Can the Medications be Administered / Taken With Other Medications?

 Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other medications, including supplements, traditional or herbal remedies.

Do I Need Regular Monitoring When Taking These Medications?

 Regular monitoring of blood tests will be required.

 It is important that you attend all follow-up visits with your doctor.

Are There any Special Precautions That I Need to Take?

 Discuss with your doctor if you intend to conceive or breastfeed while taking this medication. The medication must be stopped prior to conception.

 If you are pregnant, stop the medication and inform your doctor PHARMACY immediately. Drug Information

What Else can I do to Help My Condition? Medications to Treat High Cholesterol  Maintain a healthy diet by eating foods low in saturated fat, trans-fat, sodium and added sugars. Eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains and and Triglycerides fish.

 Maintain an active lifestyle by exercising regularly.

How do I Store These Medications?

 Store your oral medication in a cool, dry place away from heat, moisture and direct sunlight.

 Store Alirocumab or Evolocumab in a refrigerator between 2 8°C. Do not freeze.

If you have any problem with your treatment, please contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse clinician.

Please keep all medications out of reach of children.

© Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 2020. All rights reserved. All information correct as of January 2020. No part of this document may be reproduced, copied, reverse compiled, adapted, distributed, commercially exploited, displayed or stored in a database, retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. All information and material found in this document are for purposes of information only and are not meant to substitute any advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. PECC-PHA-ED-2020-712-v1

What are These Medications Used For? Medications and Common Side Management and how they work Effects Advice  These medications are used to treat high cholesterol and triglyceride

levels in the blood. Miscellaneous agents  Colestyramine may  Mix each packet of

 They work by reducing the build-up of fatty substances called  Colestyramine cause constipation colestyramine in a full cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels, which may result in or diarrhea and glass of plain water

blockage of blood vessels. nausea and take with meals.  Take colestyramine at  These cholesterol-lowering medications reduce your risk of developing least 4-6 hours before heart attacks and strokes. or 1 hour after other

 High triglyceride levels can also cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the medications. pancreas), a serious condition that results in abdominal pain and vomiting. PCSK9 inhibitors  Redness or  Take the injection out  Alirocumab swelling, itching, or of the fridge. Wait 30 What are the Medications Used to Treat High Cholesterol and  Evolocumab pain where the minutes for it to reach Triglycerides? injection is given room temperature  Flu-like symptoms  Injection sites: belly Medications Common Side Management and  Rare side effects: (two inches away from Effects Advice o Severe allergic the belly button), top Statins  Mild muscle ache  Take Lovastatin after reaction: skin of the thigh, or upper  Simvastatin  Rare side effects: food for better peeling or arms  Atorvastatin o Unexplained absorption blistering, chest  Change sites each  Rosuvastatin severe or  Take Simvastatin or or throat time you give the  Lovastatin generalized Lovastatin at night tightness injection

 Pravastatin muscle  Do not take grapefruit  Refer to the specific pain/weakness in juice if you are taking information leaflet for large muscles Simvastatin, more information on Fibrates e.g. thighs, back Atorvastatin or injection techniques.  Fenofibrate o Tea-coloured Lovastatin  Seek medical attention  Gemfibrozil (dark brown)  Mild muscle aches will immediately if you urine usually resolve with experience any of the o Yellowing of the time rare side effects Miscellaneous agents skin or eyes  Ezetimibe o Abdominal pain If you experience any of the rare side effects above, please seek

medical attention immediately. Omega-3 Fatty Acids  Nausea or vomiting  Take fish oil after food  Omega-3 fish oil  Fishy taste with to minimize nausea If you develop rashes, facial swelling or shortness of breath after burping and bad taste taking the medication, you could be allergic to the medication. Please seek medical attention immediately.