Navigation

Lopid vs. Zocor

 

Are Lopid and Zocor the Same Thing?

Lopid (gemfibrozil) and Zocor (simvastatin) are used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Zocor is also used to treat heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in adolescents (males and females that are one-year post menarche, 10 to 17 years old).

Lopid and Zocor belong to different drug classes, Lopid is a lipid-regulating agent and Zocor is an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (a "statin" drug).

Side effects of Lopid and Zocor that are similar include stomach/abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, headache, joint or muscle pain, or cold symptoms (such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat).

Side effects of Lopid that are different from Zocor include stomach upset, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, loss of interest in sex, impotence, difficulty having an orgasm, numbness or tingly feeling, or an unusual taste in mouth.

Side effects of Zocor that are different from Lopid include heartburn, gas, bloating, indigestion, constipation, skin rash, sleep problems (insomnia), or mild memory problems or confusion.

Both Lopid and Zocor may interact with blood thinners, colchicine, or alcohol.

Lopid may also interact with insulin or oral diabetes medications and other cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Zocor may also interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, digoxin, digitalis, fenofibric acid or fenofibrate, antifungals, medicines that contain niacin, drugs that weaken your immune system (such as steroids, cancer medicine, or medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection), or other "statin" medications.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Lopid?

Common side effects of Lopid include:

  • stomach upset,
  • stomach/abdominal pain,
  • nausea,
  • vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • headache,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • joint or muscle pain,
  • loss of interest in sex,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm,
  • numbness or tingly feeling,
  • unusual taste, or
  • cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Lopid may infrequently cause gallstones and liver problems.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following unlikely, but serious side effects of Lopid including:

  • severe stomach/abdominal pain,
  • persistent nausea or vomiting,
  • yellowing eyes or skin, and
  • dark urine.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Zocor?

Common side effects of Zocor include:

  • heartburn,
  • gas,
  • bloating,
  • stomach pain,
  • indigestion,
  • nausea,
  • constipation,
  • diarrhea,
  • headache,
  • joint pain,
  • muscle pain,
  • skin rash,
  • sleep problems (insomnia),
  • mild memory problems or confusion, or
  • cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

What Is Lopid?

Lopid (gemfibrozil) is a lipid regulating agent used to treat very high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in people with pancreatitis, and is also used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, or other heart complications in people with high cholesterol and triglycerides who have not been helped by other treatments. Lopid is available in generic form.

What Is Zocor?

Zocor (simvastatin) is a statin that lowers lipids and cholesterol levels used in conjunction with lifestyle changes such as a low-fat, low cholesterol diet, and exercise to reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease and ischemic strokes in patients with elevated lipids and cholesterol. Zocor is also used to treat heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) in adolescents (males and females that are one-year post menarche, 10 to 17 years old). Zocor is available in generic form.

 

What Drugs Interact With Lopid?

Lopid may interact with blood thinners, insulin or oral diabetes medication, or other cholesterol-lowering drugs. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Lopid is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk.

What Drugs Interact With Zocor?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use. Certain other drugs can increase your risk of serious muscle problems, and it is very important that your doctor knows if you are using any of them:

Also tell your doctor if you use:

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with lovastatin. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

 

How Should Lopid Be Taken?

The recommended dose of Lopid for adults is 1200 mg administered in two divided doses 30 minutes before the morning and evening meals.

How Should Zocor Be Taken?

The usual dosage range is 5 to 40 mg/day. In patients with CHD or at high risk of CHD, ZOCOR can be started simultaneously with diet. The recommended usual starting dose is 10 or 20 mg once a day in the evening. For patients at high risk for a CHD event due to existing CHD, diabetes, peripheral vessel disease, history of stroke or other cerebrovascular disease, the recommended starting dose is 40 mg/day. Lipid determinations should be performed after 4 weeks of therapy and periodically thereafter.

Restricted Dosing For 80 mg

Due to the increased risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis, particularly during the first year of treatment, use of the 80-mg dose of ZOCOR should be restricted to patients who have been taking simvastatin 80 mg chronically (e.g., for 12 months or more) without evidence of muscle toxicity .

Patients who are currently tolerating the 80-mg dose of ZOCOR who need to be initiated on an interacting drug that is contraindicated or is associated with a dose cap for simvastatin should be switched to an alternative statin with less potential for the drug-drug interaction.

Due to the increased risk of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis, associated with the 80-mg dose of ZOCOR, patients unable to achieve their LDL-C goal utilizing the 40-mg dose of ZOCOR should not be titrated to the 80-mg dose, but should be placed on alternative LDL-C-lowering treatment(s) that provides greater LDL-C lowering.