Every medication has its own dose of side effects. It is therefore very essential for high cholesterol patients to be aware of the common simvastatin side effects so they could take necessary steps such as seeking proper medical attention and avoid serious complications associated with simvastatin treatment.The most common simvastatin side effects include several allergic reactions which may include hives, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. You should stop taking simvastatin if you notice the onset of serious side effects like tenderness and weakness of the muscle with associated pain along with fever and flu-like symptoms and dark-colored urine, and inform your doctor immediately. Such symptoms may be warning the patient about myopathy, a disease that affects muscle fibers preventing their proper functioning. Myopathy may cause partial disability of skeleton muscles because of muscular dystrophy. However, in most severe cases myopathy results in death from heart failure or inability to breath. Although myopathy is not so wide spread as high cholesterol, unfortunately, high cholesterol medications are listed as the most common causes of acquired myopathy.Less serious side effects of taking simvastatin may include gastrointestinal upsets like stomach pain, constipation (also indigestion or dyspepsia), diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, and frequent flatulence. Bloating, nausea and heartburn may also occur. Although they may require no medical attention, it is important to watch if these symptoms would manifest on a daily basis and cause serious inconvenience and whether the occurrence will be persistent especially after taking simvastatin.Although most people can tolerate simvastatin well, there are still a small percentage of patients who might encounter the mentioned side effects. In most cases, only minor or those regarded as less serious symptoms develop. They require no medical treatment at all and will pass by as hours after taking the medication pass through. In severe cases when serious symptoms manifest, consultation with a health care provider, especially the one who prescribed simvastatin to you, is very important. Necessary adjustments on the dosage may be imposed so as to determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are associated with the medication.There are rare cases of memory loss, insomnia, depression, and anxiety in patients on simvastatin. In unique cases, male patients may develop breasts. This is a condition called gynecomastia. Erectile dysfunction also occurs in very rare cases. Cognitive deficits such as memory loss are reported to occur in some patients.

You can find more about simvastatin, patients’ experiences and simvastatin side effects at Simvastatin.Me website.

Easy Access for News Media

To interview Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center physicians, researchers and other health experts, consider the Public Relations Department your primary contact. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Public Relations staff members are available by pager after hours and on weekends. The telephone number for the Public Relations Department is 732-632-1530.

After normal office hours, please call Robert Cavanaugh, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing at 908-403-1035.

Contact Us
Tom Casey
Vice President, Public Relations and Marketing
732-632-1530
tcasey@solarishs.org

Steven Weiss
Director, Public Relations and Marketing
732-205-1449
sweiss@solarishs.org

Robert Cavanaugh
Manager, Public Relations and Marketing
732-632-1586
rcavanaugh@solarishs.org

Michael Anzelone
Public Relations Assistant
732-668-2040
manzelone@solarishs.org

Area Accommodations
(please ask for the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Reduced Rate)

Days Inn
US Hwy. No. 287 & Stelton Rd.
South Plainfield, NJ
908-561-4488
Approximately 5.9 miles from MRMC

Embassy Suites Hotels
121 Centennial Ave.
Piscataway, NJ
732-980-0500
Approximately 9.8 miles from MRMC

Hilton at Woodbridge
120 Wood Ave.
Iselin, NJ
732-494-6200
800-445-8667
Approximately 5.3 miles from MRMC

Holiday Inn
4701 Stelton Rd.
South Plainfield, NJ
908-753-5500
Approximately 5.2 miles from MRMC

Howard Johnson
US Hwy. No. 22
North Plainfield, NJ
908-753-6500
800-446-4656
Approximately 3.2 miles from MRMC

Madison Suites Hotel
11 Cedar Grove Lane
Somerset, NJ
732-563-1000
800-372-9099
Approximately 10.5 miles from MRMC

Motel 6
1012 Stelton Rd.
Piscataway, NJ
732-981-9200
Approximately 5.3 miles from MRMC

Quality Inn
1850 Easton Ave.
Somerset, NJ
732-469-5050
Approximately 10.0 miles from MRMC

Ramada
2989 Hamilton Blvd.
South Plainfield, NJ
908-753-8900
Approximately 4.5 miles from MRMC

Somerset Marriot Hotel
110 Davidson Ave.
Somerset, NJ
732-560-0500
Approximately 10.0 miles from MRMC

The Pillars (Bed & Breakfast)
922 Central Ave.
Plainfield, NJ
908-753-0922
Approximately 0.8 miles from MRMC

The Westfield Inn (Best Western)
435 North Ave., W.
Westfield, NJ
908-654-5600
800-688-5454
Approximately 5.6 miles from MRMC

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center Now Accept All Aetna Health Plans

Under the new multi-year agreement, members of Aetna’s HMO-based and PPO-based plans will receive covered inpatient and outpatient services, at the preferred “in-network” benefit levels, from both Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center and JFK Medical Center. If you have any questions, please feel free to call any of the contacts below and they will be more than happy to assist you with your needs.

HMO Companies

PPO Networks accepted at Muhlenberg

• Beech Street
• Consumer Health Network
• Devon Health Services
• First Health
• First Managed Care Option
• Healthcare Payers Coalition of NJMagnet
• Multiplan, Inc.
• PPO Next
• Private Health Care Systems
• Qualcare
• USA MCO

AETNA Contacts
HMO Related Questions: 1-800-624-0756
PPO (non-HMO) Questions: 1-888-632-3862
Credentialing Questions: 1-800-353-1232

Solaris Health System Contacts
Patrick Carter, Director of Managed Care Contracting: 732-321-7000 ext. 68043
Kevin Carr, Physician Relations: 732-343-1066
Anne Fitzgerald, Physician Relations: 732-343-1058

From a family practitioner to the most sophisticated neurologists, Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center’s staff are some of the most highly respected physicians in the northeast. For a referral to a Muhlenberg physician, call our free referral line at 888-577-4424 or use our physician locator by choosing from links below.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Park Avenue and Randolph Road
Plainfield, NJ 07060

Parking is provided in front of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. Please follow signs for visitor parking. We ask that you not park anywhere that may block entrances.

