niacin-simvastatin

This combination medication is used along with a proper diet to help lower "bad" cholesterol and fats (such as LDL, triglycerides) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Niacin is also known as vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid), one of the B vitamins. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver and by helping the body remove fats from the blood. Simvastatin belongs to a group of drugs known as "statins." It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol made by the liver. Lowering "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides and raising "good" cholesterol decreases the risk of heart disease and helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. Lowering triglycerides may also help decrease the risk of pancreas problems (pancreatitis) in people at risk. In addition to eating a proper diet (such as a low cholesterol/low-fat diet), other lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, losing weight if overweight, and stopping smoking. Talk with your doctor for more details.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with a low-fat snack as directed by your doctor, usually once daily at bedtime. Taking this drug with food will help reduce side effects (such as flushing, upset stomach). Do not crush or chew extended-release tablets. Doing so can release all of the drug at once, increasing the risk of side effects. Also, do not split the tablets unless they have a score line and your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so. Swallow the whole or split tablet without crushing or chewing. To reduce the risk of flushing, avoid alcohol, hot beverages, and spicy foods near the time you take niacin. You may be able to reduce or prevent flushing by taking a plain aspirin (non-enteric coated, 325 milligrams) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as 200 milligrams of ibuprofen) 30 minutes before taking niacin. Ask your doctor if this treatment is right for you, especially if you are also taking a "blood thinner" such as warfarin. The niacin in this product is an extended-release form. Your doctor may instruct you to first take the individual extended-release niacin until you reach the right dose and then switch you over to this combination product. Niacin is also available in other forms (for example, immediate- and sustained-release). If you have not taken niacin before, or if you have been using one of the other forms, your doctor should direct you to start at the lowest dose of this medication. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Dosage is based on your medical condition, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Grapefruit can increase the amount of this medication in your bloodstream. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. If you also take certain other drugs to lower your cholesterol (bile acid-binding resins such as cholestyramine or colestipol), take this product at least 4 to 6 hours before or after taking these medications. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Remember to take it at the same time each day. It may take up to 4 weeks before you get the full benefit of this drug. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Most people with high cholesterol or triglycerides do not feel sick. Do not stop taking this medicine unless directed by your doctor. If you stop taking this product, you may need to start back at a lower dose and slowly increase the dose again. If you have not taken this medication for several days, consult your doctor or pharmacist for instructions on starting it again.

See also How to Use section. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval. Some products that may interact with this drug include: "blood thinners" (such as warfarin), vitamin or dietary products that contain niacin or nicotinamide. Other medications can affect the removal of simvastatin from your body, which may affect how simvastatin works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole, ketoconazole), cyclosporine, danazol, delavirdine, gemfibrozil, macrolide antibiotics (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin), nefazodone, HIV protease inhibitors (such as nelfinavir, ritonavir), telithromycin, among others. This product may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including urine catecholamine tests, copper-based urine glucose tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug.

Do not share this medication with others. Laboratory and/or medical tests (such as blood cholesterol/triglyceride levels, liver function tests) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Before taking this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to niacin or simvastatin; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, stomach/intestinal ulcer, bleeding problems, kidney disease, alcohol use, gout. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). This drug may make you dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Daily use of alcohol may increase your risk for liver problems, especially when combined with this product. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. To reduce dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position. Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially muscle problems. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. Simvastatin may harm an unborn baby. Therefore, it is important to prevent pregnancy while taking this medication. Consult your doctor for more details and to discuss using at least 2 reliable forms of birth control (such as condoms, birth control pills) while taking this medication. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, tell your doctor immediately. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. However, similar drugs pass into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Flushing (warmth/redness/itching/tingling of the skin, especially of the face/neck), sweating, dizziness, or chills may occur within 2 to 4 hours after taking this medication. Flushing may persist for a few hours. These effects should improve or go away after several weeks as your body adjusts to the medication. Upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe dizziness, fainting, fast/pounding heartbeat, swelling ankles/feet/hands, shortness of breath, toe/joint pain, easy bruising/bleeding, black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds. This medication may infrequently cause muscle problems (which can rarely lead to a very serious condition called rhabdomyolysis). Tell your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms: muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially with fever or unusual tiredness), change in the amount of urine. This medication may rarely cause liver problems. If you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects, tell your doctor right away: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting. This medication may infrequently make your blood sugar level rise, which can cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst and urination. If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugars regularly. Your doctor may need to adjust your diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.