Tovast 20mg 30tablets

Description

Tovast belongs to a group of medicines known as statins, which are lipid (fat) regulating medicines. Tovast is used to lower lipids known as cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood when a low fat diet and life style changes on their own have failed. If you are at an increased risk of heart disease, Tovast can also be used to reduce such risk even if your cholesterol levels are normal. You should maintain a standard cholesterol lowering diet during treatment. How to use The usual starting dose of Tovast is 10 mg once a day in adults and children aged 10 years or older. This may be increased if necessary by your doctor until you are taking the amount you need. Your doctor will adapt the dose at intervals of 4 weeks or more. The maximum dose of Tovast is 80 mg once daily. Tovast tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water, and can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. However, try to take your tablet at the same time every day. Warnings and precautions The following are reasons why Tovast may not be suitable for you: If you have severe respiratory failure If you are taking or have taken in the last 7 days a medicine called fusidic acid, (a medicine for bacterial infection) orally or by injection. The combination of fusidic acid and Atorvastatin Tablets can lead to serious muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis). If you have had a previous stroke with bleeding into the brain, or have small pockets of fluid in the brain from previous strokes. If you have kidney problems. If you have an under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). If you have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal history or family history of muscle problems. If you have had previous muscular problems during treatment with other lipid-lowering medicines (e.g. other ‘-statin’ or ‘-fibrate’ medicines). If you regularly drink a large amount of alcohol. If you have a history of liver disease. If you are older than 70 years. Side Effects If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking your tablets and tell your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital accident and emergency department. Rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000: - Serious allergic reaction which causes swelling of the face, tongue and throat that can cause great difficulty in breathing. - Serious illness with severe peeling and swelling of the skin, blistering of the skin, mouth, eyes genitals and fever. Skin rash with pink-red blotches especially on palms of hands or soles of feet which may blister. Muscle weakness, tenderness or pain or rupture or red-brown discoloration of urine particularly, if at the same time, you feel unwell or have a high temperature it may be caused by an abnormal muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). The abnormal muscle breakdown does not always go away, even after you have stopped taking atorvastatin, and can be life-threatening and lead to kidney problems. Very rare: affect less than 1 user in 10,000: - If you experience problems with unexpected or unusual bleeding or bruising, this may be suggestive of a liver complaint. You should consult your doctor as soon as possible. - Lupus-like disease syndrome (including rash, joint disorders and effects on blood cells). Common side effects (affects 1 to 10 users in 100) include: Inflammation of the nasal passages, pain in the throat, nose bleed. Allergic reactions. Increases in blood sugar levels (if you have diabetes continue careful monitoring of your blood sugar levels), increase in blood creatine kinase. Headache. Nausea, constipation, wind, indigestion, diarrhea. Joint pain, muscle pain and back pain. Blood test results that show your liver function can become abnormal. Storage Information Do not store above 30°C. Drug Interactions Medicines used to alter the way your immune system works, e.g. ciclosporin. Certain antibiotics or antifungal medicines, e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, rifampin, fusidic acid. Other medicines to regulate lipid levels, e.g. gemfibrozil, other fibrates, colestipol. Some calcium channel blockers used for angina or high blood pressure, e.g. amlodipine, diltiazem,; medicines to regulate your heart rhythm e.g. digoxin, verapamil, amiodarone. Letermovir, a medicine that helps stop you from getting ill from cytomegalovirus Medicines used in the treatment of HIV e.g. ritonavir, lopinavir, atazanavir, indinavir, darunavir, the combination of tipranavir/ritonavir etc. Some medicines used in the treatment of hepatitis C e.g. telaprevir, boceprevir and the combination of elbasvir/grazoprevir Other medicines known to interact with Tovast include ezetimibe (which lowers cholesterol), warfarin (which reduces blood clotting), oral contraceptives, stiripentol (an anti-convulsant for epilepsy), cimetidine (used for heartburn and peptic ulcers), phenazone (a painkiller) and colchicine (used to treat gout), antacids (indigestion products containing aluminium or magnesium). Ingredients The active substance is atorvastatin. The other ingredients of Tovast are: calcium carbonate precipitated, lactose NF fast flow, croscarmellose sodium type A, magnesium stearate. Film-Coating: Polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, purified talc, polyethylene glycol, hydroxypropylmthylcellulose. Specifications Tovast 20mg - a white to off-white, oblong, biconvex film-coated tablet, engraved with "20" on one side and a plain on the other side.