Cholesterol-lowering drug. 40MG pills of the cholesterol-lowering drug Simvastatin. This drug reduces the levels of low- density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ('bad' cholesterol) in the bloodstream. High levels of LDL cholesterol (hypercholesterolaemia) are a major cause of heart disease and strokes. Simvastatin works by blocking the effects of the enzyme HMG- CoA reductase, which normally causes the body to produce LDL cholesterol from foods