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Levaster 10 is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines. Levaster 10 is a statin drug that is used to prevent cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals and to treat abnormal lipid levels.
1. What is Levaster 10?
Levaster 10 has the main ingredient Atorvastatin calcium, used in the treatment of diseases such as:
Reduce the possibility of hypercholesterolemia: Levaster is indicated to reduce the concentration of total blood cholesterol, cholesterol-LDL and triglycerides, increases cholesterol-HDL in patients with mixed dyslipidemia.
Prophylaxis of acute coronary events: In hypercholesterolemic patients without clinically evident coronary artery disease, Levaster is effective in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction and reducing the risk of having to undergo reconstructive procedures. coronary artery disease and reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerosis: In patients with increased blood cholesterol levels, there are clinical manifestations of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction. Levaster has been shown to slow the progression of atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of acute coronary events.
Prevention of cardiovascular disease:
Prevention of heart attacks, strokes in people at high risk such as the elderly, people with smoking habits, high blood pressure, low HDL-C and family history have heart disease. Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, and revascularization in individuals with established coronary artery disease. Myocardial infarction and stroke prevention in people with type 2 diabetes. Contraindications:
Levaster 10 should not be used in patients with hypersensitivity to any component of Atorvastatin or to any of its ingredients. Patients with liver disease or elevated serum transaminases have contraindications to the use of Levaster 10.
2. Dosage and usage
How to use:
Patients need to follow a scientific diet with a low cholesterol diet before treatment with Levaster and must maintain this diet during that time. Levaster is taken by mouth, the drug is taken in a single dose throughout the day and can be taken at any time of the day, with or after meals. However, to increase the effectiveness of Levaster 10, patients should take the drug at night before going to bed. Dosage:
Adjust the dose of Levaster 10 depending on the patient's condition and response. Usually, the starting dose is 10mg once daily. Adjust the dose every 4 weeks if deemed necessary and if the patient's body tolerates it. The maintenance dose is usually 10-40 mg/day. The dose may be increased but not more than 80 mg/day.
3. Side effects
Common side effects of Levaster 10 include: Digestive disorders with common manifestations such as diarrhea, constipation, flatulence, abdominal pain and nausea. In addition, patients may also experience headache, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, muscle pain, joint pain, temporary elevation of liver enzymes, skin rash, rhinitis, pharyngitis, cough, myositis, rhabdomyolysis. , cognitive impairment (such as memory loss, confusion, impaired consciousness), hyperglycemia, and increased HbAIc.
There is evidence that in patients taking high doses of atorvastatin and for a long time, the incidence of adverse events such as myopathy and myalgia is higher than normal.
If experiencing these symptoms, the patient should stop using Levaster 10 and notify the doctor for appropriate treatment.
4. Caution
Treatment with Levaster 10 may cause an increase in serum transaminase levels. However, this concentration will return to normal when the dose is reduced or the drug is discontinued. Before starting treatment with Levaster 10, it is necessary to rule out other causes of hypercholesterolemia, such as poorly controlled diabetes, nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, obstructive liver disease, alcoholism or drug use. some other drugs. Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides must be measured periodically, for at least 4 weeks, and the dosage should be adjusted according to the patient's response to the drug. Levaster 10 should be used with caution in patients who drink a lot of alcohol or have a history of liver disease, and have liver enzyme tests done before starting statin therapy. Treatment with statins should be interrupted or discontinued when patients are at risk for myopathy or in patients with acute renal failure due to muscle wasting in severe acute infections, hypotension, surgery Major surgery and trauma, metabolic and endocrine abnormalities. Levaster 10 should only be used in women when it is certain that the patient is not pregnant and should only be used in cases of high blood cholesterol that other treatments have not worked. During treatment with Levaster 10, patients should report when there are muscle symptoms such as myalgia, muscle stiffness and weakness... When these symptoms are present, the patient should have a CK (creatine kinase) test. ) for appropriate interventions. Levaster 10 should be used with caution in patients with impaired renal function, hypothyroidism, personal or family history of hereditary myopathy, history of myopathy due to previous statin or fibrate use, history of liver disease and/or heavy alcohol consumption, elderly patients with risk factors for rhabdomyolysis. Before taking the drug, it is necessary to do a creatine kinase monitoring test. Pregnancy: Atorvastatin may harm an unborn baby by affecting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are essential for fetal development. Therefore, Levaster 10 should not be used during pregnancy. Lactation: Studies have shown that statins can be excreted in human milk, although there are no specific studies with atorvastatin. But because of the risk of disrupting the lipid metabolism of a nursing infant, doctors recommend that atorvastatin is not suitable for use in this situation.
5. Drug interactions
Interactions with lipid-lowering drugs: Including cholestylamine, colestipol is often combined with Levaster to complement each other. However, the use of these two drugs at the same time may reduce the effectiveness of Levaster 10. Therefore, when using these two drugs together, the time should be divided and separated by at least 2 hours.
Gemfibrozil, other fibrate-lowering agents, high-dose niacin, colchicine and: Levaster 10 may increase the risk of muscle damage.
Concomitant use of lipid-lowering drugs and statins including Levaster 10 with drugs for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) may increase the risk of muscle damage and rhabdomyolysis. , kidney failure, more seriously leading to kidney failure and possibly death. Specifically as follows:
Avoid concomitant use of atorvastatin with Tipranavir and Ritonavir or Telaprevir. Use with caution and if necessary the lowest dose of atorvastatin should be used when lopinavir and ritonavir are co-administered. Do not exceed 20 mg of atorvastatin/day when co-administered with Darunavir, Ritonavir, Fosamprenavir, Fosamprenavir + Ritonavir, Saquinavir + Ritonavir. Do not exceed 40 mg of atorvastatin immediately when co-administered with Nelfinavir. When Levaster 10 is used in combination with cyclosporin, erythromycin, gemfibrozil, itraconazole, ketoconazole, or with niacin at doses greater than 1 g/day, there may be an increased likelihood of myositis and rhabdomyolysis.
Warfarin: Atorvastatin may potentiate the anticoagulant effect of warfarin when administered concomitantly. Therefore, prothrombin time must be determined prior to initiating atorvastatin therapy and monitored frequently during the initial phase of therapy for treatment. Adjust warfarin dosage accordingly.
When Levaster 10 is used concomitantly and with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, although there is a drug interaction, the effect is not significant.
Patients should not use grapefruit juice to drink, because grapefruit contains inhibitors of CYP3A4 in the intestine. Drinking grapefruit juice with Levaster 10 may increase Cmax and area under the curve (AUC).
Above is all information about Levaster 10, patients need to carefully read the instructions for use, consult a doctor / pharmacist before using. Absolutely do not arbitrarily buy Levaster 10 for home treatment because there may be unwanted side effects.
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