Nexlizet can interact with several other medications.* It may also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.
Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe.
* These interactions were seen in separate studies of Nexlizet’s two active ingredients, bempedoic acid and ezetimibe. Clinical studies of possible drug interactions with Nexlizet hen’t been done.
Nexlizet and other medicationsBelow are examples of medications that can interact with Nexlizet. This section does not contain all drugs that may interact with Nexlizet.
Before taking Nexlizet, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you oid potential interactions.
If you he questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Nexlizet and certain statin drugsNexlizet may be taken with or without a statin drug to help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Statins are a group of drugs used to treat high cholesterol.
But Nexlizet may interact with two specific statins: simvastatin (Zocor) and prastatin (Prachol). Nexlizet can raise the levels of these statins in your blood. Simvastatin and prastatin can cause muscle pain and muscle weakness. So, your risk for these muscle side effects may increase if you take Nexlizet with either of these statins.
If you take Nexlizet with one of these statins, your doctor will likely decrease your statin dose.
Before starting Nexlizet, if you’re taking a statin, be sure to tell your doctor which one you take.
Nexlizet and cyclosporineTaking Nexlizet with cyclosporine (an immunosuppressant drug) can raise the levels of both cyclosporine and ezetimibe in your body. (Ezetimibe is one of the active ingredients in Nexlizet.) This can increase your risk for side effects from either medication.
If you’re taking cyclosporine, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to take Nexlizet.
Nexlizet and fibrate drugsNexlizet shouldn’t be taken with certain fibrate drugs that are used to treat high cholesterol.
Both ezetimibe (one of the active ingredients in Nexlizet) and fibrate drugs can increase the amount of cholesterol stored in your gallbladder. This can cause gallstones. So, using Nexlizet with medications in the fibrate drug class can increase your risk for gallstones even more.
Symptoms of gallstones may include pain in the back, the shoulder, or the right side of the body (below the ribs).
It may be safe to use Nexlizet with fenofibrate (Fenoglide, Tricor, Triglide). But the use of Nexlizet with fibrates other than fenofibrate isn’t recommended.
If you he questions about using Nexlizet with fibrate drugs, talk with your doctor.
Nexlizet and bile acid sequestrant drugsNexlizet can interact with bile acid sequestrants, which are a group of drugs used to treat high cholesterol. Examples of bile acid sequestrants include cholestyramine (Prevalite) and colesevelam (Welchol).
Bile acid sequestrants can attach to ezetimibe, one of the active drugs in Nexlizet. This may prevent your body from absorbing Nexlizet, which could make it less effective in treating your condition.
If you take Nexlizet and a bile acid sequestrant, wait at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking the bile acid sequestrant to take Nexlizet.
Nexlizet and drugs that raise your risk for tendon rupturesTaking Nexlizet with drugs that can cause a may raise your risk for this side effect even more. This is because tendon ruptures can also occur with Nexlizet.
Examples of drugs that can raise your risk for a tendon rupture if taken with Nexlizet include corticosteroids and fluoroquinolones (a type of antibiotic). Methylprednisolone (Medrol) is an example of a corticosteroid. And levofloxacin (Levaquin) is an example of a fluoroquinolone.
Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re taking either of these drugs before you start Nexlizet. If you’re prescribed these drugs after you’ve started Nexlizet, tell your doctor that as well. They may suggest other treatments for your conditions.
Nexlizet and herbs and supplementsThere aren’t any herbs or supplements that he been specifically reported to interact with Nexlizet. But you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Nexlizet.
Nexlizet and foodsThere aren’t any foods that he been specifically reported to interact with Nexlizet. But you’ll likely take Nexlizet with a statin drug. And if you do, you’ll need to oid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice.
It isn’t safe to consume grapefruit while using certain statins. Grapefruit can prevent statins from clearing out of your body. This can raise your statin levels and increase your risk for side effects. Examples of statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor) and simvastatin (Zocor).
Talk with your doctor if you he questions about eating certain foods with Nexlizet.