Vytorin

Generic Name: ezetimibe and simvastatin (ez ET i mibe and SIM va stat in)
Brand Names: Vytorin

What is Vytorin?

Vytorin is a cholesterol-lowering medicines. Vytorin reduces the amount of cholesterol (a type of fat) absorbed by the body and block the production of cholesterol in the body.

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 purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Vytorin?

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 using 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.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Vytorin?

Do not use Vytorin if you are allergic to ezetimibe (Zetia) or simvastatin (Zocor), or if you have:

• liver disease; or

• if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Before taking Vytorin, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease;

• diabetes;

• an underactive thyroid; or

• a muscle disorder.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use Vytorin, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests 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. FDA pregnancy category X. This medication can cause birth defects. Do not use Vytorin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using this medication. It is not known whether Vytorin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give this medication to a child younger than 10 years old.

How should I take Vytorin?

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.

Take Vytorin once a day with or without food. Try to take it at the same time every day.

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 using blood tests at regular intervals. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor. Store Vytorin at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

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.

What should I avoid while taking Vytorin?

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or cholesterol. Vytorin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan.

If you take another cholesterol-lowering medication such as cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam (Welchol), take your Vytorin dose at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after the other medication(s).

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

Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Vytorin. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver damage. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Vytorin can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Vytorin side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Vytorin and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine;

• decreased urine or rust-colored urine; or

• blurred vision.

Keep taking Vytorin and talk to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea;

• cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose;

• tiredness;

• headache;

• skin rash or itching;

• joint pain, back pain;

• insomnia.

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 Vytorin?

Before taking Vytorin, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• 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).

• 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).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use Vytorin or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about Vytorin written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Ezetimibe and simvastatin is available with a prescription under the brand name Vytorin. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about Vytorin, especially if it is new to you.

• Vytorin 10mg/10mg - white, capsule-shaped tablets

• Vytorin 10mg/20mg - white, capsule-shaped tablets

• Vytorin 10mg/40mg - white, capsule-shaped tablets

• Vytorin 10mg/80mg - white, capsule-shaped tablets

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Vytorin only for the indication prescribed.
• 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.
• Click here for more information on Vytorin from the manufacturer.