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What is Lescol
 Lescol
blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the
body.
Lescol
is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and
total cholesterol in your blood. Lescol also reduces the amounts
of triglycerides (another type of fat) and apolipoprotein
B (a protein needed to make 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.
Lescol
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Lescol
Do not take Lescol without first talking to your
doctor if you have liver disease.
Alcohol and Lescol
can both damage your liver. Discuss with your doctor the
amount of alcohol that you drink so that it can be determined
if Lescol is the best choice for lowering your cholesterol.
Do not take Lescol if you are pregnant, if you are
planning a pregnancy, or if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Contact your doctor immediately if you experience
unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially
if it is accompanied by a fever, flulike symptoms, or yellowing
of your skin or eyes.
Who should not take Lescol Do not take Lescol without first talking to your
doctor if you have liver disease.
Before taking Lescol,
tell your doctor if you
- have kidney disease,
-
drink alcoholic beverages,
- have a chronic muscular
disease, or
- have a blood disorder.
You may
not be able to take Lescol, or you may require a dosage
adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you
have any of the conditions listed above.
Lescol is
in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that Lescol
will cause birth defects if it is taken during pregnancy.
Cholesterol is very important for the proper development
of a baby. Do not take Lescol if you are pregnant or if
you are planning a pregnancy.
Lescol passes into
breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take Lescol
without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding
a baby.
Lescol has not been approved for use by children
younger than 18 years of age.
How should take Lescol Take Lescol 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.
For the greatest
effect, Lescol is usually taken at bedtime or with an evening
meal. Lescol may also be taken twice daily. Follow your
doctor's directions.
Do not crush, chew, or break
the extended-release tablets (Lescol XL). Swallow them whole.
Your doctor will probably want to monitor your liver
function with blood tests before starting treatment with
Lescol and at twelve weeks after both the start of your
treatment and any increase in dose. Depending on the results
of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring
you will require.
Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol
diet. To realize beneficial effects from Lescol, avoid fatty,
high-cholesterol foods.
Do not stop taking Lescol
without first talking to your doctor. It may be weeks or
months before beneficial effects are seen from Lescol.
Store Lescol 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 this medication.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of a Lescol overdose include nausea, diarrhea, stomach distress,
and indigestion.
Avoid while taking Lescol Alcohol and Lescol can both damage your liver. Discuss
with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink so
that it can be determined if Lescol is the best choice for
lowering your cholesterol.
Possible side effects of Lescol If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Lescol 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;
-
"flu-like" symptoms;
- decreased urine
or rust-colored urine;
- blurred vision; or
-
yellowing of your eyes or skin.
Other, less serious
side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take
Lescol and talk to your doctor if you experience
-
gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal
pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
- cough;
-
headache; or
- 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 Lescol Do not take Lescol without first talking to your
doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
- gemfibrozil
(Lopid);
- niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Nicotinex, others);
or
- clarithromycin (Biaxin);
- erythromycin
(E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Ilotycin, Eryc, PCE, Ilosone,
others).
These medications may interact with Lescol
and damage your muscles.
Before taking Lescol, tell
your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- other cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine
(Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
- digoxin (Lanoxin,
Lanoxicaps); or
- warfarin (Coumadin).
You
may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during
treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed
above.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with Lescol.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines. |
