Description
Bempedoic acid is used together with diet and other cholesterol-lowering medicines to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) in patients with primary hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol), including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
Bempedoic acid is also used to lower the risk of heart attack and heart procedures (eg, stent placement or bypass surgery) in patients who are unable to take or are not taking a cholesterol-lowering medicine (eg, statin), who have heart disease or who are at high risk for heart disease.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
Before Using
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 this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of bempedoic acid in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of bempedoic acid in the elderly.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Atrasentan
- Pravastatin
- Simvastatin
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Gout or
- Muscle problems or
- Tendon problems, or history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Heart problems, including heart attack or
- Liver disease, severe or
- Patients with end-stage kidney disease receiving dialysis or
- Stroke—Use has not been studied in patients with these conditions.
Proper Use
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take this medicine with or without food.
Carefully follow your doctor's orders about any special diet.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- To reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) in patients with primary hyperlipidemia and to lower the risk of heart attack and heart procedures:
- Adults—180 milligrams (mg) once a day.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- To reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) in patients with primary hyperlipidemia and to lower the risk of heart attack and heart procedures:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
This medicine may increase the uric acid levels in the blood (hyperuricemia), which can lead to gout. This can occur within 4 weeks of using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have joint pain, stiffness, or swelling, lower back, side, or stomach pain, or swelling of the feet or lower legs.
Tendon problems, including swelling, inflammation, or rupture can occur in the shoulder (rotator cuff), upper arm (biceps tendon), or Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle, within days or months after starting treatment with bempedoic acid. If you hear or feel a snap or pop, have bruising right after an injury, or are unable to move or put weight in an affected tendon area, check with your doctor right away. Avoid using and exercising the affected area.
Using this medicine together with simvastatin or pravastatin may increase your risk of developing muscle pain or weakness. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Bloody urine
- decreased amount of urine
- increased blood pressure
- increased thirst
- loss of appetite
- lower back or side pain
- nausea
- pale skin
- swelling of the face, fingers, or lower legs
- trouble breathing
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
Less common
- Ankle, knee, or great toe joint pain
- arm, back, or leg pain
- body aches or pain
- chest tightness
- chills
- cough
- cough producing mucus
- difficulty urinating
- dizziness
- ear congestion
- fainting
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- fever
- frequent urination
- gaseous stomach pain
- headache
- joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
- loss of voice
- muscle spasms
- runny or stuffy nose
- sneezing
- sore throat
- stomach fullness
- swelling of the feet or lower legs
- trouble breathing
- yellow eyes or skin
Rare
- Bone pain
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
- Stomach pain or discomfort
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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