Medicine pack check sheet

Source-linked reading points

• Check active ingredients on every pack. ZETIA is ezetimibe alone and ZOCOR is simvastatin alone; LIPITOR, CRESTOR, LIVALO and CADUET contain other statins. Suspected duplication may be accidental or intentionally prescribed. Do not combine, alternate by day or stop a pack yourself.
• Age 65 years or older, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, renal impairment, certain interacting medicines and higher strengths increase the labelled risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis; the current label also says Chinese patients may be at higher risk. Promptly contact the care team for unexplained muscle pain, tenderness or weakness, especially with fever, malaise or dark urine; use local emergency services for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, altered consciousness or markedly reduced urine.
• The current label and Orange Book still record 10/80 mg, but the label restricts it to defined chronic-tolerance circumstances and states that higher strengths carry greater myopathy risk. The site does not interpret RS status or pack existence as permission to start, increase to or continue this strength.
• The current label identifies important interaction boundaries involving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, cyclosporine, danazol, gemfibrozil, amiodarone, diltiazem, amlodipine, colchicine and grapefruit juice. Do not use the site to stop a medicine, schedule separation or change a strength; have a pharmacist review the exact products, foods or drinks, supplements and complete medicine list.