leaflet before taking the medicine, as it contains important information for the patient.

You should keep this leaflet, so that you can read it again if necessary.

In case of any doubts, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.

This medicine has been prescribed specifically for you. Do not pass it on to others. The medicine may harm another person, even if their symptoms are the same.

If the patient experiences any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, they should tell their doctor or pharmacist. See section 4.
Table of contents of the leaflet:

• 1. What is Simorion and what is it used for
• 2. Important information before taking Simorion
• 3. How to take Simorion
• 4. Possible side effects
• 5. How to store Simorion
• 6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Simorion and what is it used for

Simorion contains the active substance simvastatin. Simorion is used to reduce the level of total cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) and fatty substances called triglycerides in the blood. Additionally, Simorion increases the level of "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol). Simorion belongs to a group of medicines called statins.
Cholesterol is one of several fatty substances found in the blood. The total cholesterol level is mainly due to LDL and HDL cholesterol.
LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because it can build up in the arteries, forming a plaque. The buildup of plaque can eventually lead to narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing can cause a reduction or blockage of blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. Blockage of blood flow can lead to a heart attack and stroke.
HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it limits the buildup of bad cholesterol in the arteries and protects against heart disease.
Triglycerides are another form of fat in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease.
While taking this medicine, you should follow a cholesterol-lowering diet.
Simorion is used as a complementary measure to a cholesterol-lowering diet, if the patient has:

high blood cholesterol (primary hypercholesterolemia) or high blood fat (mixed hyperlipidemia),

a congenital disease (homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia) that causes an increase in blood cholesterol levels (the patient may also be treated with other methods),

coronary heart disease or a high risk of developing it (due to diabetes, a history of stroke or other blood vessel disease). Simvastatin may prolong life by reducing the risk of heart disease, regardless of blood cholesterol levels.
Most people do not experience immediate symptoms of high blood cholesterol. The doctor may perform a blood test to measure cholesterol levels, by ordering a simple blood test. You should regularly visit your doctor, monitor your cholesterol levels, and discuss your goals with your doctor.

2. Important information before taking Simorion

When not to take Simorion:

if the patient is allergic (hypersensitive) to simvastatin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6 "Contents of the pack and other information").

if the patient currently has liver problems;

if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding;

if the patient is taking certain medicines at the same time, including:

• itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole (used to treat fungal infections),
• erythromycin, clarithromycin, or telithromycin (used to treat infections),
• HIV protease inhibitors, such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir (HIV protease inhibitors used to treat HIV infections),
• boceprevir or telaprevir (medicines used to treat hepatitis C virus infection),
• nefazodone (used to treat depression),
• cobicistat,
• gemfibrozil (cholesterol-lowering),
• cyclosporine (used in patients who have had organ transplants),
• danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis - a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus),

if the patient is currently taking or has taken within the last 7 days a medicine called fusidic acid (used to treat bacterial infections) orally or by injection. Taking fusidic acid with Simorion may lead to serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis).
Do not take Simorion in a dose greater than 40 mg if you are taking lomitapide (used to treat a rare genetic cholesterol disorder).
If you are unsure whether the medicine you are taking is listed above, consult your doctor.

Warnings and precautions

Before starting to take Simorion, tell your doctor or pharmacist:

about all your diseases, including allergies

about consuming large amounts of alcohol

about liver disease, now or in the past (taking Simorion may be contraindicated)

about planned surgery (it may be necessary to temporarily discontinue taking Simorion tablets)

if you are of Asian origin, as a different dose may be suitable for you

if you have or have had myasthenia (a disease that causes general muscle weakness, including in some cases muscles involved in breathing) or ocular myasthenia (a disease that causes muscle weakness in the eyes), as statins can sometimes exacerbate symptoms of the disease or lead to myasthenia (see section 4).
Your doctor should perform a blood test before starting Simorion therapy and when you are taking this medicine and have symptoms of liver problems. This is to check liver function.
Your doctor may also want to perform a blood test to check liver function after starting Simorion therapy.
During therapy with this medicine, your doctor will closely monitor you if you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it. You are at risk of developing diabetes if your blood sugar and fat levels are high, you are overweight, and you have high blood pressure.
You should tell your doctor if you have severe lung disease.

Children and adolescents

The safety and efficacy of Simorion have been studied in boys aged 10-17 and girls who have started menstruating (menstruation) at least one year earlier (see section 3 "How to take Simorion"). No studies have been conducted with Simorion in children under the age of 10. For more information, consult your doctor.

