Cerivastatin instructions for administration

Instructions for administration
General Lipid determination Concomitant therapy Dosage in patients with renal insufficiency

General
The patient should be placed on a standard cholesterol-lowering diet before receiving cerivastatin sodium and should continue on this diet during treatment with cerivastatin sodium. The starting-dose of BAYCOL® is 0.4 mg once daily in the evening regardless of previous lipid therapy. Return to top

Lipid determination
Since the maximal effect of cerivastatin sodium is seen within 4 weeks lipid determinations should be performed at this time and the dose adjusted based upon patient response. Only patients requiring further lipid adjustment should be titrated to 0.8 mg. The dosage range is 0.2 mg to 0.8 mg. In patients with significant renal impairment (creatinine clearance ≤60 mL/min/1.73m2 ) lower doses are recommended. Cerivastatin sodium may be taken with or without food. Return to top

Concomitant therapy
The lipid-lowering effects on LDL-C and Total-C are additive when cerivastatin sodium is combined with a bile-acid-binding resin. When co-administering cerivastatin sodium and a bileacid-exchange resin, e.g., cholestyramine, cerivastatin sodium should be given at least 2 hours after the resin. Return to top

Dosage in patients with renal insufficiency
No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild renal dysfunction (Clcr 61-90 mL/min/1.73m2). For patients with moderate or severe renal dysfunction, a starting dose of 0.2 mg or 0.3 mg is recommended. Return to top