Zosta 5 mg Tablet is used to lower the levels of increased cholesterol in the body. Additionally, Zosta 5 mg Tablet is also used to lower the risk of heart diseases such as heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol levels might cause a build-up of cholesterol on the artery walls, leading to blockage of blood flow to the heart and other body parts that could cause heart disease, heart attack or stroke.

Zosta 5 mg Tablet contains 'Simvastatin' that works by blocking HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme necessary for cholesterol production in the body. Zosta 5 mg Tablet helps lower the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides and raises the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Thereby, Zosta 5 mg Tablet lowers the raised levels of fats, triglycerides and cholesterol, which lowers the risk of heart attack or stroke. 

You are advised to take Zosta 5 mg Tablet as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you, depending on your medical condition. You may experience certain common side effects, such as headache, stomach pain, constipation, and nausea in some cases. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and will resolve gradually over time. However, you are advised to talk to your doctor if you experience these side effects persistently.

Do not take Zosta 5 mg Tablet if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or if you are trying for pregnancy. Stop taking Zosta 5 mg Tablet and consult a doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Zosta 5 mg Tablet . Zosta 5 mg Tablet may cause dizziness, so be cautious while driving. Avoid consuming alcohol with Zosta 5 mg Tablet as it could lead to increased dizziness. Zosta 5 mg Tablet is not recommended for children below 10 years as safety and effectiveness have not been established. Inform your doctor regarding your health condition and the medicines you are taking to rule out any side effects or interactions.

Zosta 5 mg Tablet contains 'Simvastatin', which belongs to a group of lipid-lowering agents called HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors to lower the increased levels of cholesterol or fat. Zosta 5 mg Tablet works by blocking the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, which is necessary for cholesterol production in the body. Zosta 5 mg Tablet helps lower the levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides and raises the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Thereby, Zosta 5 mg Tablet lowers the blood level of fats and cholesterol and helps prevent a heart attack or stroke. Zosta 5 mg Tablet as an adjunct to dietary measures is used to reduce the risk of having a heart event due to cardiovascular diseases, the incidence of non-fatal heart attack or stroke, the need for revascularisation procedures (restoration of blood flow to the heart), people with diabetes, pre-existing heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.  

• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Nausea

Do not take Zosta 5 mg Tablet if you are allergic to any of its contents; if you are taking fusidic acid or have taken it in the past 7 days. Inform your doctor if you are due to have surgery, drink large amounts of alcohol; if you have liver or kidney problems. Do not take Zosta 5 mg Tablet if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or if you are trying for pregnancy. Stop taking Zosta 5 mg Tablet and consult a doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Zosta 5 mg Tablet . Zosta 5 mg Tablet may cause dizziness, so be cautious while driving. Avoid consuming alcohol with Zosta 5 mg Tablet as it could lead to increased dizziness. Zosta 5 mg Tablet is not recommended for children below 10 years as safety and effectiveness have not been established.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Zosta 5 mg Tablet may interact with antibiotic (fusidic acid, erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin), anti-HIV (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), anti-fungal (itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), protease inhibitors (boceprevir, telaprevir), anti-depressant (nefazodone), antilipemic (gemfibrozil), immunosuppressant (cyclosporine), hormone (danazol), cytochrome p450 inhibitor (cobicistat).

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice with Zosta 5 mg Tablet . Do not take St. John's wort (herbal supplement to treat depression) with Zosta 5 mg Tablet . 

Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have liver disease, rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown), liver disease, diabetes, or cognitive impairment.

• FUSIDIC ACID
• ERYTHROMYCIN
• CLARITHROMYCIN
• TELITHROMYCIN
• INDINAVIR
• SAQUINAVIR
• RITONAVIR
• NELFINAVIR
• ITRACONAZOLE
• KETOCONAZOLE
• POSACONAZOLE
• VORICONAZOLE
• BOCEPREVIR
• TELAPREVIR
• NEFAZODONE
• GEMFIBROZIL
• CYCLOSPORINE
• DANAZOL
• COBICISTAT

• Follow a cholesterol-lowering diet.

• Exercise regularly. It helps in maintaining proper weight and lowers cholesterol.

• Limit salt and sugar intake.

• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption. 

• Choose healthy fats and cut down on trans-fat.

• Include omega-3 fatty acids, fibre-rich food, fruits and vegetables.

• Get active by doing any physical activity such as swimming, brisk walking or jogging. Take the stairs instead of elevators/lifts.

• Regular blood tests are advised to determine the effect of Zosta 5 mg Tablet on lipids. 

• Consult your doctor immediately if you experience muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness, especially if associated with fever or tiredness.

• Your doctor may recommend blood tests to monitor liver function prior to the start of treatment and during the treatment with Zosta 5 mg Tablet . Inform your doctor if you notice yellowing of skin or eyes, unusually dark urine, and tiredness.

• Zosta 5 mg Tablet might affect test results for liver function and muscle enzyme (creatin-kinase). Inform the person doing the tests that you are taking Zosta 5 mg Tablet .

• It is advisable to have complete cholesterol tests (lipid profile test) at least once a year. It will help you to closely monitor your heart health and risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Hyperlipidaemia: Hyperlipidaemia is commonly known as high cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is naturally produced in the liver because every cell uses it. Cholesterol is also found in fatty foods such as cheese, red meat, and eggs. High cholesterol levels might cause a build-up of fat on the arteries' walls, leading to blockage of blood flow to the heart and other body parts that could cause heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol is mainly of two types, namely 'bad cholesterol' and 'good cholesterol'. Bad cholesterol comprises low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) which deposit fat in the arteries leading to their blockage. Good cholesterol consists of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which prevents the deposition of fats. Risk factors of high cholesterol are a high-fat diet, obesity, lack of physical exercise, and smoking. Usually, there are no specific symptoms of raised or high cholesterol levels, so it is advisable to have complete cholesterol tests (lipid profile tests) at least once a year. It will help monitor your heart health and risk of heart attack or stroke.