Disabled parking is also available at the main entrance of the hospital. Visitors with special needs should contact Security at 908-668-2217.

Valet Parking is also available at the main entrance for a $1 fee. Hours for Valet parking – 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Please use area code (908) unless otherwise indicated.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center – 668-2000
Admitting Office – 668-2010
Adult Medical Day Care Center – 668-2328
Auxiliary – 668-2573
Behavioral Health – 668-2244
Blood Bank – 668-2280
Breast Health & Mammography Center – 668-2002
Inpatient Billing – (732) 744-5520
Outpatient Billing – (732)744-5522
Cardiac Services – 668-2555
Childbirth Classes – 668-2353
Contributions (Muhlenberg Foundation) -668-2025
Diabetes Center of New Jersey – 226-4300
Executive Offices – 668-2240
Home Care – 668-2253
Hospice – (732) 321-7769
Medical Library – 668-2005
Mental Health Crises Counseling
(M – S between 8a.m. & 5p.m.) – 668-2244
(all other times) – 668-2599
Nuclear Medicine – 668-2285
Osteoporosis Center – 668-2285
Patient Information – 668-2898
Patient Relations – 668-2223
Pavilion Square Gift Shop – 668-2044
Public Affairs – 668-2042
Public Relations & Marketing – 668-2040
Quality Resources Department – 668-3015
Radiology – 668-2180
School of Nursing, Medical Imaging & Therapeutic Science – 668-2400
Security – 668-2217
Social Work – 668-2244
Thyroid Center for Excellence – 668-2787
Volunteers – 668-2008

If you are a visitor we encourage you to show your support when someone you care for is in the hospital. Your visit will lift the spirits of a friend or family member. In the patient’s best interest, we limit visiting hours to specific times of day. It’s a good idea to acquaint yourself with the guidelines we’ve established before you visit.

VISITING HOURS

South Main 4: 24 Hours Daily

Stevens 2, 3: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Stevens 4, 5, 6: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Fitch 2: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.  Grandparents and Siblings of the newborn may also visit during these hours 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Fitch 3: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2 Visitors per patient at one time and visitors must be 10 years old.
An adult must accompany visitors 10 – 16 years old.

Main 5: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Additional on Weekends & Official Holidays
All visitors must be 18 years old. Requests for visiting outside of these times or by persons under the age of 18 years will be a Treatment Team decision.

Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center
Park Avenue & Randolph Road
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Phone: (908) 668-2000

Route 78 (East/West)

• Take Route 78 to exit 41 – Scotch Plains
• Follow signs for Berkeley Heights, Scotch Plains and Route 22 onto Drift Rd.
• Make Right onto Plainfield Ave. while following signs for Route 22
• Plainfield Ave. turns into Bonnie Burn Rd.
• Proceed on Bonnie Burn Rd. and cross over Valley Rd following signs for Route 22.
• Proceed on Bonnie Burn Rd. to end
• Take Route 22 West 0.6 miles to Terrill Rd.
• Take Terrill Rd 1.2 miles to E. 7th Street
• At light, turn Right onto E. 7th Street.
• Proceed on 7th Street 1.1 miles to Woodland Ave.
• At light, turn Left on Woodland Ave.
• Proceed on Woodland Ave 1.2 miles to Randolph Rd.
• Turn Right on Randolph Rd.
• Main entrance to hospital is 0.5 miles on left

Garden State Parkway (North/South)

• Take Parkway to Exit 131-Metuchen/Edison (Route 27)
• Bear right at exit onto Route 27 South
• At first traffic light, turn right onto Wood Ave.
• Take Wood Ave. 1.5 miles to the end
• At intersection of Wood and Inman, turn left on Inman Ave
• Take Inman Ave .25 miles to intersection of Inman Ave. and Woodland Ave.
• At light, turn right onto Woodland Ave.
• Main entrance to hospital is 0.5 miles on left

Route 287 (North/South)

• Take Route 287 to Route 22 East exit
• Take Route 22 East to Terill Rd exit
• Take Terill Rd 1.2 miles to E. 7th Street
• At light, turn Right onto E. 7th Street
• Proceed on 7th Street 1.1 miles to Woodland Ave
• At light, turn Left onto Woodland Ave
• Proceed on Woodland 1.2 miles to Randolph Rd
• Turn right on Randolph Rd
• Main entrance to hospital is 0.5 miles on left.

MapQuest Driving Directions

Committed to Outstanding Patient Care and Comfort for Visitors

Quality patient care and dedication to patient satisfaction are our highest priorities at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center. Our quality is measured in high patient satisfaction scores, excellent medical outcomes, our ongoing research and academic programs.

Visitors are important to our patients’ recovery, and we invite you to visit with your friend or loved one. The entire staff at Muhlenberg will do everything possible to make your visit as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

When you or someone you care about is in the hospital, it is difficult to feel at ease. At Muhlenberg, we provide a number of amenities to make your visit more comfortable.

When time and convenience is necessary, valet parking is available and is located in the main parking lot for $1. Hours for Valet parking are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday.