SIMVASTATIN TEVA-RATIO 20 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

Leaflet: information for the user

Simvastatin Teva-ratio20 mgfilm-coated tablets EFG

Contents of the leaflet:

1. What is Simvastatin Teva-ratio and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before taking Simvastatin Teva-ratio
3. How to take Simvastatin Teva-ratio
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Simvastatin Teva-ratio
6. Package contents and additional information

1. What is Simvastatin Teva-ratio and what is it used for

Simvastatin Teva-ratio is a medication used to reduce the levels of total cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (LDL cholesterol), and certain fatty substances called triglycerides that circulate in the blood. Additionally, Simvastatin Teva-ratio increases the levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL cholesterol). Simvastatin Teva-ratio is a member of a class of medications called statins.

Cholesterol is one of the fatty substances found in the bloodstream. Your total cholesterol is mainly composed of LDL and HDL cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because it can accumulate in the walls of your arteries, forming plaques. Over time, this accumulation of plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing can slow down or interrupt blood flow to vital organs such as the heart and brain. This interruption of blood flow can cause a heart attack or stroke.

HDL cholesterol is often referred to as "good" cholesterol because it helps prevent the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the arteries and protects them from heart disease.

Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood that can increase the risk of heart disease.

While taking this medication, you should follow a cholesterol-reducing diet.

Simvastatin is used in conjunction with diet if you have:

• high levels of cholesterol in the blood (primary hypercholesterolemia) or high levels of fatty substances in the blood (mixed hyperlipidemia).

• a hereditary disease (homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia), which increases the level of cholesterol in the blood. You may also receive other treatments.

• coronary heart disease (CHD) or if you are at high risk of coronary heart disease (because you have diabetes, a history of stroke, or other blood vessel disease). Simvastatin Teva-ratio can prolong your life by reducing the risk of heart problems, regardless of the amount of cholesterol in your blood.

In most people, there are no immediate symptoms of high cholesterol. Your doctor can measure your cholesterol with a simple blood test. Visit your doctor regularly, monitor your cholesterol, and discuss your goals with your doctor.

2. What you need to know before taking Simvastatin Teva-ratio 20 mg

Do not takeSimvastatin Teva-ratio:

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to simvastatin or any of the other components of this medication (listed in section 6).
• if you currently have liver problems, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• if you are taking one of the following medications:

• itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole (medications 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 are used to treat HIV infections).
• boceprevir or telaprevir (used to treat hepatitis C virus infection).
• nefazodone (a medication used to treat depression).
• cobicistat.
• gemfibrozil (used to reduce cholesterol).
• cyclosporine (used in patients with organ transplants).
• danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis, a disease in which the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus).

• if you are taking or have taken, in the last 7 days, a medication that contains fusidic acid (used to treat bacterial infections) orally or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and simvastatin can cause serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis).

Do not take more than 40 mg of Simvastatin if you are taking lomitapide (used to treat rare and severe genetic cholesterol disorders).

Consult your doctor if you are not sure if your medication is on the list above.

Warnings and precautions

Inform your doctor:

• of all your medical problems, including allergies.
• if you consume large amounts of alcohol.
• if you have ever had liver disease. Simvastatin may not be suitable for you.
• if you are scheduled for surgery. You may need to stop taking Simvastatin Teva-ratio tablets for a short period.
• if you are Asian, as you may need a different dose.
• if you have or have had myasthenia (a disease that causes generalized muscle weakness that, in some cases, affects the muscles used for breathing) or ocular myasthenia (a disease that causes weakness of the eye muscles), as statins can sometimes worsen the disease or cause myasthenia (see section 4).

Your doctor will perform a blood test before you start taking simvastatin and also if you have any symptoms of liver problems while taking simvastatin. This is to check how well your liver is working.

Your doctor may also want to perform blood tests to check how well your liver is working after you start treatment with simvastatin.

While you are taking this medication, your doctor will monitor you for diabetes or the risk of developing diabetes. This risk of diabetes increases if you have high levels of sugars and fats in the blood, are overweight, and have high blood pressure.

Inform your doctor if you have severe lung disease.

Consult your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This is because, in rare cases, muscle problems can be serious, including muscle failure, which can cause kidney damage; and very rarely, deaths have occurred.

The risk of muscle failure is higher with high doses of simvastatin and is higher in certain patients. Talk to your doctor if any of the following situations apply to you:

• you consume large amounts of alcohol.
• you have kidney problems.
• you have thyroid problems.
• you are 65 years or older.
• you are female.
• you have ever had muscle problems during treatment with cholesterol-reducing medications called "statins" or fibrates.
• you or a close relative have a hereditary muscle problem.

