Zocor Ingredients and Composition

Zocor Information

Zocor Ingredients and Composition

Zocor (simvastatin) is a lipid-lowering agent that is derived synthetically from a fermentation product of Aspergillus terreus. After oral ingestion simvastation, the active ingredient in Zocor, which is an inactive lactone, is hydrolyzed to the corresponding b-hydroxyacid form. This is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is an early and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

Simvastatin is butanoic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-,1,2,3,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,7-dimethyl-8-[2-(tetrahydro-4-hydroxy-6-oxo-2H-pyran-2-yl)-ethyl]-1-naphthalenyl ester, [1S-[1a,3a,7b,8b(2S*,4S*),-8ab]]. The empirical formula of simvastatin is C₂₅H₃₈O₅ and its molecular weight is 418.57.

Simvastatin, the active ingredient in Zocor, is a white to off-white, nonhygroscopic, crystalline powder that is practically insoluble in water, and freely soluble in chloroform, methanol and ethanol.

Zocor tablets for oral administration contain either 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg or 80 mg of simvastatin and the following inactive ingredients:

• cellulose
• hydroxypropyl cellulose
• hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
• iron oxides
• lactose
• magnesium stearate
• starch
• talc
• titanium dioxide
• other ingredients

Butylated hydroxyanisole is added as a preservative.

Pharma-Help does not have information on the 'other ingredients' in Zocor.

Zocor Information