Baycol

Baycol was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2001.

Baycol blocks the production of cholesterol (a type of fat) in the body.

Baycol is used to reduce the amounts of LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol in your blood. Baycol also reduces the amounts of triglycerides (another type of fat) and apolipoprotein B (a protein needed to make cholesterol) in your blood and increases the amount of HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood. These actions are important in reducing the risk of hardening of the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Baycol may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Take Baycol exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. To see beneficial effects from Baycol, avoid fatty, high-cholesterol foods. Follow your doctor's directions.

Your doctor may want to monitor your liver function with blood tests before starting treatment with Baycol, at six and twelve weeks after both the start of your treatment and any increase in dose, and periodically (every 6 months) thereafter. Depending on the results of these tests, your doctor can determine how much monitoring you will require.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Baycol. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Do not stop taking Baycol without first talking to your doctor. It may be weeks or months before beneficial effects from this medication are seen.

Baycol was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2001.

Before taking Baycol, tell your doctor if you

• drink alcoholic beverages,
• have kidney disease,
• have a chronic muscular disease, or
• have seizures or epilepsy.

You may not be able to take Baycol, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• muscle aches, pain, or weakness;
• a fever;
• "flu-like" symptoms;
• decreased urine or rust-colored urine;
• blurred vision; or
• yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Baycol and talk to your doctor if you experience

• gas, bloating, nausea, stomach upset, heartburn, abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea;
• dizziness;
• headache; or
• a rash.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of Baycol.

Symptoms of an overdose of Baycol are not known.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Baycol. The interaction could lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);
• gemfibrozil (Lopid), clofibrate (Atromid-S), or fenofibrate (Tricor);
• niacin (Nicolar, Nicobid, Slo-Niacin, others);
• erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin); or
• itraconazole (Sporanox), fluconazole (Diflucan), or ketoconazole (Nizoral).

The medications listed above may interact with Baycol and damage your muscles. Generally, these medicines are not used together.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Baycol. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.