Also, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you experience constant muscle weakness. Additional tests and medications may be necessary to diagnose and treat this problem.

Children and adolescents

The efficacy and safety of simvastatin have been studied in children aged 10 to 17 years and in girls, at least one year after their first menstrual period (see How to take Simvastatin Teva-ratio).

Simvastatin has not been studied in children under 10 years of age.

For more information, consult your doctor.

Other medications and Simvastatin Teva-ratio

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or may take any other medication.

Taking Simvastatin Teva-ratio with any of these medications can increase the risk of muscle problems (some of which are already included in the previous section "Do not take Simvastatin Teva-ratio").

• if you need to take oral fusidic acid to treat a bacterial infection, you will temporarily need to stop using this medication. Your doctor will tell you when you can restart treatment with Simvastatin Teva-ratio. The use of Simvastatin Teva-ratio with fusidic acid can rarely cause muscle weakness, tenderness, or pain (rhabdomyolysis). For more information on rhabdomyolysis, see section 4.
• cyclosporine (used in patients with organ transplants).
• danazol (a synthetic hormone used to treat endometriosis, a disease in which the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus).
• medications with an active ingredient such as itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole (medications for fungal infections).
• fibrates with an active ingredient such as gemfibrozil and bezafibrate (used to reduce cholesterol).
• erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin (medications for bacterial infections).
• HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir (used to treat AIDS).
• antivirals for hepatitis C such as boceprevir, telaprevir, elbasvir, or grazoprevir (used to treat hepatitis C virus infection).
• nefazodone (a medication for depression).
• medications with the active ingredient cobicistat.
• amiodarone (a medication for irregular heartbeat).
• verapamil, diltiazem, or amlodipine (medications for high blood pressure, chest pain associated with heart disease, or other heart diseases).
• lomitapide (used to treat rare and severe genetic cholesterol disorders).
• daptomycin (a medication used to treat skin and skin structure infections with complications and bacteremia). It is possible that the adverse effects that affect the muscles may be greater when this medication is taken during treatment with simvastatin (e.g., simvastatin). Your doctor may decide that you should stop taking simvastatin for a while.
• colchicine (a medication used to treat gout).
• ticagrelor (an antiplatelet medication).

As well as the medications indicated above, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken other medications, even those purchased without a prescription. In particular, inform your doctor if you are taking medications with any of the following active ingredients:

• medications with an active ingredient to prevent blood clot formation, such as warfarin, phenprocoumon, or acenocoumarol (anticoagulants).
• fenofibrate (another medication to reduce cholesterol).
• niacin (another medication to reduce cholesterol).
• rifampicin (a medication used to treat tuberculosis).

You should also inform any doctor who prescribes you a new medication that you are taking simvastatin.

Taking Simvastatin with food, drinks, and alcohol

Grapefruit juice contains one or more components that alter how the body uses some medications, including Simvastatin Teva-ratio. You should avoid consuming grapefruit juice.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Do not take simvastatin if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking simvastatin, stop taking it immediately and inform your doctor. Do not take simvastatin if you are breastfeeding, as it is unknown whether this medication passes into breast milk.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take any medication.

Driving and using machines

Simvastatin is not expected to interfere with your ability to drive or use machines. However, you should be aware that some people experience dizziness after taking simvastatin.

Simvastatin Teva-ratio contains lactose

If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medication.

3. How to take Simvastatin Teva-ratio

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose of Simvastatin Teva-ratio for you, depending on your condition, current treatment, and personal risk situation.

Follow the administration instructions for Simvastatin Teva-ratio exactly as indicated by your doctor. If in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist again.

Before starting to take this medication, you should be following a cholesterol-reducing diet.

Dosage:

The recommended dose is 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg of simvastatin once a day orally.

Adults:

The recommended starting dose is 10, 20, or in some cases 40 mg per day.

After at least 4 weeks, your doctor may adjust your dose, up to a maximum of 80 mg per day. Do not take more than 80 mg per day.

Your doctor may prescribe lower doses, especially if you are taking certain medications indicated above or have certain kidney disorders.

The dose of 80 mg is only recommended for adult patients with very high cholesterol levels and a high risk of heart disease complications, who have not achieved their cholesterol reduction goal with lower doses.

Use in children and adolescents

In children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years, the recommended daily starting dose is 10 mg, taken at night. The maximum recommended daily dose is 40 mg per day.

Method of administration:

Take simvastatin at night. You can take it with or without food. Continue taking this medication until your doctor tells you to stop.

If your doctor has prescribed simvastatin along with another cholesterol-reducing medication that contains a bile acid sequestrant, you should take this medication at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant.

