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ranolazine vs simvastatin

Side-by-side comparison of ranolazine and simvastatin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

Amiodarone, Dronedarone, Ranolazine, or Calcium Channel Blockers Clinical Impact: The risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis is increased by concomitant use of amiodarone, dronedarone, ranolazine, or calcium channel blockers with ezetimibe and simvastatin. For patients taking amiodarone, amlodipine, or ranolazine, do not exceed ezetimibe and simvastatin 10 mg/20 mg daily [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )].

Recommendation: If you take both drugs, your doctor should limit your simvastatin dose to no more than 20 mg per day.

Drug Class
ranolazine Late Sodium Current Inhibitor (Antianginal)
simvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
Type
ranolazine Prescription
simvastatin Prescription
Summary
ranolazine

Ranolazine extended-release tablets help treat chronic angina (chest pain). It can be used with other heart medicines.

simvastatin

No summary available.

What It Treats
ranolazine

Ranolazine is used to treat chronic angina, which is chest pain that keeps coming back. It can help you have fewer angina episodes. You can take this medicine with other drugs like beta-blockers or nitrates.

simvastatin

Information not available.

How It Works
ranolazine

Ranolazine works by affecting the sodium channels in your heart cells. This helps to improve blood flow to your heart. It reduces the amount of calcium in your heart, which can help prevent angina.

simvastatin

Information not available.

Common Side Effects
ranolazine
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
simvastatin
  • Headache
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Muscle pain
  • Diarrhea
FAERS Reports
ranolazine
  • Death 816
  • Heart attack 640
  • Chest pain 605
  • Angina 594
  • Stent placement 582
simvastatin
  • Tiredness 13,573
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 12,944
  • Shortness of breath 12,429
  • Diarrhea 11,813
  • Feeling lightheaded 10,971
Serious Warnings
ranolazine

Ranolazine can cause changes in your heart's electrical activity (QT prolongation). If you have kidney problems, your doctor should check your kidney function. If you develop kidney failure, stop taking ranolazine.

simvastatin

No specific warnings noted.

Pregnancy
ranolazine

It is not known if ranolazine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if ranolazine passes into breast milk. Discuss with your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

simvastatin

No pregnancy information available.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This ranolazine vs simvastatin Comparison

ranolazine is classified in the Late Sodium Current Inhibitor (Antianginal) drug class, while simvastatin sits within the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, ranolazine has 3,237 submissions while simvastatin has 61,730. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to ranolazine increases the levels of simvastatin in your blood, which makes muscle pain or serious muscle damage more likely.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between ranolazine and simvastatin - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.