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Common uses
Vytorin lowers "bad" cholesterol in the blood, (also called LDL, or low-density lipoprotein) and raises "good" cholesterol (also called HDL, or high-density lipoprotein). Lowering your LDL and raising your HDL cholesterol levels may reduce your risk of hardened arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and circulation problems.
Vytorin may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Before using
Your doctor need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• an alcohol problem
• any hormone disorder (such as diabetes, under-active thyroid)
• blood salt imbalance
• infection
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• low blood pressure
• muscle disorder or condition
• recent surgery
• seizures (convulsions)
• severe injury
• an unusual reaction to Ezetimibe; Simvastatin, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding
Directions
Take Vytorin exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Vytorin is usually taken once daily in the evening with or without food. Follow your doctor's instructions
It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your cholesterol levels improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Your cholesterol will need to be measured with blood tests at regular intervals. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
Vytorin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Cautions
Vytorin can cause the breakdown of muscle tissue, which can lead to serious kidney damage and, in rare cases, death from kidney failure. It is very important to stop taking Vytorin and call your doctor immediately if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness that comes on while taking Vytorin, especially if you also have a fever and feel sick.
Vytorin can make certain medical conditions worse. If you have diabetes, kidney disease, any kind of muscle disorder, or if you have ever had liver problems, you must be carefully monitored while taking Vytorin.
Because Vytorin can cause liver problems, your doctor will order a blood test to check your liver enzymes before your first dose and again at regular intervals during treatment. You may have to stop taking Vytorin if your liver enzymes become too high.
Because of possible effects on the liver, it is important to limit your alcohol consumption while taking Vytorin.
Simvastatin and similar drugs have caused cataracts and other serious eye problems in animal studies. Be sure to alert your doctor if you have cataracts or any eye condition that gets worse.
Alert the doctor if you're scheduled to have surgery. You'll probably need to stop taking Vytorin several days beforehand.
Possible side effects
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
• dark yellow or brown urine
• decreased urination, difficulty passing urine
• fever
• muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness
• redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
• skin rash, itching
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• constipation
• headache
• upset stomach, indigestion, gas, heartburn
If you take too much
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
An overdose of Vytorin is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms.
Additional information
Vytorin is only part of a complete program of treatment that also includes diet, exercise, and weight control. Follow your diet, medication, and exercise routines very closely.
It may take up to 2 weeks of using this medicine before your cholesterol levels improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Your cholesterol will need to be measured with blood tests at regular intervals. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. This medication can cause birth defects in an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. In rare cases, Vytorin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Call your doctor at once if you have unexplained muscle pain or tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flu symptoms, and dark colored urine.
Drug interactions
Many drugs can interact with Vytorin. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:
• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
• cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol);
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
• danazol (Danocrine);
• digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor) or clofibrate (Atromid-S);
• nefazodone (Serzone);
• niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
• verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan);
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or telithromycin (Ketek); or
• HIV medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), efavirenz (Sustiva), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), or tipranavir (Aptivus).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs not listed that can affect Vytorin. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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