Baycol (Cerivastatin) Not To Be Used In Combination With Gemfibrozil, Says Bayer
TORONTO, ON
The Healthcare Division of Bayer Inc. would like to advise consumers about important safety information for the cholesterol lowering drug, cerivastatin (Baycol®). Cerivastatin and gemfibrozil (another cholesterol-lowering drug) should never be used in combination due to the increased risk of a serious side effect.
High cholesterol has long been recognized as a major factor contributing to heart disease and stroke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada report entitled, “The Changing Face of Heart Disease and Stroke in Canada 2000″ states that drug treatment has been shown to reduce the rate of stroke as well as coronary heart disease mortality.
Cerivastatin belongs to a class of drugs referred to as statins and is used by patients who have not been able to achieve a sufficient reduction of blood cholesterol levels with diet and exercise alone. Statins are known to cause a rare side effect of muscle breakdown.
If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness at any time during treatment with cerivastatin, or nay other statin, you should notify your doctor immediately. In a very small percentage of patients, there is a risk of muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage, which in rare instances can lead to life-threatening kidney failure.
Tags: baycol
