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simvastatin vs verapamil

Side-by-side comparison of simvastatin and verapamil. 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

Intervention: For patients taking verapamil, diltiazem, or dronedarone, do not exceed ezetimibe and simvastatin 10 mg/10 mg daily.

Recommendation: Do not take more than 10 mg of simvastatin per day if you are also taking verapamil.

Drug Class
simvastatin HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin)
verapamil Calcium Channel Blocker
Type
simvastatin Prescription
verapamil Prescription
Summary
simvastatin

No summary available.

verapamil

Verapamil is a drug that helps to lower blood pressure and treat chest pain (angina) and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing down the heart rate.

What It Treats
simvastatin

Information not available.

verapamil

Verapamil is used to treat chest pain called angina. This includes angina that happens when you are resting or during normal activity. It is also used to control your heart rate if you have a fast or irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Verapamil also treats high blood pressure.

How It Works
simvastatin

Information not available.

verapamil

Verapamil belongs to a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by blocking calcium from entering heart and blood vessel cells. This relaxes and widens blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump.

Common Side Effects
simvastatin
  • Headache
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Muscle pain
  • Diarrhea
verapamil
  • Constipation
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Slow heart rate (less than 50 beats per minute)
  • Nausea
FAERS Reports
simvastatin
  • Tiredness 13,573
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 12,944
  • Shortness of breath 12,429
  • Diarrhea 11,813
  • Feeling lightheaded 10,971
verapamil
  • Shortness of breath 356
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 341
  • Interaction with another medicine 316
  • Feeling lightheaded or unsteady 286
  • Low blood pressure 280
Serious Warnings
simvastatin

No specific warnings noted.

verapamil

You should not take this medicine if you have severe heart problems, very low blood pressure, or certain types of irregular heartbeats without a pacemaker. Talk to your doctor if you have any of these conditions.

Pregnancy
simvastatin

No pregnancy information available.

verapamil

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if verapamil will harm your unborn baby. Verapamil can pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This simvastatin vs verapamil Comparison

simvastatin is classified in the HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitor (Statin) drug class, while verapamil sits within the Calcium Channel Blocker 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, simvastatin has 61,730 submissions while verapamil has 1,579. 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 verapamil slows down the process your body uses to get rid of simvastatin, which can cause the drug to reach toxic levels. this increases the risk of serious muscle injury.. 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 simvastatin and verapamil - 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.