If you take moreSimvastatin Teva-ratiothan you should:

If you have taken more simvastatin than you should, contact your doctor or pharmacist or the nearest hospital.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult the Toxicology Information Service. Phone: 91 562 0420.

If you forget to takeSimvastatin Teva-ratio:

Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses. The next day, take your normal amount of Simvastatin Teva-ratio at the usual time.

If you interrupt treatment with Simvastatin Teva-ratio

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist because your cholesterol may rise again.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Adverse Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.

The following terms are used to describe how often adverse effects have been reported:

• Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people)
• Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
• Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data)

If any of the following serious adverse effects occur, stop taking the medicine and inform your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital.

The following serious adverse effects have been reported rarely:

• Muscle pain, sensitivity to pressure, weakness, or muscle cramps. In rare cases, these muscle problems can be serious, including muscle failure leading to kidney damage; and very rarely, deaths have occurred.
• Hypersensitivity reactions (allergic) including:
• • Swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, which can cause difficulty breathing (angioedema)
  • Severe muscle pain, usually in the shoulders and hips
  • Skin rash with weakness of the limb and neck muscles
  • Pain or inflammation of the joints (polymyalgia rheumatica)
  • Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis)
  • Unusual bruising, skin rashes, and swelling (dermatomyositis), hives, skin sensitivity to sunlight, fever, hot flashes
  • Difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and general discomfort
  • Pseudolupus syndrome (including skin 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 tired or weak, loss of appetite; liver failure (very rare)
• Pancreas inflammation, often with severe abdominal pain.

The following serious adverse effects have been reported very rarely:

• A severe allergic reaction that causes difficulty breathing or dizziness (anaphylactic reaction)
• A rash that can occur on the skin or ulcers in the mouth (drug-induced lichenoid eruptions)
• Muscle rupture
• Gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue in men).

Rarely, the following adverse effects have also been reported:

• Low red blood cell count (anemia)
• Numbness or weakness of the arms and legs
• Headache, tingling sensation, dizziness
• Digestive disorders (abdominal pain, constipation, gas, indigestion, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
• Skin rash, itching, hair loss
• Blurred vision and vision impairment
• Weakness
• Sleep problems (very rare)
• Poor memory (very rare), memory loss, confusion.

The following adverse effects have also been reported, but the frequency cannot be estimated from the available data (frequency not known):

• Erectile dysfunction
• Depression
• Lung inflammation causing breathing problems, including persistent cough and/or difficulty breathing or fever
• Tendon problems, sometimes complicated by tendon rupture
• Severe myasthenia (a disease that causes generalized muscle weakness that, in some cases, affects the muscles used for breathing)
• Ocular myasthenia (a disease that causes weakness of the eye muscles).

Additional adverse effects reported with some statins:

• Sleep disorders, including nightmares
• Sexual dysfunction
• Diabetes. This is more likely if you have high levels of sugar and fat in your blood, are overweight, and have high blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor you while you are taking this medicine.
• Pain, sensitivity, or muscle weakness that is permanent and, in very rare cases, may not disappear after stopping simvastatin.

Complementary tests

Elevations in some blood tests of liver function (transaminases) and in a muscle enzyme (creatine kinase) were observed.

Reporting of adverse effects

If you experience adverse effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Simvastatina Teva-ratio

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not store above 30 ºC.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the packaging after CAD. The expiry date is the last day of the month indicated.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and any unused medicines in the pharmacy's SIGRE point. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and any unused medicines. This will help protect the environment.

6. Package Contents and Additional Information

Composition of Simvastatina Teva-ratio 20 mg

• The active ingredient is simvastatin. Each tablet contains 20 mg of simvastatin.
• The other ingredients (excipients) are: lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized corn starch, butylhydroxyanisole (E320), ascorbic acid, citric acid, anhydrous colloidal silica, talc, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, red iron oxide (E172), yellow iron oxide (E172), triethyl citrate, titanium dioxide (E171), and povidone.

Appearance of the Product and Package Contents

Simvastatina Teva-ratio 20 mg is presented in the form of film-coated tablets, pink in color.

Each package contains 28 tablets, packaged in blisters or in an HDPE bottle (contains a desiccant).

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder

Teva Pharma, S.L.U.

C/Anabel Segura 11, Edificio Albatros B, 1ª planta,

Alcobendas, 28108 Madrid (Spain)

Manufacturer

Teva Pharma, S.L.U.

Polígono Malpica calle C.4,

50016-Zaragoza

Spain

Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: September 2023

“Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/”

You can access detailed and updated information about this medicine by scanning the QR code included in the packaging with your smartphone. You can also access this information at the following internet address: https://cima.aemps.es/cima/dochtml/p/66858/P_66858.html