Baycol - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if I am currently taking Baycol?
A: If you are taking Baycol, contact your physician to discuss alternative medications. If you are taking Baycol and experience muscle pain, discontinue Baycol immediately and contact your physician for further advice.
Q: What should I do if I am taking Baycol and gemfibrozil (Lopid)?
A: If you are taking Baycol and gemfibrozil (LOPID), discontinue Baycol use immediately and contact your physician for further advice.
Q: What is rhabdomyolysis?
A: Rhabdomyolysis is a very rare condition, where serious muscle damage results in the release of muscle cell contents into the bloodstream. On very rare instances, rhabdomyolysis may result in kidney damage and other organ damage, which may be fatal.
Q: How do I know if I have rhabdomyolysis?
A: Patients who develop rhabdomyolysis often have muscle aches involving their calves, back, or their entire body. The pain may be accompanied by weakness, fever, nausea, vomiting, and dark urine. Nonetheless, if you are experiencing any usual symptoms, you should contact a physician immediately.
Q: What is Baycol used to treat?
A: Baycol is a cholesterol-lowering drug belonging to a class of drugs known as "statins." It is prescribed to reduce your cholesterol and to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Q: Will I have any problems if I stop taking Baycol
A: If you were prescribed Baycol to lower your cholesterol, your cholesterol levels may go back to where they were before you started taking the drug. These changes will not occur immediately, but will most likely occur over a couple of days to weeks. If you stop taking Baycol, be sure to consult your physician to discuss alternative therapies for lowering your cholesterol.
Q: Are there any alternatives to Baycol?
A: Yes, there are five (5) other drugs in the same class (statins) available in the U.S. market. They are atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor). There are also other drugs approved for lowering cholesterol that are not statins. You should consult you physician to determine which treatment is right for you.
Q: Do other statins present the same safety concerns as Baycol?
A: All statins have been associated with very rare reports of rhabdomyolysis. These rare cases can occur when the drugs are used alone or in combination with another lipid-lowering drug such as gemfibrozil. However, cases of fatal rhabdomyolysis in association with Baycol use have been reported more frequently than in association with other approved statins.