Vytorin prescription

Vytorin

This page contains drug information on Vytorin.
The information provided includes the following:

what is Vytorin
the possible side effects of Vytorin
what happens if you miss a dose of Vytorin
what happens if you overdose with Vytorin
the most important information about Vytorin
how to use Vytorin
other drugs that may affect Vytorin
what to avoid while using Vytorin

Generic Name: ezetimibe and simvastatin (eh ZEH teh mib and SIM va stah tin)
Brand Names: Vytorin

What is the most important information I should know about ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Do not stop taking ezetimibe and simvastatin unless directed to do so by your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects are seen from this medication.

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Rare cases of muscle problems and liver problems have been associated with the use of ezetimibe and simvastatin and other similar medicines. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if accompanied by a fever or flulike symptoms or yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal pain, unexplained fatigue, dark colored urine or pale colored stools. These may be early symptoms of muscle or liver problems.

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Do not take ezetimibe and simvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.

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Alcohol and ezetimibe and simvastatin can both be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

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Do not take ezetimibe and simvastatin if you are pregnant, could become pregnant during treatment, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.

What is ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Ezetimibe and simvastatin reduces the amount of cholesterol (a type of fat) absorbed by the body and blocks the production of cholesterol in the body.

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Ezetimibe and simvastatin is used to reduce the total amounts of cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides (another type of fat), and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood. Ezetimibe and simvastatin is also used to increase the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions may reduce the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

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Ezetimibe and simvastatin may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Before taking ezetimibe and simvastatin, tell your doctor if you

have liver or kidney disease;

drink alcoholic beverages;

have hypothyroidism (low thyroid function);

have a chronic muscular disease or have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness;

are taking another cholesterol-lowering medication; or

have a blood disorder.

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You may not be able to take ezetimibe and simvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment.

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Ezetimibe and simvastatin is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that ezetimibe and simvastatin is known to cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy. Do not take ezetimibe and simvastatin if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.

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It is not known whether ezetimibe and simvastatin passes into breast milk. Do not take simvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Take ezetimibe and simvastatin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

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Take ezetimibe and simvastatin once a day with or without food. It may be easier to remember to take the medication if you take it at the same time every day.

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Ezetimibe and simvastatin should be taken 2 hours before or 4 hours after a bile acid sequestrant such as cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol).

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Your doctor may want to monitor cholesterol levels, liver function, or other factors with blood tests before starting and during treatment with ezetimibe and simvastatin. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

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Do not stop taking ezetimibe and simvastatin unless directed to do so by your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects are seen from this medication.

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Store ezetimibe and simvastatin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of the medication.

What happens if I overdose?

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Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.

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Symptoms of an ezetimibe and simvastatin overdose may include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress, and indigestion..

What should I avoid while taking ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To see beneficial effects from ezetimibe and simvastatin avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods.

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Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with ezetimibe and simvastatin. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

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Both alcohol and ezetimibe/ simvastatin can be damaging to the liver. Alcohol should be used only in moderation. Discuss the use of alcohol with your doctor so that the potential for liver problems can be determined.

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Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or artificial UV light (e.g., tanning beds). Ezetimibe and simvastatin may increase the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight, and burning may result. Wear protective clothing and sunscreen if exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

What are the possible side effects of ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking ezetimibe and simvastatin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or

blurred vision.

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Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take ezetimibe and simvastatin and talk to your doctor if you experience

gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;

cough;

tiredness;

headache; or

insomnia.

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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect ezetimibe and simvastatin?

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Do not take ezetimibe and simvastatin without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Altocor, Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor) or simvastatin (Zocor);

gemfibrozil (Lopid), fenofibrate (Tricor) or clofibrate (Atromid-S);

niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);

erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others), telithromycin (Ketek) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);

cholestyramine (Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);

an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral);

nefazodone (Serzone);

telithromycin (Ketek);

danazole (Danocrine);

digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

warfarin (Coumadin);

a protease inhibitor such as amprenavir (Agenerase), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), lopinavir-ritonavir (Kaletra), or saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase);

amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacer one); or

verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan).

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You may not be able to take ezetimibe and simvastatin, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

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Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with ezetimibe and simvastatin. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

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Your pharmacist may have more information about ezetimibe and simvastatin written for health professionals that you may read.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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