Cerivastatin (Systemic)

Before Using This Medicine

In addition to its helpful effects in treating your medical problem, this type of medicine may have some harmful effects.

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For cerivastatin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to cerivastatin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Diet - Before prescribing medicine for your condition, your doctor will probably try to control your condition by prescribing a personal diet for you. Such a diet may be low in fats, sugars, and/or cholesterol. Many people are able to control their condition by carefully following their doctor's orders for proper diet and exercise. Medicine is prescribed only when additional help is needed and is effective only when a schedule of diet and exercise is properly followed.

Also, this medicine is less effective if you are greatly overweight. It may be very important for you to go on a weight-reducing diet. However, check with your doctor before going on any diet.

Pregnancy - Cerivastatin should not be used during pregnancy or by women who plan to become pregnant in the near future. This medicine blocks formation of cholesterol, which is necessary for the fetus to develop properly. Cerivastatin may cause birth defects or other problems in the baby if taken during pregnancy. An effective form of birth control should be used during treatment with these medicines. Check with your doctor immediately if you think you have become pregnant while taking this medicine . Be sure you have discussed this with your doctor.

Breast-feeding - Cerivastatin passes into breast milk and should not be used during breast-feeding because it may cause serious unwanted effects in nursing babies.

Children - Studies on cerivastatin have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of cerivastatin in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - This medicine has been tested in a limited number of patients 65 years of age or older and has not been shown to cause different problems in older people than it does in younger adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking cerivastatin it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Antifungals, azole (e.g., Diflucan) or
• Erythromycin (e.g., Erythrocin) or
• Immunosuppressants, especially cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune) or
• Niacin (nicotinic acid) - Use of these medicines with cerivastatin may increase the risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure

• Gemfibrozil (e.g., Lopid) - Use of this medicine with cerivastatin is not recommended due to the risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of cerivastatin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Alcohol abuse (or history of) or
• Liver disease or
• Liver enzymes, persistently high levels - Use of this medicine may make liver problems worse

• Convulsions (seizures), not well-controlled, or
• Electrolyte or metabolic enzyme deficiencies or disorders or
• Infection, severe or
• Low blood pressure or
• Major surgery or trauma, recent - Patients with these conditions may be at risk of developing muscle problems (causing the release of muscle pigment into the urine) that may lead to kidney failure