Zocor

Recommended dosage

You will have to follow a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before starting treatment with Zocor and continue this diet while using Zocor.

All doses should be adjusted to your individual needs.

ADULTS

The usual starting dose is 20 to 40 milligrams once a day in the evening. If your cholesterol level or heart attack risk is especially high, the doctor may start with a dose of 40 milligrams. The dosage can be adjusted every 4 weeks. Some people with severe, hereditary high cholesterol may be prescribed as much as 80 milligrams a day, taken in doses of 20, 20, and 40 milligrams, along with other treatments.

Those who have severe kidney disease should use Zocor with caution. The recommended starting dose is 5 milligrams per day.

When combined with cyclosporine, niacin, Atromid-S, Lopid, or Tricor, the dosage of Zocor should not exceed 10 milligrams a day. When combined with Calan or Cordarone, the dosage of Zocor should not exceed 20 milligrams a day.

CHILDREN 10 TO 17 YEARS OLD

The recommended starting dose is 10 milligrams once a day in the evening. The dosage may be increased every 4 weeks, as determined by the doctor, up to a maximum of 40 milligrams a day. Girls must have been menstruating for at least 1 year before starting therapy with Zocor.

The safety and effectiveness of Zocor in children under 10 years old or in doses greater than 40 milligrams a day have not been studied.

Overdosage

Although no specific information about Zocor overdose is available, any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. If you suspect an overdose of Zocor, seek medical attention immediately.