What is VYTORIN? VYTORIN is a medicine used to lower levels of total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and fatty substances called triglycerides in the blood. In addition, VYTORIN raises levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. It is used for patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels by diet alone. You should stay on a cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine. VYTORIN works to reduce your cholesterol in two ways. It reducesthe cholesterol absorbed in our digestive tract, as well as the cholesterol your body makes by itself. BYTORIN does not help you lose weight. Who should not take VYTORIN? Do not take VYTORIN: ? If you are allergic to exetimibe or simvastatin, the active ingredients in VYTORIN. ? If you have active liver disease or repeated blood tests indicating possible liver problems. ? If you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant, or planning to become pregnant or breast feeding. What should I tell my doctor before and while taking VYTORIN? Tell your doctor right away if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness. This is because on rare occasions, muscle problems can be serious, including muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage. The risk of muscle breakdown is greater in patients with kidney problems. Taking VYTORIN with certain substances can increase the risk of muscle problems. It is particularly important to tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following: ? Cyclosporine ? Danazol ? Antifungal agents (such as itraconazole or ketoconazole) ? Firic acid derivatives (such as gemfibrozil, bezafibrate, or fenofibrate) ? The antibiotics erythromycin, clarithromycin, and telithromycin ? HIV protease inhibitors (such as indinavir, nelfinavir, retonavir, and saquinavir) ? The antidepressant nefazodone ? Amiodarone (a drug used to treat an irregular heartbeat) ? Verapail (a drug used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain associate with heart disease, or other heart conditions) ? Large doses (= g/day) of niacin or nicotinic acid ? large quantities of grapefruit juice (>1 quart daily) It is also important to tell your doctor if you are taking coumarin anticoagulants (drugs that prevent blood clots, such as warfarin). Tell your doctor about any prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking or plan to take, including natural or herbal remedies. Tell other doctors prescribing a new medication that you are taking VYTORIN. Also, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including allergies. How should I take VYTORIN? ? Take VYTORIN once a day, in the evening, with or without food. ? Try to take VYTORIN as prescribed. If you miss a dose, do not take an extra dose. Just resume your usual schedule. ? Continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet while taking VYTORIN. Ask your doctor if you need diet information. ? Keep taking VYTORIN unless your doctor tells you to stop. If you stop taking VYTORIN, your cholesterol may rise again. What are the possible side effects of VYTORIN? See your doctor regularly to check your cholesterol level and to check for side effects. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking VYTORIN and during treatment. In clinical studies patients reported the following common side effects while taking VYTORIN: headache and muscle pain. The following side effects have been reported in general use with either ex\zetimibe or simvastatin tablets (tablets that contain the active ingredients of VYTORIN: ? Allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing (which may require treatment right away), rash, hives; joint pain; alterations in some laboratory blood tests; liver problems; inflammation of the pancreas; nausea; gallstones; inflammation of the gallbladder. This drug is manufactured by MERCK
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