Simorion with other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking now or have taken recently, as well as any medicines you plan to take, including those that contain any of the following active substances. Taking Simorion with any of these medicines may increase the risk of muscle disorders (some of which are listed in the "When not to take Simorion" section):

if it is necessary to take fusidic acid orally in the treatment of bacterial infection, it will be necessary to temporarily discontinue taking this medicine. Your doctor will inform you when it is safe to restart taking Simorion.

Taking Simorion with fusidic acid at the same time may rarely lead to muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain (rhabdomyolysis).

Additional information on rhabdomyolysis can be found in section 4.

cyclosporine (often used in patients who have had organ transplants)

danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis - a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus)

medicines containing active substances such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole (used to treat fungal infections)

fibrates containing active substances such as gemfibrozil and bezafibrate (cholesterol-lowering)

erythromycin, clarithromycin, or telithromycin (used to treat bacterial infections)

HIV protease inhibitors, such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir (used to treat AIDS)

antiviral medicines used to treat hepatitis C virus infection, such as boceprevir, telaprevir, elbasvir, or grazoprevir (used to treat hepatitis C virus infection)

nefazodone (used to treat depression)

medicines containing the active substance cobicistat

amiodarone (used to treat heart rhythm disorders)

verapamil, diltiazem, or amlodipine (used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain associated with heart disease, or other heart conditions)

lomitapide (used to treat a rare genetic cholesterol disorder)

daptomycin (a medicine used to treat complicated skin and soft tissue infections and bacteremia). It is possible that muscle-related side effects may be greater when this medicine is taken with simvastatin. Your doctor may decide to stop taking Simorion for a while

colchicine (used to treat gout)

tikagrelor (an antiplatelet medicine).
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking now or have taken recently, as well as any medicines you plan to take. This includes medicines that are available without a prescription. In particular, you should inform your doctor about taking medicines that contain the following active substances:

medicines that prevent blood clotting, such as warfarin, phenprocoumon, or acenocoumarol (anticoagulants)

fenofibrate (also used to lower cholesterol)

niacin (also used to lower cholesterol)

rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis).
You should also inform the doctor who prescribes you any new medicine about taking Simorion.

Simorion with food and drink

Grapefruit juice contains at least one ingredient that changes the way the body uses certain medicines, including Simorion. You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant, or plan to have a baby, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. If you become pregnant while taking Simorion, you should stop treatment and contact your doctor immediately. Do not take Simorion during breastfeeding, as it is not known whether the medicine is excreted in breast milk.
Before taking any medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Driving and using machines

You should not expect Simorion to affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, you should take into account that some people may experience dizziness after taking Simorion.

Simorion contains lactose

Simorion contains lactose (in the form of monohydrate) in an amount of approximately: 66.5 mg in a 10 mg tablet, 132.9 mg in a 20 mg tablet, 265.9 mg in a 40 mg tablet, and 531.8 mg in an 80 mg tablet. If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to some sugars, you should contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

3. How to take Simorion

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose for you, depending on your condition, the medicines you are currently taking, and your individual risk status.
This medicine should always be taken exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist. If you are unsure, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
While taking Simorion, you should follow a cholesterol-lowering diet.
Dosage:
The recommended dose is one Simorion 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, or 80 mg tablet per day, taken orally.
Adults:
The usual starting dose is 10 mg, 20 mg, or in some cases 40 mg per day. Your doctor may change the dose after at least 4 weeks to a maximum dose of 80 mg per day. Do not take a dose greater than 80 mg per day.
Your doctor may recommend lower doses, especially if you are taking certain medicines listed above or if you have certain kidney diseases.
A dose of 80 mg is recommended only for adult patients with very high cholesterol levels and a high risk of heart disease, for whom it was not possible to achieve an adequate cholesterol level with smaller doses.
Use in children and adolescents:
In children (aged 10-17), the recommended starting dose is usually 10 mg once daily, in the evening. The maximum recommended daily dose is 40 mg.
Method and duration of administration:
Simorion should be taken in the evening. The medicine can be taken with or without food. Simorion should be taken continuously until the doctor recommends stopping it.
If your doctor has prescribed Simorion with another cholesterol-lowering medicine that contains an ion-exchange resin, take Simorion at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the ion-exchange resin.

Taking a higher dose of Simorion than recommended

If you (or someone else) have taken too much of this medicine, contact your doctor or hospital immediately.

Missing a dose of Simorion

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Take the next dose of Simorion at the usual time the next day.

