Brand Names: Juxtapid

Generic Name: lomitapide

What is lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
What are the possible side effects of lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
What is the most important information I should know about lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
How should I take lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
What happens if I miss a dose (Juxtapid)?
What happens if I overdose (Juxtapid)?
What should I avoid while taking lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
What other drugs will affect lomitapide (Juxtapid)?
Where can I get more information (Juxtapid)?

What is lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

Lomitapide reduces blood levels of "bad" cholesterol, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or non-high-density liproprotein (non-HDL), as well as a protein that carries bad cholesterol in the blood.

Lomitapide is used together with a low-fat diet and other treatments to lower total cholesterol in people with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited type of high cholesterol).

It is not known whether lomitapide will lower your risk of heart disease.

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

Lomitapide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

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

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 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.

What is the most important information I should know about lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

You should not use lomitapide 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 lomitapide.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact with lomitapide, and some drugs should not be used together.

Lomitapide 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 should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

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

you have severe liver disease;
you have abnormal liver function tests; or
you are pregnant.

Many drugs can interact and cause dangerous effects. Some drugs should not be used together with lomitapide. Your doctor may change your treatment plan 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.

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.

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Lomitapide could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine.

If you become 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 lomitapide.

You should not breastfeed while using lomitapide.

Lomitapide is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure lomitapide is safe for you to take.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take lomitapide on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after your evening meal.

Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or dissolve it. Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

Your doctor may have you take vitamin E or essential fatty acid supplements while you are taking lomitapide. Take only the type and amount of vitamins or supplements your doctor has prescribed.

You will need frequent medical tests.

Lomitapide is only part of a treatment program that may also include exercise and weight control. Follow your doctor's instructions very closely.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

QUESTION

What causes tooth decay? See Answer

What happens if I miss a dose (Juxtapid)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Juxtapid)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

Avoid eating foods high in fat or cholesterol, or lomitapide will not be as effective and may cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.

Grapefruit may interact with lomitapide and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

Do not drink more than 1 alcoholic drink per day. Alcohol can increase your risk of liver damage while you are taking lomitapide.

What other drugs will affect lomitapide (Juxtapid)?

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

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

acetaminophen, isotretinoin, methotrexate, or tamoxifen;
an antidepressant;
antiviral medicine to treat HIV or hepatitis C;
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 affect lomitapide. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information (Juxtapid)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about lomitapide.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

lomitapide (Juxtapid)