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What is Baycol
 Baycol
blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the
body.
Baycol
is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and
total cholesterol in your blood. Baycol also reduces the amounts
of triglycerides (another type of fat) and apolipoprotein
B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood and
increases the amount of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood.
These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening
of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke,
and peripheral vascular disease.
Baycol
is not commercially available in the United States.
Baycol
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Baycol
Baycol is not commercially available in the United
States.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience
unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially
if it is accompanied by a fever or flu-like symptoms or
yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Do not take Baycol
without first talking to your doctor if you have liver disease.
Alcohol and Baycol can both damage your liver. Discuss
with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink so
that it can be determined if Baycol is the best choice for
lowering your cholesterol.
Do not take Baycol if
you are pregnant, if you are planning a pregnancy, or if
you are breast-feeding a baby.
Who should not take Baycol
Do not take Baycol without first talking to your
doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking Baycol,
tell your doctor if you
- drink alcoholic beverages,
- have kidney disease,
- have a chronic muscular
disease, or
- have seizures or epilepsy.
You
may not be able to take Baycol, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you
have any of the conditions listed above.
Baycol is
in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Baycol
will cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy.
Cholesterol is very important for the proper development
of a baby. Do not take Baycol if you are pregnant or are
planning a pregnancy.
Baycol passes into breast milk
and can harm a nursing infant. Do not take Baycol if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
How should take Baycol Take Baycol exactly as directed by your doctor. If
you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist,
nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each
dose with a full glass of water.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol
diet. To see beneficial effects from Baycol, avoid fatty,
high-cholesterol foods. Follow your doctor's directions.
Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function
with blood tests before starting treatment with Baycol,
at six and twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment
and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months)
thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your
doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with
Baycol. 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.
Do not stop taking Baycol without
first talking to your doctor. It may be weeks or months
before beneficial effects from this medication are seen.
Store Baycol at room temperature away from moisture
and heat.
If you miss a dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However,
if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed
dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do
not take a double dose of Baycol.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of an overdose of Baycol are not known.
Avoid while taking Baycol Alcohol and Baycol can both damage your liver. Discuss
with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink so
that it can be determined if Baycol is the best choice for
lowering your cholesterol.
Grapefruit and grapefruit
juice may interact with Baycol. 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.
Possible side effects of Baycol If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Baycol and call your doctor immediately:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing
of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face;
or hives);
- muscle aches, pain, or weakness;
-
a fever;
- "flu-like" symptoms;
-
decreased urine or rust-colored urine;
- blurred
vision; or
- yellowing of your skin or eyes.
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur.
Continue to take Baycol and talk to your doctor if you experience
- gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn,
abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
- dizziness;
- headache; or
- a rash.
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 Baycol Do not take Baycol without first talking to your
doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
- gemfibrozil
(Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
- niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
- erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others)
or clarithromycin (Biaxin); or
- itraconazole (Sporanox),
fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).
The medications listed above may interact with Baycol and
damage your muscles. Generally, these medicines are not
used together.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with Baycol.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines. |
