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What is Zokor? Simvastatin, sold under the brand name Zocor among others, is a lipid-lowering drug. It is used along with exercise, diet, and weight loss to reduce elevated lipid levels. It is also used to reduce the risk of heart problems in people at high risk. It is taken orally. The active substance of this drug is simvastatin. It belongs to a group of medicines known as "statins". It works by slowing down the production of cholesterol in the body and reducing the amount of cholesterol that can build up on artery walls and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. It is an inhibitor of coenzyme A 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl reductase (HMG-CoA). This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate, which is the early and rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis. It is used to lower cholesterol if you have been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol. It is also used to prevent heart disease, including heart attack and stroke. Simvastatin was introduced in the late 1980s and has been available as a generic drug in many countries since 2006. This has led to lower prices for most statins and a reassessment of preventive statin treatment.