Simvastatin (trade name Zocor) is a statin medication used to treat elevated cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme the liver uses to produce cholesterol. It lowers LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides while modestly increasing HDL (“good” cholesterol), thereby reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Simvastatin is effective but generally less potent than atorvastatin or rosuvastatin, so it is often used in patients with mild to moderate cholesterol elevations or in combination with other therapies when stronger statins are not required or tolerated.