Stopping Simorion treatment

Consult your doctor or pharmacist, as your cholesterol levels may rise again.
If you have any further questions about taking this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Simorion can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following serious side effects have been reported rarely ( may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

In case of any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Simorion and contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

muscle pain, tenderness, weakness, or cramps. In rare cases, muscle disorders can be serious, including muscle breakdown leading to kidney damage; very rarely, deaths have occurred.

allergic reactions, including:

• swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, which may make breathing difficult (angioedema)
• severe muscle pain, usually in the shoulder and hip area
• rash with weakness of the limbs and neck muscles
• joint pain or inflammation (rheumatoid-like arthralgia)
• vasculitis
• unusual bruising, skin rash, and swelling (dermatomyositis), hives, increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun, fever, hot flushes
• shortness of breath (dyspnea) and poor general condition
• a disease-like condition similar to lupus (including rash, joint disorders, and effects on blood cells)

liver inflammation with the following symptoms: yellowing of the skin and eyes, itching, dark urine, or pale stools, feeling of tiredness or weakness, loss of appetite; liver failure (very rare)

pancreatitis, often with severe abdominal pain.
The following serious side effects have been reported very rarely ( may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

severe allergic reactions that can cause breathing difficulties or dizziness (anaphylactic reaction)

a rash that can occur on the skin or in the mouth (lichenoid drug eruptions)

muscle rupture

gynecomastia (breast enlargement in men).
The following side effects have been reported rarely ( may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

low red blood cell count (anemia)

numbness or weakness of the hands and feet

headache, ringing in the ears, dizziness

digestive disorders (abdominal pain, constipation, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)

skin rash, itching, hair loss

weakness

memory loss, confusion

blurred vision and vision disturbances.
The following side effects have been reported very rarely ( may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):

sleep disorders

memory disorders.
The following side effects have also been reported, but their frequency cannot be estimated from the available data ( frequency not known):

erectile dysfunction

depression

lung inflammation causing breathing problems, including long-term cough and/or shortness of breath or fever;

tendon problems, sometimes complicated by tendon rupture

myasthenia (a disease that causes general muscle weakness, including in some cases muscles involved in breathing)

ocular myasthenia (a disease that causes muscle weakness in the eyes).
Tell your doctor if you experience weakness in your hands or feet, worsening after periods of activity, double vision, or drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, or shortness of breath.
Additional possible side effects reported during the use of some statins include:

sleep disorders, including nightmares

sexual function disorders

diabetes. The risk of developing diabetes is greater in people who have high blood sugar and fat levels, are overweight, and have high blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your condition while you are taking this medicine.

muscle pain, tenderness, or persistent weakness, which may not resolve after stopping Simorion (frequency not known).
Laboratory tests:
Increased results of some laboratory tests of liver function and liver enzymes (creatine kinase) have been observed.

Reporting side effects

If you experience any side effects, including any side effects not listed in this leaflet, you should tell your doctor or pharmacist. Side effects can be reported directly to the Department of Drug Safety, Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices, and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181 C, 02-222 Warsaw, Tel.: +48 22 49 21 301, Fax: + 48 22 49 21 309, Website: https://smz.ezdrowie.gov.pl
Side effects can also be reported to the marketing authorization holder.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Simorion

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
There are no special precautions for storing the medicinal product.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the carton and blister. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines that are no longer needed. This will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the pack and other information

What Simorion contains

• The active substance of Simorion is simvastatin. Each tablet contains 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg of simvastatin,
• The other ingredients of the tablet core are: ascorbic acid, lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, magnesium stearate, citric acid monohydrate, butylhydroxyanisole (E 320).
• The other ingredients of the coating are: hydroxypropylcellulose, hypromellose 6cP, titanium dioxide (E 171), talc, iron oxide red (E 172), iron oxide yellow (E 172) (10 mg and 20 mg tablets). For 40 mg and 80 mg tablets, the ingredients are the same, except that iron oxide yellow (E 172) is not present.

What Simorion looks like and contents of the pack

• 10 mg tablet: Light pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets with "SI" engraved on one side and "10" on the other.
• 20 mg tablet: Light pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets with "SI" engraved on one side and "20" on the other.
• 40 mg tablet: Pink, round, biconvex, film-coated tablets with "SI" engraved on one side and "40" on the other.
• 80 mg tablet: Pink, capsule-shaped, biconvex, film-coated tablets with "SI" engraved on one side and "80" on the other.

Pack sizes: 28 or 98 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Marketing authorization holder

Orion Corporation
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland

Manufacturer

Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Orionintie 1
FI-02200 Espoo
Finland
Orion Corporation Orion Pharma
Joensuunkatu 7
FI-24100 Salo
Finland
To obtain more detailed information on this medicine, contact the local representative of the marketing authorization holder:
Orion Pharma Poland Sp. z o. o.
kontakt@orionpharma.info.pl

This medicine is authorized in the Member States of the European Economic Area under the following names:

Finland: Simvastatin Orion
Poland: Simorion
Date of last revision of the leaflet:17.05.2023