Health Library

Lomitapide (By mouth)

Lomitapide (loe-MI-ta-pide)

Treats high cholesterol.

Brand Name(s):

Juxtapid

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Capsule

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• Take this medicine without food, at least 2 hours after your evening meal.
• Swallow the capsule whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break, chew, dissolve, or open it. Tell your doctor right away if you cannot swallow the capsules.
• You will need to take vitamin E and essential fatty acid supplements while you use this medicine.
• This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
• Missed dose: If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. If you stop taking this medicine for more than 1 week, call your doctor before you start taking it again.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine together with the following:
  • Aprepitant, boceprevir, conivaptan, crizotinib, diltiazem, imatinib, mibefradil, nefazodone, telaprevir, verapamil
  • Medicine to treat infections (including ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, telithromycin, voriconazole)
  • Medicine to treat HIV/AIDS (including amprenavir, atazanavir, darunavir/ritonavir, fosamprenavir, indinavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir/ritonavir)
• Some foods and medicines can affect how lomitapide works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Acetaminophen, aliskiren, alprazolam, ambrisentan, amiodarone, amlodipine, bicalutamide, cilostazol, cimetidine, colchicine, cyclosporine, dabigatran etexilate, digoxin, everolimus, fexofenadine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, ginkgo, goldenseal, isoniazid, isotretinoin, lapatinib, maraviroc, methotrexate, nilotinib, pazopanib, ranitidine, ranolazine, saxagliptin, sirolimus, sitagliptin, talinolol, tamoxifen, tetracycline, ticagrelor, tolvaptan, topotecan, zileuton
  • Birth control pills
  • Blood thinner (including warfarin)
  • Other medicine to lower cholesterol (including atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin)
• If you are taking cholestyramine or colesevelam, take it at least 4 hours before or after you take this medicine.
• Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Use an effective form of birth control during treatment and for at least 2 weeks after your treatment ends.
• You must have a negative pregnancy test before you will be allowed to take this medicine. If you miss a period while you are using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, bowel problems, or pancreas problems. Tell your doctor if you have galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or Lapp lactase deficiency.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Serious liver problems
  • Risk of muscle problems called myopathy or rhabdomyolysis (when used with lovastatin and simvastatin)
• Do not drink more than 1 alcoholic drink per day. Alcohol increases your risk for liver damage when used with this medicine.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Decrease in how much or how often you urinate, lightheadedness, tiredness
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat, chest pain
• Muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
• Severe diarrhea
• Unusual tiredness or fever

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat
• Mild diarrhea, constipation, gas, upset stomach
• Weight loss

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024