What ARVAST 10MG is used for?
- ARVAST 10MG is used to correct the levels of fatty substances in the blood called lipids, the most common of which is cholesterol
Talk to your doctor before taking ARVAST 10MG, if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to ARVAST 10MG or to any of its ingredients
- have problems with your kidneys or liver or thyroid gland
- have had repeated or unexplained muscle aches or pains, a personal or family history of muscle problems, or a previous history of muscle problems when taking other cholesterol-lowering medicines
- regularly drink large amounts of alcohol
- have severe respiratory failure
- Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to be pregnant or are breast feeding before taking this medicine
- ARVAST 10MG should not be given to children younger than 6 years
- ARVAST 10MG will not affect your ability to drive or use machines
Tell your doctor if you are taking,
- ciclosporin (used for example, after organ transplants)
- warfarin or clopidogrel (or any other drug used for thinning the blood)
- fibrates (such as gemfibrozil, fenofibrate) or any other medicine used to lower cholesterol (such as ezetimibe)
- indigestion remedies (used to neutralize acid in your stomach)
- erythromycin (an antibiotic)
- fusidic acid
- an oral contraceptive (the pill)
- hormone replacement therapy
- anti-viral medications such as ritonavir with lopinavir and/or atazanavir or simeprevir (used to treat infections, including HIV or hepatitis C infection
- oral fusidic acid to treat a bacterial infection you will need to temporarily stop using this medicine. Taking ARVAST 10MG with fusidic acid may rarely lead to muscle weakness, tenderness or pain (rhabdomyolysis)
- Always take this medicine as your doctor has told you
- Your treatment with ARVAST 10MG must start with the 5mg or the 10mg dose, even if you have taken a higher dose of a different statin before
The choice of your start dose will depend upon
- Your cholesterol levels
- The level of risk you have of experiencing a heart attack or stroke
- Whether you have a factor that may make you more sensitive to possible side effects
- Swallow each tablet whole with a drink of water
Your doctor may decide to give you the lowest dose (5 mg) if you
- are over 70 years of age
- have moderate kidney problems
- are at risk of muscle aches and pains (myopathy)
If you are taking ARVAST 10MG to reduce your risk of having a heart attack, stroke or related health problems
- The recommended dose is 20 mg daily
- However, your doctor may decide to use a lower dose if you have any of the factors mentioned above
Regular cholesterol checks
- It is important to go back to your doctor for regular cholesterol checks, to make sure your cholesterol has reached and is staying at the correct level
- Your doctor may decide to increase your dose so that you are taking the amount of ARVAST 10MG that is right for you
If you take more ARVAST 10MG
- Contact your doctor or nearest hospital for advice
If you forget to take ARVAST 10MG
- Don’t worry, just take your next scheduled dose at the correct time
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose
If you stop taking ARVAST 10MG
- Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking ARVAST 10MG
- Your cholesterol levels might increase again if you stop taking ARVAST 10MG
- headache, stomach pain, constipation, feeling sick, muscle pain, feeling weak, dizziness
- diabetes
- difficulty in breathing, with or without swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing
- severe itching of the skin (with raised lumps)
- have any unusual aches or pains in your muscles
- rash, itching or other skin reactions
- an increase in the amount of protein in the urine
- severe allergic reaction – signs include swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat, difficulty in swallowing and breathing, a severe itching of the skin (with raised lumps)
- muscle damage in adults
- a severe stomach pain (inflamed pancreas)
- increase in liver enzymes in the blood
- bleeding or bruising more easily than normal due to low level of blood platelets
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- hepatitis (an inflamed liver)
- traces of blood in your urine
- damage to the nerves of your legs and arms (such as numbness)
- joint pain
- memory loss
- breast enlargement in men (gynaecomastia)
- Store at room temperature (15-25°C)
- Keep the bottle tightly closed to protect from moisture
- Keep this medicine out of reach of children
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date