Juxtapid

Generic name: Lomitapide
Drug class: Miscellaneous antihyperlipidemic agents

Usage of Juxtapid

Juxtapid is used along with diet changes (restriction of cholesterol and fat intake) and other treatments to reduce the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ('bad cholesterol'), total cholesterol, and other fatty substances in the blood in people that have homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH; an inherited condition in which cholesterol cannot be removed from the body normally).

Juxtapid should not be used to decrease cholesterol levels in people who do not have HoFH.

Juxtapid belongs to a class of medications called cholesterol-lowering medications. Lomitapide works by slowing the production of cholesterol in the body to decrease the amount of cholesterol that may build up on the walls of the arteries and block blood flow to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Accumulation of cholesterol and fats along the walls of your arteries (a process known as atherosclerosis) decreases blood flow and, therefore, the oxygen supply to your heart, brain, and other parts of your body. Lowering your blood level of cholesterol and fats may help prevent heart disease, angina (chest pain), strokes, and heart attacks.

It is not known whether Juxtapid will lower your risk of heart problems.

Juxtapid is available only from a certified pharmacy under a special program. You must be registered in the program and understand the risks and benefits of this medicine.

Juxtapid side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic Reaction to Juxtapid: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking Juxtapid and tell your doctor if you have:

severe diarrhea;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

decreased urination; or

tiredness.

Call your doctor at once if you have signs of liver problems, such as:

nausea, vomiting, upper stomach pain;

loss of appetite;

swelling around your midsection;

flu-like symptoms, tiredness;

dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Juxtapid side effects may include:

stomach cramps;

nausea, vomiting;

indigestion; or

diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Juxtapid

You should not use Juxtapid if you are allergic to lomitapide, or if you:

are pregnant;

have moderate or severe liver disease, or active liver disease; or

have abnormal liver function tests.

Some drugs should not be used with Juxtapid. Your treatment plan may change if you also use:

aprepitant;

conivaptan;

crizotinib, Imatinib;

Nefazodone;

an antibiotic - ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, Telithromycin;

antifungal medication - fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole;

heart or blood pressure medicine - diltiazem, verapamil;

hepatitis C medication - Boceprevir or Telaprevir; or

HIV or AIDS medicine - atazanavir, darunavir when given with ritonavir, fosamprenavir, Indinavir, lopinavir, Nelfinavir, ritonavir, Saquinavir, tipranavir.

To make sure Juxtapid is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

liver problems, even if caused by taking certain medicines;

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

bowel problems, or an intestinal disorder;

hereditary galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency, or glucose galactose malabsorption; or

if you drink large amounts of alcohol.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

May harm an unborn baby. Do not use if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control while using Juxtapid. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of lomitapide on the baby.

Birth control pills may be less effective if you vomit or have diarrhea. Ask your doctor about the best way to prevent pregnancy while taking Juxtapid.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using this medicine.

Relate drugs

How to use Juxtapid

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperlipidemia:

Usual Adult Dose for Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day Maintenance dose: 5 to 60 mg orally once a day (should be individualized, taking into account the goal of therapy and the response to treatment) Maximum dose: 60 mg orally once a day Comments: -Dose should be escalated gradually based on response, safety, and tolerability. The dose may be escalated using the following incremental schedule: 5 mg orally once a day for a minimum of 2 weeks, then 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg orally once a day after a minimum of 4 weekly intervals between each dose increase. -Juxtapid should be taken with a full glass of water on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after the evening meal.

Warnings

You should not use Juxtapid if you have severe liver disease or a history of abnormal liver function tests.

Do not use if you are pregnant. Birth control pills may be less effective if you vomit or have diarrhea. Ask your doctor about the best way to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Juxtapid.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can affect lomitapide, and some drugs should not be used at the SAMe time.

Juxtapid can cause liver problems. Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, vomiting, upper stomach pain, tiredness, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

What other drugs will affect Juxtapid

Some medicines can make lomitapide much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take cholestyramine or colesevelam, take your Juxtapid dose 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take the other medicine.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can interact with lomitapide, especially:

acetaminophen, isotretinoin, methotrexate, or tamoxifen;

an antidepressant;

antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV;

heart or blood pressure medicine;

birth control pills;

an antibiotic - Demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, eravacycline, omadacycline, Sarecycline, tetracycline;

a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven; or

cholesterol medication - atorvastatin or simvastatin.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may interact with lomitapide. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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